Kidney Transplants

[BWillie]

Someone in my family would like a Kidney donation. It's not an immediate family member like parent, brother, grandparent etc but someone I am directly related to. The relative is almost 60. I feel really obligated to do it, but quite frankly it scares the shit out of me.

I'm only 31, but I've read there can be complications during the surgery and even after the surgery. Even if the risk is low, there is still a risk. I mean, what if I need that kidney later on in life? I've read that kidney donors can possibly develop complications two years or so after the donation and some have even had to go on dialysis themselves.

I used to have a pretty bad energy drink obsession, in fact, I just stopped drinking 2 or 3 a day about a month ago. I had a blood test done and found out that my "uric acid", creatinine level was high. I believe my GFR level was not the best. When I say high, it was just at or above the "outer range". I'm not overweight or fat or anything. I have perfect blood pressure, but I eat red meat and pork about 7 times a week so I have a severely low good cholesterol level and a relatively high bad cholesterol level. I'm sure they can tell me this when I get screened, probably looks like I'm making excuses but I don't want to look like an asshole and I don't want my relative to die either.

The relative needing a kidney isn't necessarily going to die right away I don't think, they would eventually have to go on dialysis and they are on a waiting list for a kidney. In my reading on the internet, it does not even appear the kidney has to come from a family member, just someone as a suitable match. I do know they are on a list for a kidney.

What does CP know about this? Any life experiences or people in the know?

[Dunerdr]

Can we start a thread about selling your organs to someone in need. I've always wondered if I'm a big enough asshole to charge some one in need like 100k. You know skip the waiting list here's my shit let's find some crazy European dr to do it tomorrow if the check clears kind of deal.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

Likely because his doing this will lead to a lifetime of health complications. Because agreeing to have a chunk of you cut out might merit more than just a cursory thought before jumping in?

/thinking out loud

Right, and it sounds like he barely knows this person. It's something you do for someone you love. So, like I said, why even consider it?

[58-4ever]

Originally Posted by Brock

Right, and it sounds like he barely knows this person. It's something you do for someone you love. So, like I said, why even consider it?

Technically he never even said that he loved the guy...

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I have a good friend who donated a kidney to one of their cousins. She regrets it every day of her life. Her quality of life has been much worse since the donation (10 years ago). She had extreme weight gain right after the surgery (60 pounds) that she has spent 10 years trying to reverse. She has lost about 40 of the 60 pounds.

Her remaining kidney has started to have trouble and her doctors have told her she will have to very on dialysis sometime in the next couple of years.

If it isn't a direct family member like your parents or siblings, I wouldn't do it. Especially if the person is 60 years old. You are still very young and IMO it's not worth the risk.

This. Sometimes it's okay to be selfish. You're not being, but if that's your hang up, that's my response. ****. Start tipping like a normal human being and you can feel better about yourself.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by 58-4ever

Technically he never even said that he loved the guy...

Yeah. I know. That's kinda the point.

[Pitt Gorilla]

I'd do it for one of my sons, but that's about it.

[Demonpenz]

You get the chance to be a one in a million hero.

[Rivermike87]

My mother needed a kidney after they found a mass on both. I gave her mine. No questions asked. You do what you do for the ones you love. But each person has their own choice. For me though, there was no second guessing about it

[BWillie]

Thanks for the responses. I will ponder it. If it was for one of my parents or something I wouldnt have any problems doing it. That just makes me feel selfish. Im also afraid my family will look down on me if I dont. I might not even be a match, I dont even know my own blood type, how sad is that?

[AustinChief]

I'm all about sacrificing for your family but this doesn't make a lot of sense.

Let's say you do this...

At 60 the other person is looking at a higher quality of life for another 10-20 years max... while you will have a lower quality of life for the next 40 years. I know that is cold of me to look at it that way but it's true.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Start tipping like a normal human being and you can feel better about yourself.

Seriously. Free riding douche tips 8% when he's out of town because he's cheap and knows he'll never have to see the waitresses again.

.. And he's talking about giving up a kidney. Not a chance in hell he does this.

[cdcox]

If you do it from a motivation of guilt you will regret it for the rest of your life. I wouldn't consider it if I had strong doubts.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Seriously. Free riding douche tips 8% when he's out of town because he's cheap and knows he'll never have to see the waitresses again.

.. And he's talking about giving up a kidney. Not a chance in hell he does this.

Lol i never said I dont tip, I just wish I never had to do it. Id prefer the self serve places where u wait for you food and then sit down. I just dont tip 20% to 25% like some of you guys. I think thats silly. I always tip around 15% though, I just regret every time i do it and do find myself tipping more at places I frequent the most often

[DaneMcCloud]

60 years old isn't "old". It's not even "that old". That said, I'd have serious reservations about giving up an internal organ at age 31 as well.

The downside is that it might (and most likely) cause issues for you in the foreseeable future. The upside is that your relative will get a few more years on this planet but it's also difficult to predict how well his body will adapt to the new organ and how happy he'll be with an extended window.

The other "upside", if you will, to you donating an organ is that science is moving swiftly to create perfect organ matches, whether it's from stem cell tissue or 3D printing. So there's a chance that if you give up an organ, science will be able to re-grow it within your lifetime.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. You're 31. You might meet the love of your life tomorrow, get married and have kids. If there are complications with your body, your wife and your children will be the people that suffer most.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

You get the chance to be a one in a million hero.

Why don't YOU volunteer to be tested to see if you're a match?