aged 35 Kidney Transplant

[Boxing]

Hello

Being aged 35 how long could I expect a live donor kidney transplant last and would I likely need two as I am quite young?

Thank you!

[Osuno111]

Could last 20+ years if you religiously take your meds daily.

[Boxing in reply to Osuno111]

Thanks! Thanks! Does age of the donor matter I’m 35 my donnor is 58?

[Osuno111 in reply to Boxing]

No - it's the quality of the transplanted kidney and your committment to the medication regiment and good hydration and being smart about food choices and labs. Over time, this will all be second nature as you continue to feel normal. Also, enjoy the gift and be positive and don't live your like under constant worry.

[Boxing in reply to Osuno111]

Thanks!

[theaurabesh]

Honestly, it all depends on the individual. I am going on year 25 with mine. I was 25 when I was transplanted. Never went on dialysis and was relatively healthy. My brother was my donor. However, saw a story in the news where a local woman just celebrated 40 years with a cadaver kidney. Don't worry about the future so much, focus on the now. Stay healthy. Exercise. Drink plenty of water. Take your meds. Get regular labs.

[Boxing in reply to theaurabesh]

Thanks! Thanks! Does age of the donor matter I’m 35 my donnor is 58?

[dmteacher]

I am not sure that there is any way to predict how long a kidney will last. When I was 21 I received my mother's kidney. It lasted 6 years until it rejected. I went on dialysis for 4 years until I received a cadaver kidney which I have had for 18 years. I take good care of it and follow all doctor's orders eat right and exercise. However, I know that sometimes things just happen and I might need another other one. My doctor always calls transplant a treatment and not a cure.

[Boxing in reply to dmteacher]

Thanks! Does age of the donor matter I’m 35 my donnor is 58?

[SOct91]

hi Boxing - nobody knows how long a kidney will last, I agree take care of yourself and take your medicine. I was 5 years old with my first transplant and received my mother’s kidney who was 40 at the time. I have had this kidney almost 34 years and just now prepping for my second at 38 years old. It’s the match that matters.

[Boxing in reply to SOct91]

Ah ok thanks! I was worried my donor being 58 and me 35 though we 5/6 crossmatch wouldn’t be as good due to their age..

[LisaSnow in reply to Boxing]

The age of your donor should not matter. It is the health of the donated organ that may make some difference.

[Boxing in reply to LisaSnow]

Thanks!

[sugabear]

There are so many factors that go into how long your kidney will last. I wouldn’t worry about it. Just take care of yourself and follow your treatment plan. I know someone who has had his kidney for more than 40 years. I know someone else who’s had it probably about 20+ years.

[Boxing in reply to sugabear]

Thanks my concern was my donor is 58 and I’m 35.

[Darlenia in reply to Boxing]

Please don't worry about the age of the donor. The donor may live to 100 if nothing interferes. But, above all, have faith in research and development. I was around your age when kidney transplants first became common (1980s). We were shocked and amazed. Look at where we are now - xeno transplants, mechanical kidneys, who knows what will be appear over the decades. It's very likely something new and promising will evolve regarding immunosuppressants too. It's a big mistake to assume science is unchanging and project that image into the future. To add to this, very few of our fears rarely happen. Don't ruin your life with them - keep a handle on the tyranny of your thoughts. Remember that only today is promised - live it fully and wisely. As a footnote to this - always make sure to support the medical sciences in your walk in life. They, too, are warriors in their own right. They're doing their work for us.

[Boxing in reply to Darlenia]

Thanks for the response so true! Important to remain positive and deal with present

[wonderingjen]

Like others are saying, each situation is different. But you can easily keep it for 20+ years. My first transplant from my Mom and that lasted 28 years. Best wishes to you!

[Boxing in reply to wonderingjen]

wow thanks!

