Common Questions While You Prepare for Transplant

Transplant usually becomes part of the conversation as your kidney function declines. Many people start discussing it when their function drops into a certain range (often measured by eGFR), and may be referred for evaluation as it gets lower.

Some people receive a transplant before starting dialysis, while others are transplanted after dialysis has begun. The timing is different for everyone and depends on your overall health, evaluation results, and whether a living donor is available.

Read more about the path to transplant.

There are two main types of kidney transplant: living donor and deceased donor.

A living donor transplant uses a kidney from someone who is alive, often a family member, friend, or someone who chooses to donate. This option can sometimes happen sooner and may be scheduled once both people are medically ready.

A deceased donor transplant uses a kidney from someone who has passed away. These transplants depend on waitlist matching, so the timing is less predictable.

Learn more about the path to a match.

After surgery, your care team’s goal is to help your body accept the new kidney and help the transplanted kidney start working well. Because your immune system may see the kidney as a foreign object, you’ll need immunosuppressive medications to help lower the risk of rejection.¹

Your care team will closely monitor your lab results and kidney health to look for early signs of injury, infection, or immune activity. They may adjust your medications over time to help protect the kidney and lower the chance of rejection developing or becoming more severe.

Rejection can still happen in some cases but it’s often treatable—especially when caught early. That’s why regular lab tests and follow-up visits are an important part of care, helping your team spot any issues before you feel symptoms.

Read more about surgery and recovery

Yes. Some transplanted kidneys work well for many years, but over time, some may lose function. If that happens, your care team will talk through next steps, which may include returning to dialysis, adjusting medications, or being evaluated for another transplant. Some people are eligible for a second transplant, depending on their overall health and evaluation results.

Wait times can vary a lot from person to person. Factors like your blood type, antibodies, where you live, and whether you have a living donor all play a role.

For a deceased donor kidney, many people wait several years—often around 3 to 5 years—but it can be shorter or longer depending on how easy it is to find a match. If you have a living donor, the process can often move much faster since the transplant can be planned once both people are ready.

Waiting isn’t just about passing time—there are important steps you can take to stay ready. Keep up with your care plan by attending appointments, completing required testing, and staying in touch with your transplant center.

Focus on your health, keep your phone nearby, and have a plan in place for transportation, work, and support when the call comes. Let your care team know about any changes to your health, insurance, or contact details.

Staying prepared can help you move quickly and confidently when an organ becomes available.

Discover how to manage your health while you wait.

If you become too unwell for transplant surgery, your transplant center may place you on inactive status for a period of time. This means you stay on the waitlist and keep your accrued wait time, but you won’t receive organ offers while you’re inactive.

Once your health improves and you’re ready for surgery again, you can be reactivated. This can happen with temporary issues like infections or other short-term health setbacks.

In most cases, a temporary inactive status does not erase your wait time—you keep your place while you’re inactive.

However, staying eligible for transplant depends on keeping up with required testing, maintaining insurance, staying in contact with your transplant center, and following their guidance. More serious medical or logistical issues may affect whether you can remain active and ready to receive an organ offer.

Try to avoid anything that could delay your transplant or make you harder to reach when an organ becomes available. This includes missing appointments, dialysis sessions, or medications, as well as starting new medicines, supplements, or over-the-counter products without checking with your transplant coordinator first.

It’s also important not to ignore infections, dental issues, or other “small” health concerns; these can quickly become reasons to pause your eligibility. Staying consistent and proactive helps keep you ready when the call comes.

Many people continue dialysis while they’re waiting for a transplant. However, not everyone on the waitlist has started dialysis and some will receive a preemptive transplant before it’s needed.

Whether you need dialysis depends on your kidney function, symptoms, and overall treatment plan. Your care team will guide you on what’s right for your specific situation as you prepare for transplant.

Yes—waiting for a transplant can feel unpredictable, exhausting, and at times isolating. Many people experience a mix of hope, fear, frustration, and fatigue while on the waitlist.

These feelings are common and don’t mean you’re coping poorly. Support can make a real difference, whether it’s from social workers, counselors, support groups, family, or other people who have gone through transplant.

Find ways to stay grounded and get emotional support.

Usually, you’ll need to get to the hospital as quickly as your transplant center instructs, often within a few hours. The exact timing depends on the organ, your location, and your center’s process.

Because timing can be short, it’s important to keep your phone on, stay reachable, and have a transportation plan ready in advance. Always follow your transplant center’s instructions, as their guidance will take priority.

Being prepared can help you move quickly and with less stress when the call comes. Have a transportation plan and at least one support person who knows what to do.

Keep a packed hospital bag with essentials, your ID, insurance information, and an up-to-date medication list. It also helps to have a plan in place for childcare, work coverage, pets, and other responsibilities. Make sure your contact information is current with your transplant center so they can reach you right away.

Many people do continue working while they’re on the waitlist, depending on their health, dialysis schedule, and how they’re feeling day to day.

It can help to have some flexibility, since you may need time for appointments, testing, or a short-notice hospital call. Planning ahead, like understanding your leave options and talking with your employer if you’re comfortable, can make things feel more manageable if your schedule needs to shift.

It can help to share that you may need time off or support on short notice if a transplant offer comes. Having these conversations early can make logistics smoother and reduce stress later on.

Family members or caregivers may play a role in transportation, communication, and planning for recovery. If you’re unsure how to approach these conversations, your transplant social worker can help you think through what to say and how to prepare.

If your donor isn’t a direct match, it doesn’t mean the process has to stop. There are other options that may still make transplant possible.

Programs like paired exchange (sometimes called a “kidney swap”) match donor-recipient pairs with others in a similar situation, so each person can receive a compatible kidney. Some centers may also offer options like voucher programs or other living donor pathways.

Explore your options for finding a compatible match