WHY DONATE:

Organ, eye and tissue donation provides lifesaving and healing opportunities to the nearly 120,000 people waiting for transplants nationwide. Over 2,500 of those people waiting for a lifesaving transplant live right here in our community! Organ, eye and tissue donation allows others to breathe, to see, to move and to live. Donation is a way to give the ultimate gift – the gift of life.

ORGAN DONATION PROCESS:

When the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) was signed into law in 1984, it created the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) establishing an organ donation process for matching donor organs to waiting recipients. The OPTN standardized the process for donating organs across the country and created the system of federally-designated Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), like Donor Alliance.

The OPTN is managed under contract by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS establishes allocation policy and manages the national transplant waiting list, matching donors to recipients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. UNOS also maintains the database that contains all organ transplant data for every transplant that occurs in the U.S.

DIANOSIS:

There are numerous laws, regulations and standards that govern how and when a medical professional can make an official declaration of death. What is most important to know is that hospitals and emergency medical professionals will make every effort to save a patient’s life regardless of their status as a donor.

Death can occur in one of two ways: cardiac death, when the heart is no longer able to beat on its own, and brain death, which is the irreversible loss of function of the brain, including the brain stem.

Organ donation after Brain Death:

According to the Uniform Determination of Death Act, brain death is defined as the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. A brain-dead person is dead, although his or her cardiopulmonary functioning may be artificially maintained for some time.

Because of the neurological nature of brain death, a controlled and extensive clinical exam occurs to make that final declaration. Brain death is final and finite; it is not in the same thing as a coma or persistent vegetative state.

Brain death determination is rare and occurs only in about 1 out of every 100 hospital deaths.

Organ Donation after Circulatory Death:

Organ donation after circulatory death (DCD) is the type of donation that was used in the early years of organ donation. Before brain death criteria was established, DCD and living related donation were the only options.

This type of donation occurs when a patient has an illness from which he or she cannot recover. The patient is not brain dead, but has no hope of recovery.

If the family is interested in donation and has made the decision to withdraw treatment, that process will occur in the operating room instead of the hospital room. The time from the family authorizing the process to the removal of support is typically no fewer than eight hours, due to the need for blood tests and other arrangements.

Once in the OR, if the patient’s heart stops within the designated time frame for donation, the team waits for several minutes to ensure that the heart has ceased functioning. At this time, a physician from the hospital, not the organ recovery team, will pronounce the patient dead. Then, the surgery to procure the organs for donation begins.

While DCD increases the number of organs available for transplant, this type of donation does not allow for organs other than the liver and kidneys to be procured in most cases. It is rare for the heart and lungs to be recovered.

How to match a donor to the best candidate who needs a organ:

The system uses this information to match the medical characteristics of the candidates waiting against those of the donor. The system then generates a ranked list of patients who are suitable to receive each organ. This list is called a “match run.”

Factors affecting ranking may include:

• Tissue match
• Blood type
• Length of time on the waiting list
• Immune status
• Distance between the potential recipient and the donor
• Degree of medical urgency (for heart, liver, lung and intestines)

The organ is offered to the transplant center for the first person on the list. At times, the top transplant candidate will not get the organ for one of several reasons. When a patient is
selected, he or she must be available, healthy enough to undergo major surgery and willing to be transplanted immediately. Also, a laboratory test to measure compatibility between the donor and potential recipient may be necessary. If the organ is refused for any reason, the transplant center of the next patient on the list is contacted. The process continues until a match is made. Once a patient is selected and informed and all testing is complete, surgery is scheduled and the transplant takes place.

“Prevent Blindness has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month in an effort to educate the public on the increased risk for women and vision health issues, as well as steps that can be taken to prevent vision loss.

Two out of every three people living with blindness or vision problems are women according to the National Eye Institute. Women are at greater risk of developing a number of eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma.

We know that women often manage their family’s health and take care of everyone else first. However, it is important that women make their own eye health a priority as early detection and consistent treatment can significantly reduce the risk of vision loss.”

Texas Retina Associates

“The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances.

Liver disease can be inherited (genetic). Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity.

Over time, conditions that damage the liver can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. But early treatment may give the liver time to heal.”.

MAYO CLINIC

“Contrary to what many people believe, false pregnancy is not only found in women but men as well. When a man suffers a false pregnancy, it is usually called Sympathetic Pregnancy.  This is more common when his significant other is pregnant and is dealing with the normal aches and pains that are associated with pregnancy. The medical term when men experience this is called Couvade.  Pseudocyesis is extremely rare in both men and women so doctors are still trying to piece together the root cause of the condition.”

American Pregnancy Association

The risk of phantom pregnancy is higher in women who have depression or who have:

• Lost a pregnancy
• A history of infertility
• A history of abuse or current abuse
• Relationship instability

Phantom pregnancy symptoms

Phantom pregnancy symptoms are primarily the same as for pregnancy, including:

• Menstrual changes (no period or irregular cycle)
• Weight gain, swollen belly
• Enlarged and tender breasts
• Sensation of fetal movements
• Gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Food cravings

Phantom pregnancy treatments

If a woman has a phantom pregnancy, her caregiver will:

Provide evidence. This can be devastating to a woman who thought she was pregnant, but her caregiver will show her (with test results and/or an ultrasound if necessary) that she isn’t pregnant. The caregiver should strive to be empathetic. She might assure the patient that her belief that she was pregnant was understandable given the symptoms, for example.

