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• Peter Long - Living with Kidney Disease

Peter Long - Living with Kidney Disease

Hello, I was first diagnosed with Kidney failure at the age of 36, known as Polycystic disease.

How it all started was that I attended a Doctor to see if I could find out the reason why I was getting blood noses on a consistent basis. The initial finding was high blood pressure. After a second test, which required a small procedure in hospital, it was discovered that I had oversize kidneys.

Having been sent to Perth to visit a specialist, he informed me that I had Polycystic disease, which was a bit of a shock to the system, as at that age I was still pretty fit and apart from the odd blood nose was in reasonable working order or so I thought.

The renal specialist told me I wasnt going to die overnight and that this disease wouldnt affect me for about 20 years, and he was nearly spot on.

In early 2000 I had a knee replacement and I was told that I should consult a renal specialist again. From that point in time I was under constant monitoring of my Creatinine, which is what Doctors use as a yard stick to see how well you are.

My Creatinine level deteriorated to such an extent that on the 3^rd March 2003 I had a transplant, thanks to my wife who became a living donor.

At the various meetings with my Renal specialist prior to the transplant, we, the doctor, my wife and I, discussed dialysis and the two types that were available at the time, and even went as far a having a fistular inserted into my arm, in case dialysis was required. Then when getting closer to the moment, out of the blue, my wife offered one of her kidneys. An offer I couldnt refuse, and eternally grateful for.

Following blood tests for us both, it was decided that my wifes blood type was compatible with mine and that the transplant could go ahead.

After giving my wife time to reconsider her decision, the transplant took place in Subiaco at St John of God hospital on the 3^rd March 2003.

My wife was discharged from hospital after 5 days and myself after 8 days, but within a few days I was back in hospital, this time at Royal Perth Specialist renal ward, with a slight rejection problem. Having over come this slight bout of rejection, but still having to make visits to my specialist every second day for blood tests recovery for me was slow.

A second rejection problem arose that required a stay in RPH for about a week, then home again. For a while I was going along very well, when out of the blue a third but much more serious bout of rejection arose. So serious was this bout that the doctors were considering removing the newly transplanted kidney, which to my mind would have been a disaster, as if it had stayed with my wife it would have worked for the term of her natural life. Fortunately a reasonably new drug, but hardly used by medical staff to that point in time was given to me by injection and fortunately for all, the drug worked. I was in RPH for 5 weeks this time and learnt not to eat their food, horrible, only joking.

My story is a successful one and I owe so much to my wife and all of the wonderful people at RPH Renal ward. Special thanks to Dr Ivor Thompson who supervised the transplant and Dr Kevin Warr my Renal Specialist, who still today has a very special place in my life not only as a doctor but as a friend.

Today, three and a half years after my transplant, I live a normal life, still have a beer or wine and venture to where ever life takes me. If you read this and have thought about becoming a donor, ask me how I feel about being a recipient. Peter L