Michael Garrels RN BScN(c), Transplant Coordinator, Living Donor Kidney Program from the University Health Network sent me a letter. Actually, it was his Administrative Assistant Sherry Young that organized all the appointments over a 2-day period and sent me official notification of them. I called to confirm I'd be there.
Since this is my first visit to Toronto General Hospital, I will need a Blue Patient Card. It is also suggested that I do not wear fragrance when going to the hospital for appointments. After have been in the hospital for a short time, I discovered there are numerous "hand sanitizing" stations throughout the hospital, at every door, at every corner. And each office, reception would ask if you had sanitized your hands before approaching the desk. If not, there was sanitizer there for you. There's no reason to think of a hospital as "germ-y" after seeing all that!
The following appointments have been arranged exclusively for me as part of my kidney donor assessment:
Monday, July 6, 2009
Chest X-ray
9:00 a.m.
Preparation: None
Duration: 0.5 Hour
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 1st floor North Bldg - Medical Imaging
GFR (Renal Scan) ***This test is a two part test***
9:45 a.m. AND 12:45 p.m.
Preparation:
Duration: 1.5 Hours part 1, 1.5 Hours break, 0.75 Hours part 2
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 1st floor North Building - Medical Imaging
If you have any questions or concerns about the test, or if you need to reschedule your appointment, please contact the Ultrasound Department at 416-340-4800 ext 3311.
CT Scan
11:30 a.m.
Preparation:
Duration: 1.0 to 1.5 Hours
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 1st floor North Building - Medical Imaging
If you have any questions or concerns about the test, or if you need to reschedule your appointment, please contact the CT Department at 416-340-4800 ext 3384.
Dr. Esther Elliott, Psychiatry (All anonymous donors)
2:00 p.m.
Preparation: None
Duration: 1.0 to 1.5 Hours
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 8th Floor North, Out-Patient Psychiatry (Beside the East Elevators)
If you have any questions or concerns about the test, or if you need to reschedule your appointment, please contact Deanna at 416-340-4800 ext 3043.
Michael Garrels RN BScNc (Transplant Coordinator) Donor Education
3:30 p.m.
Preparation: Please read "Donor Package"
Duration: 1.0 Hours
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 12th floor Clinical Services Building, Room 1217
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Abdominal Ultrasound
9:00 a.m.
Preparation:
Duration: 1.0 to 1.5 Hours
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 1st floor North Building - Medical Imaging
If you have any questions or concerns about the test, or if you need to reschedule your appointment, please contact the Ultrasound Department at 416-340-4800 ext 4518.
Brigitte Talevski MSW RSW (Social Worker)
10:00 a.m.
Preparation: None
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Location: Toronto General Hospital - 11th floor Clinical Services Building - Room 1105
If you have any questions or concerns about the test, or if you need to reschedule your appointment, please contact the Social Work Department at 416-340-4800 ext 5655.
Next Steps, Not Yet Scheduled:
Transplant Nephrologist
But let's see first how well I get through 2 days of poking and prodding (physically as well as mentally!). Below are some of the test details.
Renal and CT scans - Instructions
Renal Scan/GFR Instructions to Patients
There is no preparation for this test but this is what the 3.5 hour procedure entails (I begin this process at 9:30 a.m. immediately following the chest X-ray):
1. First they measure my height and weight.
2. Then I drink 2 to 3 glasses of water over 15 minutes.
3. I will be asked to use the washroom before the test begins.
4. I lie on a special bed and they inject me with a small amount of the radioactive tracer.
5. They take pictures as I lie there for 20 minutes.
6. I use the washroom again.
7. They take 2 more quick pictures. These only last 1 minute each.
8. I come back for the first blood sample 1 hour after my injection.
9. I come back for the second blood sample 3 hours after the injection.
GFR stands for Glomerular Filtration Rate - how the blood vessels in my kidneys are filtering.
What happens after the test?
There are no known side effects from this test so I can go back to my normal activities.
CT Abdomen/Pelvis Instructions to Patients
What a CT scan is for:
A CT scan is an x-ray that we do using a computer. We take a series of pictures that show more detail than regular x-rays. Sometimes doctors use CT scans as guides when they are doing biopsies.