[Redbone55]

Hello, I think I may be I am on the same path with you as far as wondering how long my transplanted kidney will last I have been transplanted 4 year 1/12/2021 and counting. I hear everyone advise, which I should also take heed myself. Some days are better than others. I say this for you and myself. YES we have a second chance, we need to take care of ourselves and live life to the fullest, because we are ONLY promise the day that we make it to another day. Blessing and Happy Easter!

[Boxing in reply to Redbone55]

Thanks!

[Bubba1995]

I wouldn't worry about having to have a second transplant, even though it's hard not to. I've had my kidney, donated from my sister, for 30 years. My only advice to not abuse your body, and take your medication consistently! I don't drink or smoke, and in 30 years I could count on one hand the meds I have missed. Good luck, and enjoy life! 👍😀

[Boxing in reply to Bubba1995]

Wow 30 years kidney transplant that is amazing! I only worry because my donor is 58 and I am 35 so I just think it’s an older kidney hence less time with it

[littlelinda50]

Like everyone keeps saying enjoy your life and your gift of the kidney! Take care of yourself and take your meds is all you can do besides enjoy life!!!!! Some advice about taking meds I set my alarm for 9 am and 9 10 am and 9 pm and 9 10 pm. The second alarm is just in case I am in a situation that I can't stop and take my meds. For example if your on the toliet, in the shower, getting food out of oven or fixing it or anything else that gets in the way. Just a suggestion. Hugs

[Boxing in reply to littlelinda50]

Thanks! So it doesn’t make a difference if my donor is 58 and I’m 35 in terms of the kidney lasting?

[Darlenia in reply to Boxing]

All kidneys, whether donated or not, are subject to age related decline. So, intuitively, an older kidney inside a younger individual would be more vulnerable - to injury from insults afflicted on it by the recipients lifestyle, one's underlying health issues that led to the collapse of an individual's native kidneys, etc. So it's important to treat your gift wisely - don't inflict damage on it from your end, keep up with your appointments and immunosuppressants, etc. And remember this....the majority of transplant loss is caused by one big factor - rejection! The body detects it, and launches war on it. (Consider a tiny splinter in your thumb, and how quickly your body reacts to that.) This said, remember that science moves forward, not backward. New immunosuppressants will highly likely appear, new forms of transplants are coming to market, and new treatments for those underlying conditions that cause kidney trauma, such as FSGS or diabetes and others, are also occurring. I predict that waitlists will slowly disappear and hospital stays will shorten, and more. At this particular time in place, it's not unusual for for people to receive more than one transplant. So, should your transplant fail right now for whatever reason (most likely outright rejection), then there are solutions for you unless you haven't taken care of yourself. You'll find others with more than one transplant (some with three) on HealthUnlocked and other social platforms - Facebook, Quora, etc. You might also want to hold this conversation with your transplant team. (My husband's nephrologist has been very encouraging.) So there you are - enjoy life, treat yourself well, support the sciences, and know that the future holds promise.

[Grandma1966]

I got a kidney in 1999 and it is still working. Recently it dropped to stage 3, so I’m feeling some symptoms like high blood pressure but I am also older now , been through menopause and gained weight. Take care of yourself and do everything in moderation but live your life and you can be sending a message like this 25 years in the future.

[Sapphire187]

You seem to be incredibly worried about the donor's age 58 and your age of 35. If it does make a difference it probably isn't much. They are not going to let the donor donate if they and their kidney isn't healthy. Ask your nephrologist about the age difference and make a decision once you have more info. He/she will probably tell you there are no guarantees how long it will last. My transplant team told me that in general deceased donor kidneys last about 10 or so years and living donor kidneys last about 15 to 20 years. As you can see from the responses to your post, some peoples kidneys have surpassed those numbers. There are a lot of factors involved in it. How well you take care of your health, how you eat, don't smoke etc and after the transplant continue doing what the transplant team tells you, like religiously follow doctors guidelines for drinking enough water, eating well, exercising, taking all your immunosuppressants and other transplant drugs on time every day, twice a day. Good luck to you.