How long of a wait?

[Meredith]

I finished my two days of tests last Friday at CPMC in San Francisco -- what a whirlwind!

Everything went well, but we were all a bit concerned that my blood pressure was high the entire first day.  They sent me home with a 24 hour monitor, which I did over the weekend, so that we could get a sense of what "normal" truly is.  I'm a bit concerned about that.

I had a great chat with the surgeon, the nephrologist (sp?), the social worker, and the nurse, and did just fine with the EKG, chest x-ray, ct scan and blood draw.  (19 vials -- wow!)

Now I just sit and wait.  But for how long?  Does anyone have any feedback on how long results take? 

Meredith

[ohtobeahayes]

Congratulations on getting through the testing day!  :) SO FUN!  :)
I can't recall, I'm sorry, if you are donating to someone you know or not.
IN HINDSIGHT, for me, it didn't take that long. It felt like it did. Now I feel sheepish when I think back to what an impatient brat I was, while they were busy trying to match me and make a chain happen, but I was just so excited and wanted to get on with it.
My testing was in the middle of January, and i was matched in May.
If you already have a recipient, this will probably go a bit quicker.  It also would have gone quicker if I were to be matched with someone from the "regular" list vs the paired donation list (here in MN they do the regular list weekly, the paired donation list once a month because it's a shorter list and there hasn't been a need to do it weekly-YET.)

How was your blood pressure over the weekend?
I feel nervous anticipation in my tummy thinking about all this and remembering how it feels!
Please update us as soon as you hear anything! Every phone call and every trip to the mailbox felt like I was waiting for a million dollar check to show up. :)
Take care!!!
Nicki

[mom2three]

Congratulations on getting through the testing. When I was tested last April (packed into one day) I knew by the end of the day that I was a good match. I had all my tests run in the morning, labwork, renal function test, CT scan, etc, and by late afternoon when I met with the nephrologist and surgeon they already had good news to deliver. The next day I only had to return the 24 hour blood pressure monitor. My case had to go through formal approval by the Transplant Committee (which took a few weeks per their schedule) I was directing the donation to my cousin so there was no recipient search delays. So I think the timing all depends on if any of your tests were borderline, when the transplant committee meets, etc.  Waiting must be hard; good luck!

[sherri]

Meredith,

I also did a 24 hour blood pressure monitor because my blood pressure was high when I went for testing. I tend to have elevated reading when stressed or nervous and I was both stressed and nervous the day of testing. It took about a week for the results of the 24 hour blood pressure monitor to get read and interpreted.  I also made sure to ask for copies of all of my testing from blood work to Ct scans, physician notes etc. The coordinator was not very good about it so I just went to medical records and got them myself. This way I have copies for my own health records for comparison for future health and to take to other doctors for second opinions if needed.

Once all your testing is done the hospitals usually have a set day they meet to discuss each case and decide if the donor is appropriate to go forward. Then you would need to choose a date where both the recipient and donor surgeons are available. I started my testing in July, had my meeting with the surgeon, nephrologist, psychologist and CT on Sept 6. Took a little more time to repeat some urine, get the 24 hour blood pressure back and in Oct a few weeks later we set the date for Nov 12 surgery. For me it all went by very quickly. I wish I did have a little more time to absorb everything around me. It is elective surgery so you can plan the surgery date when it is convenient for your schedule in terms of time off for recuperation, work, family etc.

Good luck and keep us posted how things are going.

Sherri

[Dora76]

Hi Merideth,

Congratulations on making it through your day of tests!  I'm not sure if you have a recipient in mind or not, and I would imagine that would affect the timetable.  I believe I heard back from the Transplant Team the following day, definitely not more than 48 hours.  The Transplant Team wanted me back in for some sort of follow-up test (can't remember what it was exactly, but it required them observing fluid moving through my body to verify my kidney function) just to double-check something.  In the end, it felt like the longer wait was waiting to find out when I could do the actual transplant.

I'm sure, for every person it's a different experience.  If it takes a little bit longer, it's because the Transplant Team wants to be thorough.  As impatient as I felt, I took some comfort in that they were trying to consider all the information they had in front of them to guide them to the best possible decision.

Good luck!

Dora

[Meredith]

You all are wonderful -- thank you for the feedback.  :)

I'm donating to my mom, hopefully, and she's on the cusp of needing dialysis, so we're a bit impatient in hoping I'll be a match and she can avoid it all together.  When I asked the Dr. what the timeline was for once I was determined to be a match for her, he said if her testing goes well, about a month.  That'd be nice!  (Before the holidays are completely upon us.)

As for if I'm not a match -- I do want us to sign up for the chain matching system, whose name completely escapes me as I'm typing.  If my kidney can do someone good while she gets one too, I'll be pleased.  I just want to see her have a lot of years ahead without the agony of dialysis, if possible.

Meredith

[Aries7]

Hi Meredith,

Congratulations on finishing up your testing! I can tell you that I had my testing done in one day. It was June 5, 2009. I had to repeat the glucose test back home at my doctors office. (Came back fine.) Then I had to wait for the committee meeting that was held once per month. The next one after my testing was on July 2, 2009. It was this day that I received the official word that I was approved. I knew however, prior to this that all of my all of my tests had come back excellent so I wasn't anitcipating any problems.

My Husband and I ended up have the surgery for his transplant on October 8, 2009. This could have been sooner except I had a hysterectomy in May 2009 and the doctors wanted me to have a few months in between surgeries. My Husband was able to have the surgery for the transplant prior to having to go on dialysis, which was our goal.

Best of luck to you and your Mom. Please keep us updated!

Best Wishes! :)

Linda