So Back Tracking.....

So last year, when it became apparent that my eldest brother would need either dialysis or a kidney transplant - I put myself forward as a potential donor. He's my brother of course I would.

From the moment i opened my mouth to offer my kidney, I had this feeling that I would be a match and that I would be able to help him out. I already knew my blood type, which is AB. So i was gutted to discover that my brother was B and needs either a B or an O blood-group match. I thought that's it!! I can't donate my kidney to him.

Then, as more potential donors came forward that weren't blood-group compatible with my brother, it became apparent that the next option would be the paired-donation scheme. So i booked myself in for the tests.

I saw one of the Transplant Co-ordinator Nurses, she was very friendly and I felt very relaxed in her company. She made sure I knew exactly what it was I was offering to do and that I would go through a very thorough medical assessment.  I would also have to see a psychologist and psychiatric report made. She explained the procedure and potential risks etc. After a few forms were signed, mainly ones asking for permission to gain access to my doctors file, that i agree to an HIV test and that i had understood all the information i had been given.
She then proceeded to ask me about my medical history and that of my families. My father has diabetes which means he's not a suitable donor for my brother. She asked me a few more questions re medical history etc and then came the tests:

Blood pressure
Blood taken for tests (about 8 tubes used)
Urine Sample
ECG (Electrocardiogram - Cardiograph of the heart function)
Chest X-ray.

I'd had to fast for a couple of them, so the sooner the tests began the better cos i was starving!! Once the many, many bloods were taken i was allowed a cup of tea!! Deep Joy!!

The blood would be tested for:
Hepatitis B & C
HIV
CMV (Cytomegalovirus - member of the Herpes Virus family)
Diabetes
Kidney & Liver function
Anaemia

I was at the Unit from 9am until about 2, I would advise that you take a good book as there is a far bit of waiting around, especially for the ECG and chest X-ray.

I got all my results back about a week later and everything was good, except my Creatine levels were a little low - but they think that maybe cos I fasted slightly longer than i was supposed to. Also, at this point because my blood-group is AB, they decided that they would not be conducting any further tests on me due to the rare nature of my blood type - basically there aren't many AB people out there with Kidney failure and an AB donor can only donate to an AB recipient! GAME OVER!!

Or so I thought.... Earlier this year my brother had an appointment at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London, they have one of the largest blood group incompatible transplantation programmes in the UK, having transplanted over 70 blood group incompatible living donor recipients over the last 5 years.

Cutting a long story short it is now possible for my brother to receive a kidney from any blood group!! So, on Tuesday July 17th 2012 I will be visiting the Nuclear Medicine Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital to undergo so more tests, which are:

Isotope Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) - this is to assess the capability of the kidney to 'clear' the blood of a substance.
Isotope Renogram - this examines my kidney function

So that's the next step!! Wish me luck!!