how long does it take to donate a kidney

How long does it take to recover from a kidney donation?

Jul 22, 2019 · I donated my kidney in 2007, and although the internet was not exactly new, I was able to learn a lot about kidney donation. I made sure to do my homework online, researching what to expect, how to prepare for a big surgery and how long it would take to recover. I thought I was pretty well informed and prepared to go through with my donation.

What is the process of donating a kidney?

It might be several weeks after testing before they let you know if you can donate your kidney. Timing for surgery depends on many things. It's up to …

Is it safe to have a baby after kidney donation?

How long does the process take? The donation process depends on how many tests are required of the donor and how quickly he or she is able to complete them. The average donor work up may take six months or more for completion and may depend on test results, which may indicate additional evaluation is required.

How old do you have to be to donate a kidney?

After donation, you should be able to live a pretty normal life. You'll have to take pain pills for a short time after surgery. Your remaining kidney will grow bigger to help make up for the one ...

How long does a kidney donation operation take?

The operation takes about four hours. You'll be sore at first, but you should be out of bed in a day or so, and home within a week. If the kidney came from a living donor, it should start to work very quickly. A kidney from a deceased donor can take longer to start working—two to four weeks or more.

How painful is it to donate a kidney?

After leaving the hospital, the donor will typically feel tenderness, itching and some pain as the incision continues to heal. Generally, heavy lifting is not recommended for about six weeks following surgery. It is also recommended that donors avoid contact sports where the remaining kidney could be injured.

How hard is it to donate a kidney?

You have to be strong enough to make it through surgery and anesthesia. And you have to have two kidneys to begin with: "You might be walking around with one kidney and not know it, since some people are born with only one," Vassalotti says. Although that issue is somewhat rare, you'll need an imaging test to find out.Nov 12, 2018

How long is recovery after donating kidney?

After kidney donation, most people are able to return to normal daily activities after two to four weeks. You may be advised to avoid contact sports or other strenuous activities that may cause kidney damage. Pregnancy.May 14, 2021

Can you drink after donating a kidney?

About 2 weeks after the surgery, recipients should start feeling much better. However, the total length of time to fully recover from the surgery is 6 months. Can kidney donors drink alcohol? Yes, kidney donors can eventually drink 1-2 alcoholic drinks but should abstain in the weeks following the transplant.Nov 13, 2020

What would disqualify you from donating a kidney?

As a general rule, you should be 18 years or older . You must also have normal kidney function . There are some medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor . These include having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, or acute infections .

Can I drink alcohol with one kidney?

Alcohol affects all of your body's organs. However, the effects of alcohol on one kidney lead to multiple issues. Although drinking one to two drinks a day typically won't be an issue, if you have one kidney, it will. When you drink, you will generally urinate more.Oct 16, 2020

Can a female donate kidney to male?

Conclusions. Our results suggested gender matching for kidney transplant. Only in some exceptional conditions, male donor to female recipient kidney transplant may be successful and female donors to male recipients are not suggested, especially in aged patients with the history of dialysis.Jan 6, 2020

Will I gain weight after donating a kidney?

Overall, among all donors, weight increased significantly following kidney donation from 79.5 ± 2.5 kg to 81.8 ± 2.7 kg at last follow-up (mean difference 2.3 ± 0.9 kg, P < . 0001) (Table 2).May 7, 2019

Will donating a kidney shorten my life?

Donating a kidney does not affect a person's life expectancy. On the contrary, studies show that people who donate a kidney outlive the average population. Twenty years after donating, 85 percent of kidney donors were still alive, while the expected survival rate was 66 percent.

How much does it cost to donate a kidney?

Of note, median total costs exceeded $1000 for nearly 75% of donors, $5500 for 25% of donors, and $10,000 for 13% of donors. We also noted differences in costs borne by various groups of donors.

How old do you have to be to donate a kidney?

Here's what to expect from the donor selection and screening process. Getting Started. To be a donor, you should be at least 18 years old. The best candidates don’t have any major illnesses, aren’t overweight, and don’t smoke.

How old do you have to be to donate?

To be a donor, you should be at least 18 years old. The best candidates don’t have any major illnesses, aren’t overweight, and don’t smoke. You may get the OK as long as you lose weight or agree to quit smoking before the surgery.

How long does it take to get a donor?

The average donor work up may take six months or more for completion and may depend on test results, which may indicate additional evaluation is required.

How to evaluate a kidney donor?