Before Your CT Scan:
If you are having a CT scan of the stomach (abdominal CT scan) do not eat or drink four (4) hours before your appointment. We might ask you to drink barium or water one hour before the scan. Barium is a liquid that makes your stomach and intestines show up in the scan. For abdominal and some other CT scans we might inject you with a dye. We give you a needle in your arm and inject the dye right before the scan. The dye makes your blood vessels show up in the scan.
How long with the scan take?
The scan takes from 10 to 20 minutes. You may be at the hospital anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of CT scan you are having done.
What happens during the scan?
1. You lie down on a table.
2. We put the part of your body that we need to scan into position. It needs to be in the middle of the scanner.
3. The table that you are lying on moves you in and out of the scanner. The scanner is a large machine that takes up most of the room.
4. When the scan is actually happening, the technologist leaves the room.
5. We can still hear you and see you through a window.
6. We give you instructions through the intercom.
7. You have to lie still while the scan is happening.
8. You might hear buzzing or clicking noises from the scanner. These are normal and you don't need to worry.
After Your Scan:
You can eat as you normally would after the scan as long as you don't have another test to do. If you had to drink barium or if you were injected with dye, drink lots of fluid over the next 24 hours to help flush them out of your body. After the scan, we study the results and send a report to your doctor in about a week. Your doctor will answer any questions you have about your diagnosis.
When You Come In For Your CT Scan:
1. Don't wear jewelry (or be prepared to take it off for the scan). If we are scanning you above the neck, you may also have to take off your dentures, hearing aids, or hairpins.
I didn't wear jewelry to the hospital at all but I completely forgot to remove my belly button ring. I removed it mid-test and it was returned to me in a paper cup used for holding people's dentures. :)
2. Try to bring someone with you. If you're having a CT-guided biopsy, you'll want someone to help you get home afterward. N/A
3. If you require a translator you must notify the hospital before your appointment so that we can make arrangements for a translator to be available for your appointment. N/A
4. Bring your health card. (I couldn't believe somebody that stood in line ahead of me to see the social worker complained over and over to the receptionist that he had to show not just his health card but the blue hospital card too. I wish I had thought at the time, as I did later, to mention to him that it is a lot better to do that for free health care than to dish over your credit card.)
5. It's important to arrive on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, we may need to reschedule your appointment.
Abdominal Ultrasound with Doppler
Where do I go for the test?
1st floor Clinical Services Building, near the West elevators, check in at Reception please.
Why do I need this test?
The ultrasound "looks" at the organs inside the abdomen, especially the liver, spleen and kidneys and their blood vessels.
How is the test done?
A jelly is put on the abdomen and a wand is placed on the abdomen to "see" the organs and the blood vessels inside.
How long will the test take?
The test will take about 60 MINUTES.
What do I need to get ready for the test?
1. If your appointment is in the morning (before 12:00 noon), please come fasting (nothing to eat or drink) for 12 hours before the test.
2. If your appointment is in the afternoon (after 12:00 noon), you can have a light breakfast (toast and juice) before 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Just getting an opinion
I had the opportunity to talk privately with a good friend Keren today so I thought I'd ask her what she thinks of this. She first asked me my reasons for doing it. I explained about Rollie. I don't know if that's the entire reason but it's where I begin.
She told me that it seems to be in my heart to give, perhaps to even be a calling, so if I'm absolutely certain, then go for it. She told me the recovery won't be easy and that I'd "feel" it. But there are always the obvious questions... and contemplating the answers to those questions why people opt against this. I was happy with her response though.
I'm think I'm going to Google "live kidney donor forums" or something and see what I come up with. I think after talking with the specialists in July, too, I'll have a much better idea what I'm getting myself into. They may also give me some direction as to where to find the support I seek.
She told me that it seems to be in my heart to give, perhaps to even be a calling, so if I'm absolutely certain, then go for it. She told me the recovery won't be easy and that I'd "feel" it. But there are always the obvious questions... and contemplating the answers to those questions why people opt against this. I was happy with her response though.
I'm think I'm going to Google "live kidney donor forums" or something and see what I come up with. I think after talking with the specialists in July, too, I'll have a much better idea what I'm getting myself into. They may also give me some direction as to where to find the support I seek.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The phone call from TGH
What do they say about whispering to the universe? Say something, write something even, and it will boomerang back to you with some kind of answer. Well, I got a phone call from Sherry today from the Toronto General Hospital around 4 p.m. in regards to the next steps after just thinking today I should call but not having the number with me.
