How am I now? I am fine, I would not know I only had one kidney. However I am not ignoring the hospitals advice and so I make sure I drink 1.5 litres a day (I did anyway) and I avoid NSAID’s including asprin where possible.

Does it affect the little things? Hangovers? lol, what can I say. I don’t actually drink (never really did like the affect or taste, lol) but a hangover shows that you have had too much alcohol and you are dehydrated and your body is not coping well and cannot keep up with getting rid of the toxins so you get a hangover which is your bodies way of saying “help”. I suppose it depends how often you get one, but excess of toxins (in this case alcohol) doesn’t do any good, lets put it that way, lol.

Exercise: we should all have a certain amount of excercise to help us keep fit. If we are fit our bodies are then more able to fend off any illnesses. Exercise does not necessarily mean you have to go to a gym, it all depends on your lifestyle as to whether you need to add to your daily routine.

General illness. Having one kidney should not affect general illness. You are no more likely to get kidney disease than if a kidney had not been removed. There is a slight chance blood pressure could increase and extra protein in the urine which is why we should try to have a healthy lifestyle where possible. Though the risks of the above are minimal. We annual check ups after donating.

You say you have four children under the age of 10 years old. From a personal point of view, I do feel you need to give very careful consideration to donating to a stranger. There are plenty of years ahead of you to donate a kidney when your family is not dependant upon you. If you are worried that in years to come you wont be healthy enough to donate, let me say that the oldest donor in the UK is 82 years old. I myself was not far off 60 years old. If you have concerns about future health then not sure donating is an option really if you have reason to suspect bad health in say the next 10 years or whatever. Donating a kidney is not risk free. Not only is their a risk of dying, albeit very very small – it can happen. What then of your children? Also people report problems afterwards that take some time to resolve themselves. You would not be letting anyone down by waiting until your children are old enough to understand and be a part of the decision making and they are no longer so dependant upon parents. There is not a known recipient to let down. Also there will always be a recipient. lol, sounds like I am trying to put you off, not at all, just that some people tend to forget there is no time limit and no person to be let down by donating later in ones family life.

I think it is wonderful you want to donate, fantastic, amazing. You are truly a wonderful person to want to help someone in this way.

Let me know if you have any questions and will be only to pleased to try and answer them for you.

There are other ways to help also, donating blood and platelets. I had a blood test done to see if I could donate platelets but my own platelet count was low so was not allowed to. That was a shame. Also bone marrow. I am now too old to donate bone marrow. There is a cut off age which I didn’t realise. If you are not already registered and feel that is something you would like to do, then time does matter. I left it too late and regret that now.

Let me know how you get on and if I can answer any questions please dont hesitate to post again or contact me via the contact form top right of this page.

It is a difficult one. I am trying to think what I would do if in the same situation as you. I think I would gather as much information as possible about Living Donation. Just put the info on the table next to him i.e. let him read in his own time without anyone pressurising him to read. Also, maybe a member of the Living Donor Team at the hospital can speak with you both about it. Can you get put in touch with other donors who can speak to you and your father about how they felt being able to save their dad, mum, sister, husband etc?

I don’t know how long your dad has been on dialysis or how long before he really is in need of a transplant. Perhaps he just needs time (months or even a year or more) to come to terms with you donating and maybe if another donor is not forthcoming he will then accept that you love him just so very much you cannot bear to lose him and that thousands of people have donated and the risks are very small.????

ummm … not sure I have helped at all. Maybe some people who have donated to loved ones on this blog can help more or maybe some recipients even. But I am not sure you can change his mind, he needs to change it for himself and I think maybe the only way he can do that is by learning more about living donors and the process for them to donate, also just how much it means to donors to be able to do this for someone they love so much and that they don’t want to lose them to this horrible illness.

Wish I could help more. Please contact at any time you want, we are here to support where we can, even if only by listening.

Take care … Good Luck and please let us know how things develop.

Di
xx

If you have any questions at all please ask, you can always use the contact form at the top of this blog if you wish.

6 out of 6 match, gosh you cannot get better than that. I wish you both well and would love if you could post how things are proceeding with your wonderful donation. Are you identical twins to get such a good match?

All the best to you both
Di
x

Congratulations on saving a persons life.
I have had every question answered and the fear of the unknown
dispelled.
I am donating to my twin brother in next few months we match 6 out of 6 and same blood group.

Reading a personnel experience seems to be more reassuring than all the info and leaflets.
Thanyou for that.

Alison.

I would love to hear how it all went if you feel like posting later.

All the very best
Di
x

Good luck to you … and would love it if you could post back at some point to let us know how you are getting on.

Best Wishes
Di