Living Donor Info

Do donors have to take special medicication for the rest of their life?

• no - donors are advised to limit the consumption of NSAIDs  (ibuprofen)

Can donors still drink alcohol?

• Yes - alcohol is filtered through tge livwer not kidneys.

Will donating a kidney shorten my lifespan?

• No!! - Although every major surgery has risks studies show that those who are kidney donors live longer - probably due to the fact they are healthier than the general population. 

Can I still workout after donating a kidney?

• Yes - there will be a recovery period but after 6-8 weeks you can go back to regular exercise. 

If I have a recipient in mind how do I know if I am a match?

• The transplant center will test to see if you are a match for your recipient. If you aren't a direct match you can be paired through an exchange system.

Who pays for the cost?

• The recipient's insurance pays for the testing, evaluation, and the surgery!

When can I go back to work? 

• For jobs that don't require heavy lifting, normally 2-4 weeks.If you work from home you can go back almost immediately. Donors with more active jobs need 6-8 weeks to recover.

How long will I be in the hospital?

• 1-3 nights.

What is recovery like?

• You will have tenderness in the abdominal area. You also may feel pain in the shoulder, and cramping in the intestines. This ultimately depends on the individual. Taking daily and frequent walks helps with the recovery process. 

How long does testing take?

• On average its 3-4 months, but it depends on the donors availability. 

What are the requirements?

• To donate a kidney, you must be in good physical and mental health. As a general rule, you must be 18 years or older. You must also have normal kidney function. There are some medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor. These include, but are not limited to, having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, acute infections, or a high BMI. 

Do I need to follow a diet after donation?

• No! Nutrient-rich foods will help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, which will keep your kidney healthy. Some medical professionals recommend that donors should avoid eating too much protein, especially from protein powder or supplements, because excess protein may make your kidney work harder.

How does a kidney swap work?

• Sometimes a transplant candidate has someone who wants to donate a kidney to them, but tests reveal that the kidney would not be a medical match. Kidney paired donation, also called kidney exchange, gives that transplant candidate another option. In paired donation, living donor kidneys are swapped so each recipient receives a compatible transplant.

Will I have a scar?

• Most of the times minimal scarring will be left on the donor.

Can I still give birth after donation?

• Yes!! You still can give birth after donation.