What is a Pre-emptive transplant?

[BeachLove]

What is a pre-emptive transplant and how does a person get one?

[Denise-80]

Hi BeachLove - I had a preemptive transplant, meaning I was transplanted without needing dialysis. Doc knew my kidneys were failing and got me on the tx list as soon as he could (as soon as my function had deteriorated enough).

Best wishes,

D

[BeachLove in reply to Denise-80]

How wonderful for you! What state did you have your transplant in? Where I live in CO the list is 7 years long.

[Denise-80 in reply to BeachLove]

I’m in NC. I was on the list approx 2 years before transplant, but my doc knew for about 10 years that it was inevitable.

[wheezoids21 in reply to Denise-80]

Hi Denise-80,. Can I ask, how bad was your health when you were transplanted? I am also doing the pre emptive transplant and am down to GFR 15. My dr says we need to wait for me to feel worse before they go ahead with it. How much worse is worse? Thanks..

[Denise-80 in reply to wheezoids21]

Hi Wheezoids21 - I just pulled up my labs from 2 weeks before tx in 2014. My creatinine was 5 and my GFR was 9.8 at that time. I was getting injections (cannot remember what) because I was anemic, but they really helped. I was tired for sure, skin was itchy, and I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I was working full time….60 hours per week (if that helps).

I didn’t limit protein like people know to do now. That is the only thing I would have done differently.

Best wishes to you.

D

[Denise-80 in reply to Denise-80]

Wheezoids21 - You are on the list, right? Doc is not waiting for you to be on list, right? Are they waiting for you to feel worse before they go ahead with dialysis? That sounds reasonable as that was my experience. Waiting til you feel worse before transplant (provided a kidney is available)…that does not sound right.

[wheezoids21 in reply to Denise-80]

Hi yes i am listed and no plans to start dialysis. They definitely tood me i need to be full on uremic before they transplant, which to me seems strange considering its a pre emptive transplant.

[Denise-80 in reply to wheezoids21]

Another symptom I recall is that I would occasionally smell the scent of ammonia…like through my sinuses. In the US, you can get on the list when your GFR is 20 (or below). Then it just depends on where you are on the list and availability of a matching kidney.

[6V53]

I had a preemptive transplant in September. I beleive that at most transplant centers, once your eGFR is below 20 you can be listed. It is important to remember that average wait times are just that, average. Some people get called much sooner, others wait longer. So, once you are listed pack a go bag because you could get the call that week. You can try to improve your chances of getting a kidney, by listing in multiple UNOS zones.

Regarding your question about how bad someone's health needs to be to get transplanted. Your Dr doesn't live in your body. If your function qualifies you to be listed, get listed. If you have a living donor, get to the transplant center and talk to them. I lived pretty miserably for a long time before my kidney function was below the number that would allow me to be listed.

[BeachLove in reply to 6V53]

Thank you so much.

[Andrea_CL]

Hello BeachLove! I just had a pre-emptive tx in October... I do not live in the US and what my doctor told me was that except for my kidneys, I was otherwise healthy, therefore the option of pre-emptive tx was taken so I did not damage the rest of my body by having dialysis or keep taking extra medications (I already had anemia and had to get injections every week, I also had an iron transfusion and I could not eat any protein. My GFR was below 15 and I took dozens of pills daily to compensate little things du to my strict diet)

With the tx I already feel more energized, my skin color changed (I use to be yellowish with dry skin all the time and now it looks and feels healthy and hydrated again!) but the one thing I´m still working on is my sleeping...I thought it was temporary but I read in other posts that it seems is here to stay... Good luck with everything!

[BeachLove]

Congratulations and thank you for your feedback!