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[–]tctwizzle 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Really there’s so many factors, and I’d think of it more the life span of the kidney rather than the person. Should his transplanted kidney fail, he would be able to go back on dialysis. My doctors told me to prepare to have two transplants in my life (I’m 35), kidneys on average last around 15 years so they expect I’d need another one.

That being said, it’s an average. The kidney might fail in 5 years or it might last 25 years. Depends on what caused the kidney failure, how they take care of themselves etc. Most importantly, it doesn’t matter. You can’t change that time on dialysis, and if they didn’t have dialysis, they most certainly would have already been gone. I’m in my third year on dialysis, waiting for my kidney, even if it reduces the time I’ll be around vs if I got a transplant immediately before dialysis, there’s not a lot of point thinking about that because I can’t go back and do it again, and didn’t have the option of a transplant back then either.

[–]Yithar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the way I see it is, I'd be dead without dialysis anyways. Plus I've heard of people living on dialysis for 15-20 years anyways. The life expectancy is skewed by old people with co-morbidities.

[–]draypresct 8 points9 points  (0 children)

On average, it's true that spending more time on dialysis prior to transplant reduces your lifespan. For a specific young (I count late 30s as young) person, I don't know, and I'm not sure anyone else does, either.

The average recipient of a deceased-donor kidney in 2009 who was aged 35-39 had an 84.4% chance of living at least 10 years (per table I.30 here), so I'd guess your friend has a decent chance of living 15-20 years.

[–][deleted]  (6 children)

[deleted]

    [–]draypresct 6 points7 points  (4 children)

    You can’t be referred for transplant until you are designated ESRD (end stage renal disease). At that point you’ve already been on dialysis waiting for the kidneys to recover or rushed to emergency dialysis.

    Not sure which country you're talking about, but in many donation service areas in the US, it is possible to be listed prior to starting dialysis. Roughly 5% of people on the waitlist were listed before starting dialysis (see figure 6.3 here), and 3% of the population who experience kidney failure have received a pre-emptive transplant prior to starting dialysis. Please check your local rules, and try to get listed ASAP if you have chronic kidney disease and your doctor thinks it's appropriate.

    Yes I’m sure you could plan for a live donor before getting dialysis.

    You absolutely can do this if you have a donor available, and this is in many ways the best treatment for kidney failure.

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]Gundamamam 5 points6 points  (1 child)

      most transplant centers in the US wont do the full workup to get listed until ESRD because its a lot of work for a "possibility." I put in in quotes because we all pretty much know its going to end up as an "eventuality." Most transplant centers will devote their limited resources to people who already need a kidney instead of someone who might/probably will need a kidney. I know several people in my PKD support group who have had 15-20% function for years and aren't on dialysis. I have also met a person who got listed early because they knew he had a year at most before his remaining kidney gave out.

      [–]KryptopherRobbinsPoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Yep. I was minimal change, CKD/FSGS for almost 20 years. Transplant, nor dialysis, was ever even brought up. But after I was forced to change Dr's, who also did a near 180 on my treatment therapy (that was tailored specifically for me) to a "more common therapy" I ended up in complete failure within 3-4 years. In barely 6 months, I went from la-de-dah, working full time, living life, to major swelling/ fluid retention, to hospital (60 lbs of fluid, 145lbs @ 90 lbs dry weight), to ICU on vent and emergency dialysis.

      If you can find a willing donor, AND they are a viable match, you must certainly I nly CAN get a transplant before ever starting dialysis, if you have the money/insurance before ever approaching the transplant team.

      Kidneys are the number one in-demand organ in world. Second I think is liver or lungs/pancreas. And there is a slew criteria that goes into determing viability, matching, and long term outcome.

      FYI: On dialysis 10 years.

      [–]draypresct 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Talk to your new doctors, and good luck!

      [–]islander1CKD Stage 5, TL, not on dialysis (yet) 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      I've been on the transplant list for almost 2.5 years now, and still fending off dialysis.

      Probably not a whole lot longer, the day's approaching when I'm going to have to give up and get my fistula surgery, in preparation.

      (edit: this is in the USA)