Policy Age for Kidney Transplant

Posted by vernonx @vernonx, Jul 13, 2022

I've been told that by policy due to my age (82), CPMC will not add me to the transplant list. Can I contest this? And/or how can I contact a provider with no (or a higher) age limit. I presume some sort of evaluation other than age will be required.

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@vernonx Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Each transplant center seems to have their own parameters as far as transplant policies. Their policies can include the general health of kidney transplant recipients, medication compliancy, emotional/mental health status, and even age. They strive for the best outcome for each patient, and want to ensure as successful a procedure as possible.

I am not sure where CPMC is, but have you checked with any other transplant centers? Many times a kidney patient will list at more than one center. My husband listed at two, and received his transplant at the second one.
As for your age, studies have shown that an optimal outcome is not always limited by age, and that at 80+ years of age, a transplant recipient can still look forward to a quality of life better than no transplant.

Do you have a living donor in mind? What is the cause of your kidney disease? Those factors may come in to play, also.
Ginger

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@gingerw

@vernonx Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Each transplant center seems to have their own parameters as far as transplant policies. Their policies can include the general health of kidney transplant recipients, medication compliancy, emotional/mental health status, and even age. They strive for the best outcome for each patient, and want to ensure as successful a procedure as possible.

I am not sure where CPMC is, but have you checked with any other transplant centers? Many times a kidney patient will list at more than one center. My husband listed at two, and received his transplant at the second one.
As for your age, studies have shown that an optimal outcome is not always limited by age, and that at 80+ years of age, a transplant recipient can still look forward to a quality of life better than no transplant.

Do you have a living donor in mind? What is the cause of your kidney disease? Those factors may come in to play, also.
Ginger

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My son and myself were listed at two transplant centers before we had our surgery at Mayo Rochester! The best in the world!!

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@gingerw

@vernonx Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Each transplant center seems to have their own parameters as far as transplant policies. Their policies can include the general health of kidney transplant recipients, medication compliancy, emotional/mental health status, and even age. They strive for the best outcome for each patient, and want to ensure as successful a procedure as possible.

I am not sure where CPMC is, but have you checked with any other transplant centers? Many times a kidney patient will list at more than one center. My husband listed at two, and received his transplant at the second one.
As for your age, studies have shown that an optimal outcome is not always limited by age, and that at 80+ years of age, a transplant recipient can still look forward to a quality of life better than no transplant.

Do you have a living donor in mind? What is the cause of your kidney disease? Those factors may come in to play, also.
Ginger

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How long your husband waited to find a kidney?and where?

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@hana121706

How long your husband waited to find a kidney?and where?

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@hana121706 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

He originally listed for transplant at Loma Linda University in the Los Angeles area. After 3+ years he double listed, adding Scripps Institute near San Diego. He was prepared mentally to wait 8 years or so, for a kidney. He waited 5.5 years, and received a cadaver thru Scripps Oct. 1, 2016.

Are you dealing with kidney disease, and facing a possible transplant or dialysis?
Ginger

REPLY
@gingerw

@hana121706 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

He originally listed for transplant at Loma Linda University in the Los Angeles area. After 3+ years he double listed, adding Scripps Institute near San Diego. He was prepared mentally to wait 8 years or so, for a kidney. He waited 5.5 years, and received a cadaver thru Scripps Oct. 1, 2016.

Are you dealing with kidney disease, and facing a possible transplant or dialysis?
Ginger

Jump to this post

Actually my husband need a kidney transplant but he needs to loss weight so they can accept him to put him on the list but still he have to wait a years to get a kidney and he refuses the dialysis at all , now he is stage 4

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@hana121706

Actually my husband need a kidney transplant but he needs to loss weight so they can accept him to put him on the list but still he have to wait a years to get a kidney and he refuses the dialysis at all , now he is stage 4

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@hana121706, I needed dialysis before my transplant because of acute kidney failure related to my liver failure. For me it was life or death situation. I was 60 at the time and did inpatient and then out patient hemodialysis. I know of other patients who were on dialysis prior to transplant because one never knows how long until a transplant can happen.
You have said that your husband does not want dialysis. Is there a particular reason for him to refuse it? Has he had a serious and informative conversation with his nephrologist about the pros and cons?

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@hana121706

Actually my husband need a kidney transplant but he needs to loss weight so they can accept him to put him on the list but still he have to wait a years to get a kidney and he refuses the dialysis at all , now he is stage 4

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Because he works and has his own work and always loves to travel around the world for business and for fun that’s why

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@hana121706

Because he works and has his own work and always loves to travel around the world for business and for fun that’s why

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@hana21706 Sorry to be blunt here, but if a person needs dialysis to help remove toxins from their body, and they choose to not do it, they are basically signing their death certificate.

There are things your husband can do to help himself, like losing weight, changing his lifestyle to a healthier one, but if his kidney function drops below a certain point, he will need dialysis if there is not a transplant right in his wings.

My husband was on peritoneal dialysis for 5.5 years before his transplant. He continued to work full-time, traveling, and even going camping out in the desert, off-roading and motorcycle rides. Many times people think going on dialysis is meaning giving up on life, but it is not! I hope your husband will reconsider, and speak to his nephrologist about what will happen if he doesn't change or go to dialysis. Has he considered looking for a living donor?
Ginger

REPLY
@gingerw

@hana21706 Sorry to be blunt here, but if a person needs dialysis to help remove toxins from their body, and they choose to not do it, they are basically signing their death certificate.

There are things your husband can do to help himself, like losing weight, changing his lifestyle to a healthier one, but if his kidney function drops below a certain point, he will need dialysis if there is not a transplant right in his wings.

My husband was on peritoneal dialysis for 5.5 years before his transplant. He continued to work full-time, traveling, and even going camping out in the desert, off-roading and motorcycle rides. Many times people think going on dialysis is meaning giving up on life, but it is not! I hope your husband will reconsider, and speak to his nephrologist about what will happen if he doesn't change or go to dialysis. Has he considered looking for a living donor?
Ginger

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I will be his living donor , but still I want to ask his doctor what I have to do , and I hope to match him

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