What are the steps for kidney donor evaluation process? 1 The first step is the Initial Interview and if there is more than one potential donor, establishing compatibility. Potential donors should fill out the online questionnaire. 2 The second step is the assessment about your overall health status. A comprehensive medical history and physical examination is performed. It is very important that you declare all health-related history such as having high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, kidney stones, stroke, heart and lung diseases and surgical interventions. You need to report your family history, especially family history of kidney diseases. A psychosocial assessment will be performed as well. History of smoking, drugs and alcohol needs to be discussed. 3 After the complete medical and psychosocial clearance is complete, the donor will meet with the surgeon to discuss the risks of donor surgery. Once the donor is fully cleared to proceed, the surgery date for the donor and recipient can be scheduled, at their convenience.

What is a crossmatch test?

A unique blood test also needs to be done which is called “crossmatch”. It is possible that the recipient of the kidney has an “allergy” to the donated kidney so the recipient's body may reject the donated kidney. Such allergy is due to some substances called “antibodies” which are present in the recipient's blood.

Is it safe to donate kidneys?

The answer is NO. Kidney donation is generally safe however it is not risk-free. There are some risks associated with any major surgery including surgery for kidney donation. Studies have shown that kidney donors have a lifespan similar to the general population.

What are the psychological effects of donation?

While extensive data on these issues is lacking, some studies have reported the following psychological outcomes: 1 Less than 1% regretted the decision 2 3 to 10% reported depression 3 10% reported "family conflicts" 4 7% reported anxiety disorders 5 16% concerned about negative financial consequences of donation 6 3 to 15% concerned about a negative impact on their health

Can you live with only one kidney?

People can live normal lives with only one kidney. As long as the donor is evaluated thoroughly and cleared for donation, he or she can lead a normal life after the surgery. When the kidney is removed, the single normal kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney. Physical exercise is healthy and good for you.

Who Can I Give My Kidney To?

You can donate a kidney to a family member or friend who needs one. You can also give it to someone you don't know. Doctors call this a “nondirected” donation, in which case you might decide to meet the person you donate to, or choose to stay anonymous. Either way, doctors will give your kidney to the person who needs it most and is the best match.

Am I Healthy Enough to Donate a Kidney?

Your doctor will do some tests to find out for sure. They’ll check your blood and urine, and may also do an ultrasound or take X-rays of your kidneys. You may not be able to donate if you have medical issues like diabetes or high blood pressure.

What Happens After Surgery?

Your doctor will prescribe medications to help manage your pain. They’ll also want you to get up and start moving around shortly afterward.

How Can I Donate?

If you want to give your kidney to a friend or family member, talk to the doctor at the transplant center. You'll start taking tests to see if you're a match.

Kidney Donation Recovery: What to Expect

At the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center, our living-kidney specialists use advanced surgical techniques and special recovery protocols. These methods help donors feel better, faster, after kidney donation surgery.

Comprehensive Follow-Up Care

After living donor surgery, our specialists follow you closely to monitor your health. We also provide comprehensive support and guidance to make sure you have the resources you need for an excellent quality of life. Your long-term care includes:

Contact Us

For more information about the living donor kidney program at the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center, call 855.925.0631.

How long does it take for a kidney donor to recover?

Donor Recovery. Most living kidney donors will be in the hospital for one to two days after their surgery, although at some transplant centers, donors may be in the hospital for up to 4 to 6 days. The most common complication experienced by donors is tenderness, itching, and/or pain at the site of the surgical incision (s).

How long does it take to recover from a donor surgery?

Donors with more physically demanding professions generally need 4 to 6 weeks of recovery before returning to that type of work.

How is the kidney removed?

Once freed, the kidney is then removed by hand through the incision.

What is a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy?

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is minimally invasive surgery that utilizes instruments such as a camera (videoscope) and tools (instruments) to remove the kidney on long, narrow rods that are placed into the abdomen through small incisions.

Treatment

• The operation to remove a kidney is a major operation that requires a general anaesthetic. This means that you will be asleep during the operation, which usually takes about two to three hours. Traditionally, surgeons used a technique called “open nephrectomy” to remove a kidney. This inv…

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Prognosis

Prevention

• The length of stay in the hospital will vary depending on the individual donor's rate of recovery and the type of procedure performed (traditional vs laparoscopic kidney removal) although the usual stay is 4 to 6 days. Since the rate of recovery varies greatly among individuals, be sure to ask the transplant center for their estimate of your particular recovery time.

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Risks

Criticism

Effects

Results

Contraindications