I will attain 76 years in August, 2024. I have been on hemodialysis since early May 2024. At one point I was eligible for only a living kidney. Now it looks like the transplant center will approve my placement on an urgent protocol so I can wait 3 years for a deceased kidney. I could live 10years on dialysis while living perhaps 20 years with a deceased kidney. However, I would have to have immunosuppressant medication all my life. In the first few months, I would be limited in my activities and would have to find a system of others to help me with activities and duties. I would not be able to drive during that period and need to find someone to drive my car 2 or so times a week. I have work out food delivery beyond what my continuing care senior community provides, such as grocery shopping. I would have to avoid the various entertainment and lecture events here at least live. How do I work out seeing certain medical professionals, such as dentists and audiologist, that I need to see every 3 months?
Would I live until my 90s if I did not have my kidney disease? I already have outlived everyone in my immediate family. I would like to have a response from older people who considered these issues. Has anyone in their 70s had a transplant and what was their experience like?
Thank you. I feel alone in struggling with this decision.
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Lee75glom
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Average length of time for a deceased donor kidney to function is 10 years. Living donation is 15 to 20. You can read all about this, but I have done many many many hours of research on this topic, I have never read any different. I know someone on his 11th year of dialysis right now.
You will need someone to drive you to appointments typically three times a week the first month, twice a week the second month. Blood draws are always early in the morning. That’s because you have to take meds 12 hours apart and they need labs drawn right before your next dose.
A transplant center will not put you on the list unless you can prove you have someone or a team of people to care for you. They will have to get you to your appointments, help take your vital signs twice a day, track weight, urine output, and help you manage the 10 drugs you will likely be on. You won’t be able to go by the label on the pill bottle because every time you see the doctor, they may adjust your dose. They don’t even recommend using pill boxes at first, the doses change so often.
You cannot drive for six weeks. You cannot lift anything over 10 pounds either.
Yes you are at permanent higher risk for lymphoma and melanoma. Infections that might be not a big deal for other people, are a big deal for you. No cleaning cat litter. You cannot have birds or reptiles as pets. Just having a pet raises your risk of infection, some centers may even urge you to give them up.
On average, people live longer, healthier lives with a transplant. Transplant is not easy, but it’s worth it not to be tied to a machine, have fluid restrictions, and unable to eat a lot of foods, getting sicker and sicker. It’s not all sunshine and roses. It may be a full year until all the kinks have been worked out with your transplant medications.
20% of all transplant patients end up with diabetes.
It is common for people who have transplants to be re-hospitalized for a complication the first few months.
In other words - transplant is hard. It’s a lot of work. But the reward is a better life.
You will not wake up transformed and full of energy like you read about. It takes time.
I’m not as old as you are but I am 68 I am on two list cause one take you off the list the day after you turn 71. I know transplant isn’t an easy thing but to me it worth it if I can get 10 year . I don’t drive now but I had to change to hemodialysis from old dialysis I was doing at home now I go to center I had to find transportation I was blessed my sister step up for every Tuesday my friend on third and my son on Saturday but when they can’t do it my church family a lot of them said they will do it when other can’t .plus I ask my social worker to put a list together of transportation option .when you go on the list you will get a social worker she can help you with all the things you are talking about . Good luck to you hope you get on the list soon
Well, Lee, no one can tell you what to do. Dialysis and transplants are treatments, not cures. But a transplant offers much more freedom after you get through the first year. I am 70. I know what I want and it is a transplant. I do home hemo and it takes up a lot of my time. It can be terrifying when the machine goes off. Although I am getting better with it, I swear my machine is possessed. We can have perfect treatments, and then a series of major catastrophes. And then I lose my confidence.
There are people on this site who will tell you about what happened to them. Read through some of them. One member ended up with a long process of issues only to end up with leukemia. Cancer is a big risk with transplant. Then there are others who have had their new kidney for 30 years or more.
Your life after transplant can include groups. You just have to be careful. To me, dialysis is not the way to live. You will never get better. Just the opposite. And there are a lot of complications with dialysis.
I am a 74 year old that had a kidney transplant from a deceased donor 25 years ago this October, 2024. I have never regretted my transplant. Yes, I have been on immunosuppressants for all of these 25 years. I was able to see my daughters marry and the birth of my 2 grandsons. I travel with my husband. This December we are going on a Rhine River cruise Amsterdam to Basil, Switzerland. Without a transplant I wouldn't be doing this. There have been some "bumps in the road", but would gladly take every one of those bumps for Life! I have been able to give back by being an active volunteer with my local Donor Alliance and telling my story, and encouraging others to become an Organ Donor.
I think everyone has to make their decision whether a transplant is for them. I hated dialysis and my AV Graft was giving me and my nephrologist problems. Best of luck to you whatever your decision! For me - I LOVE MY LIFE!!
My hubby, a diabetic, received a deceased donor kidney transplant at age 71. I asked my hubby what he would do if he were you. His exact words are "If the doctors agrees with it, go for it. It's fine." He believes it's best to trust the professionals and the process. My hubby was on dialysis for exactly one year when he received his gift. His kidney came from an older man with some issues, including a fungal matter, but my hubby was put on meds for it to clear it up. He knew that a kidney from a living dnor would be best; he also realized that seniors are often given "cleaned up" kidneys that were previously discarded. But he also knew that he had already lived many decades - my husband was simply interested in a better quality of life for the years ahead, no matter how many he would be given, without having to rely on dialysis. My husband's recovery from the transplant was difficult - a ureter leak, a-fib, and a foot drop. His diabetes returned following the transplant, which is common for anyone with a proclivity to that disease. Also, the foot drop eventually made him trip so he had brain surgery to correct that which, amazingly, also fixed the foot drop. There were many times when we rued our decision. But, here he is - three years post and his situation is very stable and life is exceptionally good. He is back under the care of our original nephrologist who steered him to a transplant. I just asked him if he regrets going for the transplant, and he, amused, said, "No, of course not. Why would I regret it? Look at us."
Before the transplant center released him, my husband asked a nephrologist for her prediction of the future, keeping in mind that the kidney wasn't in great shape at the outset, it also was an average, not perfect, match, etc. She was very positive and said signs pointed to the kidney functioning for a very long time. She added that my husband was tightly monitoring his sugars, managing his weight nicely, caring for himself very well. His local neph simply smiled and said he should pay attention strokes and and heart attacks, not simply kidney rejection - his situation was stable there. We all know life is finite. And many things can usher us into the next world. So, in summary, trust the process. The professionals may give you the green light, they may give you the red light. If you proceed to a kidney, realize your recovery may be a bit longer than for the younger folks - but you'll come out well on the other end. The centers are tightly monitored, they don't want to see deaths on their record. And then, above all, lead an exemplary life afterwards - treat your body well. (A good number let themselves go post-transplant, essentially returning to harmful habits.) In a nutshell, go with the process, follow medical advice closely, continue to take care of your precious body, things will fall into place...and you'll find yourself on the path you need to be on.
Thanks for this important, valuable information. I still have to confirm setting up a team to do all this work. Again, I will be 76 in August. How long will I live in any case?
I also had my transplant at age 76, following a period of time on dialysis. Transplant turned out great. We don't ever know how long we will live, but the qualitiy of life post-transplant has been far better than being on dialysis. Keep in mind that dialysis only takes care of one kidney function - waste removal. All of the other things that the kidney does - mostly in terms of regulating body functions are unaffected by dialysis. Those systems are basically off-line if your kidneys are not working. Now - all systems are GO. Good fortune to you whatever path you take.
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