Sherry had called my house initially but reached me at work. She told me that Michael wanted her to expedite the process which prompted her to call me and set up the next appointments.
Realizing who was on the other end of the phone made me really anxious. I knew in the back of my head that I wasn't scheduling surgery but I felt panicked about that notion just the same. It felt a little more "real". Anyway, before I got an answer I asked twice, "What do the next appointments entail?" Well, it requires the better part of 2 days so I have to take time off work. Sheesh, this is just for the testing aspect of it. Ok, when is the next available time slots? Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7 I'm scheduled to arrive at Toronto General at 9 a.m.
What are these next tests, I ask? Here goes (in part):
* abdominal ultra sound
* CT
* chest x-ray
* renal scan
* meet with a social worker
* meet with the transplant coordinator
* meet with a psychiatrist (to see if I'm simply not crazy for giving away a perfectly good kidney to a complete stranger for no apparent reason)
The lady ends the conversation telling me she'll send a letter with instructions.
So. Do I take 2 vacation days? Do I call in sick? I ping May to chat with her before she leaves for the day. We meet briefly and I have to explain the circumstances. Her eyes kinda bug out of her head and after she suggests I take some personal days (reminding me I have 3 each year) she tells me that although it's a good thing for me to do I should seriously reconsider going through with this. She also wondered if this was to be made public and I told her I was just going through the tests now and that I could back out at any time so I didn't really care to share the story so soon. I think some people won't understand and I think I'd feel a bit awkward talking about it prematurely.
This particular surgery has been performed for 50 years so there's got to be plenty willing to share their stories.
I feel undecided about my emotions and leave work feeling somber. After arriving home and watching a little TV with Ben and Brittany, Brittany asks if I'm OK, that I seem a little mellow. Besides telling her some strange family issues going on (I'm linking my Care Page but I haven't added any info yet... http://www.carepages.com/carepages/WalterCorey) I explain about the kidney call. After mentioning the psychiatrist Ben hadn't realized why I was doing a 24-hour urine test and said, "You're donating a kidney?" Well so far that is the plan but we'll see.
I have to research more so I look at my Delicious pages and browse through these sites - full of information. Wow, I read about the surgeries but the recovery time I wasn't thinking about much. It seems like I'm going to have to make arrangements with work - to work from home - because recovery is several weeks! Gulp. I've only had gum and laser eye surgery and have never been "put under" so that part also makes me nervous. But I do still feel those things are rudimentary in comparison to multiple sessions of dialysis every week.
Here are the sites I browsed:
http://www.giftoflife.on.ca
http://www.kidney.ca
I want to go as far as I can until they say, OK well the next thing is to actually schedule the surgery. We have a healthy candidate lined up needing your kidney. At that point, I can say "yes" or "no"....
Sherry had called my house initially but reached me at work. She told me that Michael wanted her to expedite the process which prompted her to call me and set up the next appointments.
Realizing who was on the other end of the phone made me really anxious. I knew in the back of my head that I wasn't scheduling surgery but I felt panicked about that notion just the same. It felt a little more "real". Anyway, before I got an answer I asked twice, "What do the next appointments entail?" Well, it requires the better part of 2 days so I have to take time off work. Sheesh, this is just for the testing aspect of it. Ok, when is the next available time slots? Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7 I'm scheduled to arrive at Toronto General at 9 a.m.
What are these next tests, I ask? Here goes (in part):
* abdominal ultra sound
* CT
* chest x-ray
* renal scan
* meet with a social worker
* meet with the transplant coordinator
* meet with a psychiatrist (to see if I'm simply not crazy for giving away a perfectly good kidney to a complete stranger for no apparent reason)
The lady ends the conversation telling me she'll send a letter with instructions.
So. Do I take 2 vacation days? Do I call in sick? I ping May to chat with her before she leaves for the day. We meet briefly and I have to explain the circumstances. Her eyes kinda bug out of her head and after she suggests I take some personal days (reminding me I have 3 each year) she tells me that although it's a good thing for me to do I should seriously reconsider going through with this. She also wondered if this was to be made public and I told her I was just going through the tests now and that I could back out at any time so I didn't really care to share the story so soon. I think some people won't understand and I think I'd feel a bit awkward talking about it prematurely.