Address other medical conditions. After determining that a woman has a phantom pregnancy, her caregiver will want to rule out – or address – other medical conditions that may be causing the pregnancy symptoms.

Reduce symptoms. If the woman isn’t having menstrual periods, for example, the caregiver may restore them with the use of hormonal intervention, if necessary. She might also help address symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

“A woman’s intuition is a funny thing. Most women know they are pregnant before they are even far enough along to take a test; we know our bodies and when something is different we can just feel it. What about a phantom pregnancy? There are times when even a woman’s intuition is off and our body tells us we are pregnant when in fact, we are not. This is a phenomenon called Pseudocyesis or a false pregnancy.”.

American Pregnancy Association – https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/false-pregnancy/

A phantom pregnancy happens when a woman believes she’s pregnant and has pregnancy symptoms, but isn’t pregnant. It’s also called a false pregnancy or pseudocyesis. (People once also referred to it as an hysterical pregnancy or fake pregnancy.)

A phantom pregnancy or false pregnancy happens when a woman has pregnancy symptoms but isn’t pregnant. Phantom pregnancy is rare, and experts don’t know exactly what causes it, but it’s probably a combination of psychological and hormonal factors. In a phantom pregnancy, the pregnancy test comes back negative and an ultrasound shows that there’s no baby. A woman who has a false pregnancy will need plenty of support from her caregiver to deal with symptoms, any medical condition causing the phantom pregnancy, and the psychological aftermath.

Phantom pregnancies are rare. Estimates vary but range from 1 to 6 cases per 22,000 births in the United States. False pregnancies were more common in the past, before the widespread use of ultrasounds. Interestingly, they’re more common in cultures where motherhood and fertility are emphasized. In Africa, for example, the rates of phantom pregnancy are estimated at about 1 in 160.

Eighty percent of women who experience a phantom pregnancy are married, and most are between the ages of 20 and 44. It can happen at any age, though, including childhood or in the senior years. A woman can have a phantom pregnancy more than once. It can even (very rarely) happen to men. This is called a sympathetic pregnancy or Couvade syndrome.

No, a false pregnancy and a delusion of pregnancy aren’t the same. With a delusion, women don’t experience symptoms. Women who have a delusion of pregnancy are mentally ill and believe that they’re pregnant, even though they have no symptoms. It’s important for doctors to distinguish between the two because a delusional pregnancy requires different psychiatric treatment than a phantom pregnancy.

We don’t know what causes phantom pregnancy, though experts suggest that both psychological and hormonal factors are at play. (Because it’s such a rare condition, there’s not much data, and studies are largely based on individual case reports.) Basically, the body is tricked into thinking it’s pregnant. An increase in hormones such as estrogen and prolactin lead to pregnancy symptoms.

What causes this diagnsosis?

A psychosomatic condition. Because of intense pressure or desire to be pregnant, a woman’s brain triggers hormonal changes that cause pregnancy symptoms. This may happen when a woman has struggled with infertility or had a miscarriage or loss of an infant, or another traumatic event. It also sometimes happens to women who have an intense fear of pregnancy.

Some experts theorize that abdominal growth, the sensation of feeling fetal movement, and the experience of labor pain may be due to increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system (the body’s “fight or flight” system).

Another medical condition. Sometimes a completely unrelated illness can cause elevated hormonal levels or other physical reactions that lead to pregnancy symptoms. These conditions include ovarian tumors, severe depression, cancer, obesity, and ectopic pregnancy. Even weight gain, constipation, or gas – when paired with psychological factors – can cause abdominal distention that a woman may interpret as pregnancy. In one recent study, more than 16 percent of cases of phantom pregnancy were linked to medical conditions.

Major depressive disorders. Women with severe depression or severe stress may have changes in reproductive hormones. In addition, antipsychotic medications can cause some pregnancy-like symptoms, such as weight gain, loss of menstruation, and breast tenderness.

“Rabbits are the most common small mammal kept as pets in the US other than dogs and cats. Rabbits are typically sociable animals. Keep the rabbit in good health through proper management and veterinary care.  It is very important that rabbits are handled and held properly. A rabbit’s hind legs are so powerful that if the animal kicks when it is not properly supported, the force can actually break its back! Rabbits can be kept outdoors, but it is recommended that pet rabbits be kept indoors to protect them from attack and disease transmission from wildlife. Rabbits are extremely heat sensitive . Ventilation and temperature control of the rabbit’s environment are very important at all times.Rabbits are extremely heat sensitive . Ventilation and temperature control of the rabbit’s environment are very important at all time.”.

wormsandgermsblog.com

Rabbits are clean and for the most part there are very few health risks involved with sharing our lives with them. However, some people may experience problems and it is always wise to know what signs to look out for and steps to take to try and prevent any problems occurring. It should be stressed that health problems from people contracting things from rabbits are rare, and owners should not lose sleep over them!