How long did you wait until your first kidney transplant?

[Lillupie]

I am trying to see how long other patients have to wait until they got a transplant and I have been waiting close to 3 years now.

Lisa







TOPIC MOVED to appropriate section - Bajanne, Moderator

[jbeany]

It varies depending on location, from what I've read.  I was told 3-1/2 years for a kidney/panc transplant was the average wait in Michigan.  I was D for 3 yrs and 8 months, but I didn't get approved for the list until I had been on D for almost 3 months, so it was just about as close to what they told me to expect as I could get.  The kidney/panc list is actually a shorter wait than the kidney list, so that helped.

[Wallyz]

Just over a year.  I was on D for 2 1/2, but I had to wait for a year before the insurance would allow me to get on the list, than there was a couple months after that expired before they could get me processed onto the list.

[okarol]

If you're talking about deceased donor kidneys the wait time depends on location, length of time since listed and tissue match, so it can vary quite a bit. The average wait time in Los Angeles is 6 - 8 years now, but if you bring a living donor then obviously it depends on how quickly the evaluation process takes.

[Chris]

For me I was on dialysis for a year and 5 months. I was first on the list for a kidney then put on the list for a kidney and pancreas transplant which comes out to be less than a year.I also found out it varies by location which upset Wisconsin Governor at one time because more organs where going to out of state residents than in state. It didn't work out what the governor wanted to do.

[lou]

I had my kidney transplant from a deceased donor last month. I was on dialysis for 6 months but had been on the list for 18 months. Here in the UK they say the average wait is around 3 years on the list so I know I was very lucky to get the call after only 18 months. x x

[*kana*]

They say 3-5 years for us O+ people.  Have you considered duel listing in Ohio?  They don't have a helmet law so the wait is shorter.  My sister got her O+ kidney after only 4 mths on the list, and she has very high antibodies.  Her neph kept telling her that she would probably have a kidney within 1-1/2 years, but my neph tells me I'll have to wait 5 years or so.  I don't understand that since my antibodies are much lower then hers.  Oh well, we must just wait and learn the lesson we are meant to know before getting the "gift". 
Oh yeah, and my sister complains that she can't have grapefruit, mushrooms and shellfish because of her transplant and she expects me to fee sorry for her ......    I sometimes wish she had to deal with D before getting a transplant so she'd understand my agony. 

[paris]

Been listed over 4 years.  Waiting............

[Stacy Without An E]

My first two kidney transplants were less than a year because I had living donors.  The latest wait has been excruciating.  I'm O- with common genetic markers and its 6+ years and counting.  I'm very surprised at the variety of wait times across the country.  Although UCSF is one of the best transplant hospitals in the country, they told me 5-8 years at the orientation meeting all those years ago.

[jennyc]

7 years. No one capable in family of donating. Had some half hearted offers over the years but i never really got too excited about the prospect becuase i understand how people want to help but then get scared when they really sit down and think about it.

The ironic thing is that i had the transplant 7 years and 13 days after i suffered acute failure and the same Dr who put in my PD cath (2nd time) is now a transplant Dr and he did my surgery.

I also had a tissue typing issue, hence the longer wait (rare tissue type so my kidney is only a blood match)

[hotnspicyazgirl]

I was the second shortest wait in the state of Arizona....at the time. It was 1989, and I waited 2 days for a cadaver donor. I am blessed for sure.

[Beth35]

I waited five years on dialysis for a kidney.  I am B+ and they say it is the rarer of the blood types.  I think four out of 100 people have B+.

Now that I will be going for my second transplant, who knows how long it will take.  My brother is willing to give his kidney for the swapping program they have.  Share/Pair I think it's called.

[mike22]

I waited for my first kidney for 8 months. It lasted 8yrs.  Now im waiting for my second kidney on two waiting list. My blood type is also B+

[kellyt]

I was fortunate enough to have never started dialysis.  I was, however, on an "any day now" schedule for dialysis, but fortunately my sis-in-law was accepted after they denied my first three donors tested.  I pray this is the only kidney I'll every need.   

[rookiegirl]

I was 7 months into PD before I made it on the kidney waiting list.  10 months after being on the list, God answered my prayers and I received my cadaver kidney.

[Tracy]

I was on the waiting list 3 days when I got my K/P transplant.  They failed 5 days later and then were removed.  I have been waiting 1 1/2 years so far for another one.  I'm in DFW, Texas area.  I think they didn't do a thorough match on the organs as they said it was the worst rejection they have ever seen.

[Mizar]

 My Husband, has been on Dialysis, for Two and a Half Years. His Decision, has been, not to even, Apply, for a Transplant. He gives no Reason why.

[kitkatz]

California wait lists are often up to eight years long or longer, depending on where you are located.

[The Noob]

we're in michigan also, were told the wait list is 4-7 years? just called place in WV, said 2-3 years for A+/
we're going to get DH on both lists.

[Dragonette]

They say 3-5 years for us O+ people.  Have you considered duel listing in Ohio?  They don't have a helmet law so the wait is shorter.  My sister got her O+ kidney after only 4 mths on the list, and she has very high antibodies.  Her neph kept telling her that she would probably have a kidney within 1-1/2 years, but my neph tells me I'll have to wait 5 years or so.  I don't understand that since my antibodies are much lower then hers.  Oh well, we must just wait and learn the lesson we are meant to know before getting the "gift". 
Oh yeah, and my sister complains that she can't have grapefruit, mushrooms and shellfish because of her transplant and she expects me to fee sorry for her ......    I sometimes wish she had to deal with D before getting a transplant so she'd understand my agony.

The wait is NOT shorter in Ohio, at least not for us poor unfortunate souls with Medicaid/Medicare. I am a B+ with no antibodies or co-morbid conditions, and I waited nearly 5 years, with 34 months on Dialysis.  Some say it is due to the kind of insurance you have,but I cannot prove this.  And as for your sister's complaints about what she canoot eat, it's a helluva lot less restrictive than the renal diet, I'll tell her that. I would have given my right arm to have only a 4 month wait. Tell her to stop snivellin'! I can't eat or drink certain things myself because of transplant and you don't see me crying. Oh yeah, and I'm still on home health care, but you don't see me whimpering like a kicked puppy. Some people have no gratitude, I guess

[Stoday]

I got this from a UK NHS document. I thought it might help you.

Data from the Renal Registry shows that a
large proportion of patients currently wait
6-12 months after starting dialysis before
being listed for transplantation. Fewer
than 40% of dialysis patients are on the
national transplant list (UK Renal
Registry, 2006)

[kevno]

Started dialysis in Jan 77 had my transplant Nov 11th 1981. So nearly 5 years. lasted till May 88  still waiting  22 years for 2nd  Which now told my veins are too thin to have another transplant.  But will not let it get me down   

[Ang]

still  waiting  after  4  years

told  by  the  head  honcho  from  the  transplant  team  if  i  get  my  bp  issues  fixed  anytime  in  the  next  18  months  as i'm  on  the  top  of  the  list  or  very  near

last  6  weeks  we've  had 6 transplants  from  the  1  dialysis  unit
whats  the odds

[staceyand joe92]

I was on dialysis for 15 months and on the transplant list for 13 months when I received my kidney transplant.

[Meinuk]

UNOS listed when my GFR was 20% in June 2005 (St Luke's, NYC)

Dialysis in Jan 2007

First call for kidney Summer 2008

Second call and transplant, November 2, 2008.

Total wait time:   a month under 3.5 years