This particular surgery has been performed for 50 years so there's got to be plenty willing to share their stories.
I feel undecided about my emotions and leave work feeling somber. After arriving home and watching a little TV with Ben and Brittany, Brittany asks if I'm OK, that I seem a little mellow. Besides telling her some strange family issues going on (I'm linking my Care Page but I haven't added any info yet... http://www.carepages.com/carepages/WalterCorey) I explain about the kidney call. After mentioning the psychiatrist Ben hadn't realized why I was doing a 24-hour urine test and said, "You're donating a kidney?" Well so far that is the plan but we'll see.
I have to research more so I look at my Delicious pages and browse through these sites - full of information. Wow, I read about the surgeries but the recovery time I wasn't thinking about much. It seems like I'm going to have to make arrangements with work - to work from home - because recovery is several weeks! Gulp. I've only had gum and laser eye surgery and have never been "put under" so that part also makes me nervous. But I do still feel those things are rudimentary in comparison to multiple sessions of dialysis every week.
Here are the sites I browsed:
http://www.giftoflife.on.ca
http://www.kidney.ca
I want to go as far as I can until they say, OK well the next thing is to actually schedule the surgery. We have a healthy candidate lined up needing your kidney. At that point, I can say "yes" or "no"....
The Canadian Blood Services newsletter
It started with a newsletter emailed to me this spring. I give blood regularly... I just made my 69th donation. http://www.blood.ca/
I was reading about OneMatch formerly the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry (UBMDR). I've been registered but then I noticed something about organ donation. Of course this peaks my interest. My brother Rollie donated his organs when he died. I'd like to be able to do the same. But I'm not guaranteed to be able to donate my organs. What if I'm not healthy, or what if I die in such a way that my organs cannot be used? Live Kidney Donation seems to be a viable alternative... and an assurance that I can give somebody an organ, even if it is before I die.
On Friday, April 3, 2009 I called the University Health Network at Toronto General Hospital, Sick Kids re: the living donor paired exchange program that I read about. Michael Garrels, a Transplant Coordinator, told me a package would be sent to me.
I received and completed a multi-page application and mailed it back Tuesday, April 21st. More than 4 weeks pass and I'm wondering what will take place next and when. I get a call from Michael the last week of May and blood requisition forms and other test information sent to me which I receive Thursday, May 28th. I called TGH the next day and Sherry tells me that I should seek out a Life Labs location to give the urine and blood samples. I Google them: http://www.lifelabs.com/
Requisition #1
There's a convenient location downtown and the lab opens early (7:30 a.m.) so I aim to make it there at that time on the next business day. The letter in the package had indicated that if I couldn't get these tests done within 1 month that they will consider me to have declined proceeding with this process. No worries, I'm on it as soon as I can. I have to fast for 12-14 hours. It's only from 7 p.m. Sunday evening till the next morning so it wasn't a big deal. Monday, June 1st I arrive at Life Labs at 55 Queen Street East across from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. I take a number (16) and I wait nearly an hour. I have to pee in a cup and get 8+ viles of blood taken from me for various tests. This takes about half an hour; they give me a big orange jug for another urine test and by 9 a.m. I'm on my way to work.
Requisition #2
There are two requisitions so after a minimum of 5 days I need to go back to Life Labs to return the orange jug. Sunday, June 7th I start the 24-hour urine test. This is interesting; I've never done this before. When I wake up Sunday, I pee then record the time as the beginning of the test. I have to collect my urine for the rest of the day for 24 hours. I don't drink wine that day but I do drink some coffee in the morning. I also have a pot of green tea in the evening. By morning, the jug is completely filled! The Monday morning pee is the last deposit then I take the jug to Life Labs.
Monday, June 8th I turn over the big orange jug of pee then I have to pee in a cup again and give a couple more viles of blood. They need to compare the amount of protein in my urine to that in my blood immediately after the 24-urine test. The kidneys are not supposed to process protein. They also look for "waste" levels.
The forms indicated that if my tests are suitable to proceed then more tests will be conducted. It's Friday, June 19th and I haven't heard anything about the next steps. I donated blood this morning and I had to answer "yes" in response to if I've been tested for HIV. That's so odd. I've never been tested for HIV before. I explained the circumstances though and the nurse documented that the tests were "negative".
