Thankfully Pieter and I are still both healthy and doing very well. For anyone considering becoming a living kidney donor, from personal experience I can say with much gratitude that I've not felt any difference physically between before and after the donation. In fact because I'm so conscious of looking after my only kidney, I've actively improved my health and lifestyle by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and reducing my stress levels. I've recently become a Vegetarian, and by reducing my protein intake, you'll notice from the table below an increase in my kidney function this year compared to previous years.
Here is a comparison of my GFR and Creatinine levels:
GFR: (ml/min) Creatinine
Before the operation 84 78
Day of discharge not tested 109
6 weeks later 62 117
1 year later (2013) 79 96
2 years later (2014) 74 101
3 years later (2015) 67 109
4 years later (2016) 57 122
5 years later (2017) 61 113
6 years later (2018) 71 99
Creatinine is a chemical waste product in
the blood that passes through the kidneys to be filtered and eliminated in
urine. The chemical waste is a by-product of normal muscle contractions.
Creatinine is made from creatine, a supplier of energy to the muscle. Creatinine
tests help doctors determine kidney function. Normal values are between 80
and 120 depending on age and size.
Glomerular
filtration rate (GFR) is a test used by physicians and other medical
professionals to see if the kidneys are working correctly. In basic
terms, it is a measurement of how much liquid and waste is passing
from the blood through the tiny filters in the kidney, called
the glomeruli, and out into the urine during each minute. The
test measures how much creatinine is in the blood. This shows how
well the kidneys are performing. In a normal healthy person the GFR stays close
to the same value all of the time. The test is done by taking blood from a
person and sending it to a laboratory. Normal values are between 80ml/min and
110ml/min depending on age and size.
