The Gift of Life Blog: Becoming an Altruistic Kidney Donor

The stress test is finally over...

Hurrah! I "handled the load" which means I was stopped by the nurse...I didn't stop because I couldn't do it. The actual test took about 15 minutes, but the preparation time was more. I had many electrodes hooked up to me and then a baseline was taken while I was at rest. My blood pressure was 120/74. Heart rate around 72 (I think).

I was given instructions and told at first the treadmill will be at a slow pace with no incline. After a few minutes, the testing began. The nurse took my blood pressure and the reading was printed. I was told approximately 15 seconds before the pace was quickened and the incline became steeper. At each stage, my blood pressure was taken. I was asked if I was feeling any chest pain, leg pain or shortness of breath and if I had some, was it mild or severe. I was asked if I wanted to continue.

I could hear the top number was increasing (I kept my eyes closed the entire time so I could concentrate), but the bottom number stayed in the 70s.

By the time I was stopped, my blood pressure was 184/78, I was running uphill. I was sweating and it was hard to catch my breath. But I did it. I was told I would get the results early next week (but I know I passed!).

Getting ready for my test on Friday...

I've been exercising and walking my dog more. I'm a "little concerned" about the stress test because I've heard from many that it's hard. Well, I feel up to the task even though I know I have about 20 pounds to lose before the operation. I also know that my body won't let me down. I would not have been "called" to do this if I couldn't do it!

Symptoms of kidney stones...

Kidney stones don't always have noticeable symptoms until they separate from the kidney wall and begin moving through the ureters to your bladder causing an infection or blockage in your urinary tract.

The most common symptom is pain lasting from minutes to hours. It usually begins in your back or side, just below your ribs. It can spread to your lower abdomen or groin as the stones move toward the bladder.

Other symptoms might include:

• Blood in the urine
• Fever and chills (because of the infection)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Cloudy, foul-smelling urine
• A burning feeling when you urinate

Know the risk of developing kidney stones...

If you know what causes kidney stones, you can take steps to prevent them. The following factors increase your risk:

• Diet - A diet high in protein or sodium and low in calcium affects the amount of certain minerals, acids or salts you have in your kidneys.
• Inactivity - This can cause your bones to release extra calcium.
• Dehydration - If you don't drink enough fluids, your urine becomes too concentrated.
• Certain medicines - Some can increase your risk. Talk to you doctor about the medications you take.
• Other medical conditions - Chronic urinary tract infections, gout, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and some metabolic disorders put you at risk.
• Personal or family history of kidney stones - You're more likely to get another stone once you've had one. Your risk also increases if a parent or sibling has had kidney stones.

Info about kidney stones...

There have been several good things happening in my life since I decided to become an altruistic donor. One is that I'm learning more about how our bodies, especially our kidneys, work.

A few people I know have had kidney stones and I know how painful this can be based on their experiences.
After doing a little research, here's what I discovered:

Kidney stones are hard masses like crystals that build up inside of the kidneys. They vary in size from a grain a salt to a golf ball! They form because the urine has too much of certain minerals, acid, or salts. The kidneys are supposed to keep them balance, but if they don't work like they should, kidney stones develop.

What is your "Real Age?"

I just came across a great website (www.realage.com). After you complete the survey of many health- and family-related questions, it calculates your "real age," not your chronological age.

Based on my answers (I answered truthfully...no sense in cheating is there?), I am 7 1/2 years younger than I am. I know the places that need work, so I hope to get younger soon!

Getting ready for the stress test...

I had a stress test many years ago when I was under a lot of stress. Although I'm a LOT older, I am sure I will do fine. For anyone who has never had one, following is a brief explanation and photo.

A cardiac stress test indirectly reflects arterial blood flow to the heart during physical exercise. Walking on a treadmill is the usual method of testing.

(This photo shows how I will be monitored during the test.)

When compared to blood flow during rest, the test reflects imbalances of blood flow to the heart's left ventricular muscle tissue that performs the greatest amount of work pumping blood.

The results will also reflect my overall physical fitness.

Another day of reflection...

Yesterday was the first Thanksgiving I was without family. Thank God, my friend, Peggy invited me to the mountains to spend the day with her friends and later, her mom and brother.

Like so many others, I'm struggling financially, but I am thankful for all the people who love me, my ability to work hard, and my health! 

I'm doing more walking with my dog and getting myself ready for next week's stress test. Since I live with it every day, I'm sure I'll do fine!

A Thanksgiving Prayer...

Happy Thanksgiving to my children, family and friends!   Love.

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry.

 

When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless.

 

When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home.

 

When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer.

 

And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency,
bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough
to help by word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.

 

Amen

 

- Samuel F. Pugh

This is how a "Never Ending Altruistic Donor (NEAD) chain" works...

Because I am an altruistic donor, I was excited to hear that UCLA is hoping to begin a NEAD.

A NEAD™ chain begins with one non-directed (altruistic) potential donor who gives to a person waiting for a transplant, and that recipient’s willing—but incompatible—donor gives to another person waiting, and so on.

Each living donor in this system gives to a stranger, and the chain of donors is kept going as long as possible.

In a NEAD™ chain, a non-directed potential donor is matched up with a recipient
who has a willing, but incompatible donor. Then that recipient’s incompatible donor
then gives to another incompatible pair, and so on.

My hope is to have the operation this year. What a great Christmas present this would be!