On the other hand...
I find it important to note that my husband is not in agreement with me doing this. When I got the first paperwork I told him that if I can help somebody with kidney disease or stop somebody from having to get multiple sessions of dialysis every week, that that is a good thing. He tells me I help so many people giving blood, this will help just one person. I know this, but it helps one person in a really big way. During my fast he expresses concern again, saying he should have a say in this - it is the health of his wife after all. And what if I have health issues myself later in life. He would not be too happy if I end up needing something I went to all this "trouble" to give away. I tell him that I'm just getting some tests done right now, that it's too early to be concerned and that I can back out at any time. We'll see what happens...
I was reading about OneMatch formerly the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry (UBMDR). I've been registered but then I noticed something about organ donation. Of course this peaks my interest. My brother Rollie donated his organs when he died. I'd like to be able to do the same. But I'm not guaranteed to be able to donate my organs. What if I'm not healthy, or what if I die in such a way that my organs cannot be used? Live Kidney Donation seems to be a viable alternative... and an assurance that I can give somebody an organ, even if it is before I die.
On Friday, April 3, 2009 I called the University Health Network at Toronto General Hospital, Sick Kids re: the living donor paired exchange program that I read about. Michael Garrels, a Transplant Coordinator, told me a package would be sent to me.
I received and completed a multi-page application and mailed it back Tuesday, April 21st. More than 4 weeks pass and I'm wondering what will take place next and when. I get a call from Michael the last week of May and blood requisition forms and other test information sent to me which I receive Thursday, May 28th. I called TGH the next day and Sherry tells me that I should seek out a Life Labs location to give the urine and blood samples. I Google them: http://www.lifelabs.com/
Requisition #1
There's a convenient location downtown and the lab opens early (7:30 a.m.) so I aim to make it there at that time on the next business day. The letter in the package had indicated that if I couldn't get these tests done within 1 month that they will consider me to have declined proceeding with this process. No worries, I'm on it as soon as I can. I have to fast for 12-14 hours. It's only from 7 p.m. Sunday evening till the next morning so it wasn't a big deal. Monday, June 1st I arrive at Life Labs at 55 Queen Street East across from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. I take a number (16) and I wait nearly an hour. I have to pee in a cup and get 8+ viles of blood taken from me for various tests. This takes about half an hour; they give me a big orange jug for another urine test and by 9 a.m. I'm on my way to work.
Requisition #2
There are two requisitions so after a minimum of 5 days I need to go back to Life Labs to return the orange jug. Sunday, June 7th I start the 24-hour urine test. This is interesting; I've never done this before. When I wake up Sunday, I pee then record the time as the beginning of the test. I have to collect my urine for the rest of the day for 24 hours. I don't drink wine that day but I do drink some coffee in the morning. I also have a pot of green tea in the evening. By morning, the jug is completely filled! The Monday morning pee is the last deposit then I take the jug to Life Labs.
Monday, June 8th I turn over the big orange jug of pee then I have to pee in a cup again and give a couple more viles of blood. They need to compare the amount of protein in my urine to that in my blood immediately after the 24-urine test. The kidneys are not supposed to process protein. They also look for "waste" levels.
The forms indicated that if my tests are suitable to proceed then more tests will be conducted. It's Friday, June 19th and I haven't heard anything about the next steps. I donated blood this morning and I had to answer "yes" in response to if I've been tested for HIV. That's so odd. I've never been tested for HIV before. I explained the circumstances though and the nurse documented that the tests were "negative".
On the other hand...
I find it important to note that my husband is not in agreement with me doing this. When I got the first paperwork I told him that if I can help somebody with kidney disease or stop somebody from having to get multiple sessions of dialysis every week, that that is a good thing. He tells me I help so many people giving blood, this will help just one person. I know this, but it helps one person in a really big way. During my fast he expresses concern again, saying he should have a say in this - it is the health of his wife after all. And what if I have health issues myself later in life. He would not be too happy if I end up needing something I went to all this "trouble" to give away. I tell him that I'm just getting some tests done right now, that it's too early to be concerned and that I can back out at any time. We'll see what happens...
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About Me
- Roz
- I married Lorne on Saturday, August 13, 2005. Our children Benjamin and Brittany live with us and our 3 dogs Bailey, Rex, Leo, and Molly the cat.