On Trying to Donate a Kidney, Part Three

Note: I am working my way through the process of trying to be approved as a kidney donor for my brother. Part One is here. Part Two is here.]

I will be going from labs to meetings to labs and then cap off the day with a visit with a psychiatrist. I will update this post off and on all day.

This morning, after my 24 hour urine catch, I start the day with a glucose tolerance test. Of all the things I have to undergo, this is the one I dread the most. I don’t eat much sugar, so to deal with the kind of sugar hit that is about to come my way brings a lot of trepidation. Hope I don’t vomit just trying to get the stuff down.

I arrived at 5:18 am at the lab with my 24 hour urine collection and an empty stomach. The lab opens at 5:30. There were already ten people in front of me. Others now entering. People are here because of liver or kidney issues. Have no way to say who are possible donors and who are possible recipients. We just sit quietly and wait.

At 5:32 am, the first person is called in. There are now 22 people in here. Many wear surgical masks. Several small children.

Near silence. People sit like statues or stare at their phones.

It is now 5:46. I am guessing they will get to me by 6 am. The large waiting room is 2/3 full. So glad I came early. The written instructions said 6:30 am. But the friendly tech yesterday warned me about the early line formation.

I have just been called in. It has begun.

Update 6:45 am

They called me from the waiting room shortly before six. The tech handed me a bottle of orange drink, and silently motioned me

to a chair. After verifying my identity, she proceeded to take about six vials of blood, and told me I had five minutes to drink the liquid.

The stuff was awful, but I did get it down. She permitted me to take a swish of water afterwards, but that’s it for two hours. A few minutes later I was sent down the hall for an EKG. Nearly passed out from the sugar overload. For the last 10 minutes I’ve been walking around the plaza just trying to get some of this out of my system.

Update 8:25 am

I just kept moving for the next hour and half. Fortunately, it is beautiful morning here in Los Angeles, so as I walked outside, I saw the skies lighten and felt the cool morning breeze. I think it helped to walk off some of the excess sugar. I’m a bit shaky, but not lightheaded and feel OK.

Back to the lab, gave yet one more urine sample–one would think they’ve seen enough of that, and at precisely 8:05, two hours to the minute after the first blood draw, they took the second one.

Now time for a quick breakfast, and then walk to an orientation session about 3/4 of a mile from here.

9:45 am update

Forms, forms and more forms. Am waiting for the orientation session to start, sitting in a room with six strangers. We’ve laughed nervously together but no one wants to talk yet. It looks like most people are here is pairs: donor and recipient.

But my brother has already been through this and doesn’t need to repeat it. Plus, he has promised to show up after my last meeting with all the fixings for a great margarita in hand! Am already looking forward to it.

11:35 am update

Well, just had blood pressure taken. Off the charts, which I expected. Have been shot full of sugar, raced from place to place, and I’m just a wee bit stressed. Also been awake sense 4 am. How can it still be this early in the day here?

Next is a social worker. Have no idea what this is about. Apparently not everyone need to do this. Wonder what triggered it.

Compared schedules a little while ago with a potential donor who lives here. Much more relaxed pace for her as they break this up into several visits. I can surely see why.

Just learned more about the recovery period after surgery. Even with the less invasive methods used today, it is going to take a while.

1:45 pm update

Am waiting now to see the psychiatrist. Social worker wanted to make sure I have a support system for the recovery time which is pretty lengthy. And wanted to know how traumatic my childhood was. And how I reached the decision to donate. Good questions. Very helpful as has been everyone so far. She walked me to the radiology lab where a cheerful tech whisked me in and out of a chest X-ray in just a few minutes.

I have been very impressed by the friendly efficiency of everyone I have talked with or met with here. Seems like a good place and that people like what they do.

3:10 pm update

All tests done for the day. Psyche eval was primarily to determine my level of mental functioning so if I sense some impairment there afterward, they have a baseline to work toward again. His summation of our time, “You are a very bright woman.” Well, I could have told him that!

Over and over, everyone says to the potential donors, “You can back out at any time. There is no coercion here.” I do appreciate their emphasis on that, and also get the impression that a fair number of people really need to hear that. This is a complex decision and there are no guarantees about the outcomes–for either my brother or myself.

Speaking of my brother, he is nearly here, margarita mixings ready to go. He’s bringing a good friend of mine, whom I stayed with much of last summer. Will be so glad to see her. And also tell her that she’s on the spot as my caregiver should the surgery take place!