DrBharatShah: No. God has given us 2 kdneys. One kidney is enough to live a normal healthy life. Some people are born with one kidney and go on to live normal life. We now have data of many people who have donated their kidney and are doing as well or better that those who have not donated. See an article in today's Times of India.

shivani: hi, can kidneys be put up for donation after death

DrBharatShah: Yes Shivani. This is usually in a case of brain death where a patient is in ICU and supported on breathing machine. In this case the heart and lungs are supported. Therefore all the parts of body continue to get blood supply. During this periods, kidneys and other organs can be donated. Even with support after a few hours or days heart will stop so it is important to identify brain death as early as possible. If one dies at home, heart will stop beating and all other organs will be deprived of blood supply and die. So if death occurs at home, the kidneys and other organs cannot be donated.

gaurang: i've heard that if you've donated a kidney, you must reduce physical activity and must be extra careful about your diet. is that true?

DrBharatShah: No Gaurang. A person who has donated a kidney is a completely normal person. He needs no dietary restriction or activity restriction

kiran: is live kidney donation only recommneded in case of blood relatives?

DrBharatShah: It is not a question of recommendation. It is a requirement by law (Transplantation of human organs act of 1994. That way we do spousal transplant where they are not biologically related. Similarly when we take kidney from a dead person, there is no relation between donor and recipient.

shivani: what is the current scene with regards to people waiting for kidney donations? is tehre any support grp to help them out ?

DrBharatShah: There is no question about waiting for kidney donation. If one wants to donate while alive, it has to be to the relative. To donate after death you have to sign an organ donor card, let your relatives know and keep the card with u all the time. There is a support group " Narmada Kidney Foundation (WWW. narmadakidney.og), tel 28254147. U can ask for all information and organ donor cads from Narmada kidney Foundation. You can also download from the website.

shivani: how does one get a donor card done ? is it made at a hospital or is there some private NGO type place? is it valid across hospitals?

DrBharatShah: Yes. Donor card is valid universally. It is like your will. U can ask for it from Narmada Kidney foundation office (tel 022 28254147) or download from website (www.marmadakidney.org).

kiran: is kidney sale illegal or can a person receive paymnet for donating a kidney?

DrBharatShah: I see that lot of questions are being asked about kidney transplant - a therapy which only a fraction of people developing kidney failure get due to complexity and cost involved. On the occasion of world kidney day why is everyone not asking about how to take care fo kidneys so that they do not fail. No. Kiran. Kidneys can not be sold. It is illegal

kiran: ok, so basically, live organ donation requires relation, where as cadaver donation requires no relations? what if a blood relative of the deceased requires an organ?

DrBharatShah: If one wants kidney from a deceased donor, he has to register his name. In Mumbai there is zonal transplant coordination committe, which maintains registry. Patients are put on waiting list. Depending on various criteria, the most deserving candidate is selected and given the kidney. If the relative of a dead person needs kidney, he cannot get it. The dead person's kidneys go to common pool and based on criteria most deserving patients are given the kidney.

shivani: what happens to the body after donation? is there any disfiguration of any type?

DrBharatShah: The body appears the same. There is absolutely no disfigurement. One will not be able to make out also that organs have been donated.

gaurang: what are the signs of kidney trouble ? is there any self chk method?

DrBharatShah: That is a good question. The signs of kidney trouble are foamy urine, passing blood in urine, swelling of legs and face, high blood pressure (which may give frequent headaches), backache, high BP. Sometimes there may be no signs or symptoms and only way to detect is by doning urine (which will show proteins) and bood test for creatinine.

kiran: do protein supplement harm the kidneys? what about alcohol? i take protien supplemtns for body building and usualy take part in social drinking with friends on the weekend

DrBharatShah: If you are healthy, protein supplements are ok. They will not harm kidneys. If your kidney function is not normal, protein supplments can harm the damaged kidneys. They put an extra load on kidneys that are poorly functioning. Social alchol is ok.

Wilson: Does elevated blood sugar levels for a long period lead to such a damage to kidney that tranplant is needed?

DrBharatShah: Yes Wilson. High blood sugars – diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure. By controlling sugars well, kidney failure can be prevented.

shivani: can a gp do a kidney chk? what are the diagnostic test to do and what's the frequecy that they have to be done at? when should one start ?

DrBharatShah: Yes we do organize screening camps thru Narmada Kidney foundation. Please visit the website and call the office. U can be helped. The tests we usually do ae blod sugar and BP check. If we feel, we ask for urine and creatinine

Wilson: When does it become absolutely necessary for transplant ? Does it gets covered under insurance ? One needs to justify that transplant is needed.

DrBharatShah: Transplant is required when kidney function drops to 10% of normal. Whether it will be covered by your insurance company will depend whether you were insured before or after the disease was detected. Check with your agent

DrBharatShah: Thank you. I still want to stress that we should work hard to prevent kidney disease.