what happens if i donate a kidney

by Delta Conn 9 min read

What are the long term effects of donating 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 ...

What are the risks of donating a kidney?

Jan 02, 2022 · Like any surgery, kidney donation carries the risk of surgical complications like blood clots and others, but these risks are low. You will lose a certain percentage of your kidney function after donation. This sounds scary, but after the surgery your remaining kidney will get bigger and you wont notice any difference.

What makes a person decide to donate a kidney?

May 05, 2020 · In general, kidney donation has minimal long-term risks, especially when compared with the health risks in the general population. However, kidney donation may very slightly increase your risk of eventually developing kidney failure yourself, particularly if you're a middle-aged black man. The increased risk is minimal and translates into less than a 1 percent …

What are the pros and cons of donating a kidney?

The Side Effects of Becoming a Living Kidney Donor If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, discuss the option with your primary care provider first. They... Familiarize yourself with the risks inherent to this medical procedure. Take …

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Does your life shorten if you donate a kidney?

Living donation does not change life expectancy, and does not appear to increase the risk of kidney failure. In general, most people with a single normal kidney have few or no problems; however, you should always talk to your transplant team about the risks involved in donation.

What is the downside of donating a kidney?

Medical possible long-term cons People can get certain health problems after donating: About 18% of donors (about 1 in 5) get high blood pressure. About 5% (1 in 20) get chronic kidney disease. 4% (less than 1 in 20) get diabetes within 5 years of donating.

Do kidney donors get money?

A living donor cannot be paid for the donated organ because it is illegal under the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984. However, living donors may receive reimbursement for certain expenses related to the donation process.

Is donating a kidney a big deal?

In general, kidney donation has minimal long-term risks, especially when compared with the health risks in the general population. However, kidney donation may very slightly increase your risk of eventually developing kidney failure yourself, particularly if you're a middle-aged black man.

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

What are the chances of dying from donating a kidney?

Mortality Rate Kidney donor surgery has a . 007% mortality rate, which means that on average, for every 100,000 living donor surgeries, seven donors die.

What is the best age to donate a kidney?

18 years or olderTo donate a kidney, you must be in good physical and mental health.As a general rule, you should be 18 years or older.

Can a female donate a kidney to a 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

Can I live with one kidney?

There may also be a chance of having high blood pressure later in life. However, the loss in kidney function is usually very mild, and life span is normal. Most people with one kidney live healthy, normal lives with few problems. In other words, one healthy kidney can work as well as two.

Is kidney donation painful?

How much will it hurt? Everyone is different, but you could be in a lot of pain after the surgery. But it will get easier each day, and there are different types of pain relievers to make you feel better. Shortly after surgery, as your anesthesia wears off, you'll get pain medication through an IV into a vein.Nov 19, 2020

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.

What are the risks of donating organs?

There are always risks involved in any major surgical procedure. Infection, allergic reactions, injury to other organs and tissue, pneumonia, and even death are all possibilities following surgery. Be aware of the risk and weigh it against your decision to donate.

How to become a living kidney donor?

If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, discuss the option with your primary care provider first. They will be able to tell you if it is possible with your current health status. Familiarize yourself with the risks inherent to this medical procedure. Take time to consider the emotional impact of the decision.

How to heal from surgery?

Be certain that this is the decision you want to make. Prepare yourself physically by getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet. Your overall health will impact your organs and your ability to heal from major surgery.

Is organ donation covered by insurance?

Be prepared for surprises. Talk to your insurance provider. Organ donation surgery is not covered by many insurance providers. Be certain that you are in a financial situation to cover the cost. Discuss your organ donation plan with your employer. Elective surgery may not be viewed as favorably as an emergency.

How long does it take to recover from organ donation?

Be certain to discuss your plans with your current provider to find out how you will be affected. Most donors need to plan on between 1.5-2 weeks off work for the donation surgery and recovery time.

Is it bad to donate kidneys?

Possible long-term risks to donating a kidney include hyper-tension (high blood pressure), hernia, organ impairment and the need for organ transplant, kidney failure, and death. Choosing to donate an organ is an incredible act of generosity and it is a decision that saves lives.

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Treatment

Prognosis

  • 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.
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Prevention

  • Physical exercise is healthy and good for you. However, it's important for someone with only one kidney to be careful and protect it from injury. Some doctors think it is best to avoid contact sports like football, boxing, hockey, soccer, martial arts, or wrestling. Wearing protective gear such as padded vests under clothing can help protect the kidney from injury during sports. This can h…
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Risks

  • Living donation does not change life expectancy, and does not appear to increase the risk of kidney failure. In general, most people with a single normal kidney have few or no problems; however, you should always talk to your transplant team about the risks involved in donation. Some studies report that living donors may have a greater chance of developing high blood pres…
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Criticism

  • However, concerns about the recipient's outcome (as well as the donor's recovery) can contribute to feelings of anxiety, and may donors report a feeling of \"let down\" afterwards. Feelings of depression among living donors are not uncommon, even when both donor and recipient are doing well.
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Effects

  • While extensive data on these issues is lacking, some studies have reported the following psychological outcomes:
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Results

  • You will also have a scar from the donor operation- the size and location of the scar will depend on the type of operation you have. After donation you should be able to go back to a regular, healthy lifestyle. If you are in good health, there will probably not be any specific dietary restrictions. Talk with your transplant team about your specific dietary needs.
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Contraindications

  • Pregnancy after donation is possible but is usually not recommended for at least six months after the donation surgery. Living donors should talk to their ob/gyn and transplant team before getting pregnant about pregnancy and make sure that they have good pre-natal care.
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