How Soon After a Kidney Disease Diagnosis Will I Need a Kidney Transplant?
Finding out you have kidney disease can be overwhelming. One of the first questions many people ask is, “Will I need a kidney transplant—and if so, when?”
The short answer is: not everyone with kidney disease will need a transplant right away, and some may never need one at all. The kidney disease timeline depends on how early your condition is caught, how well your kidneys are functioning, and how fast the disease progresses.
Understanding Kidney Disease Stages
Kidney disease develops over time. There are five stages, with Stage 1 being the mildest and Stage 5 (also called kidney failure or end-stage renal disease) being the most serious.
The primary way of measuring kidney function is through the GFR, or glomerular filtration rate, a test that measures how well your kidneys are filtering waste and excess water from your blood. The GFR determines the stage of kidney disease.
You may not have any symptoms in the early stages, and some people don’t experience symptoms even in later stages. Your doctor will use blood and urine tests to measure how well your kidneys are working.
When Is a Transplant Needed?
A transplant is usually only considered when the GFR is at 20 or lower. This indicates severe kidney damage and Stage 5 kidney failure.
Some people may reach this stage slowly, over many years, or even decades. Others may get there more quickly, depending on the cause of their kidney disease and when they were diagnosed.
What About Dialysis?
When your kidneys fail, you will need to either go on dialysis or have a kidney transplant. The choice depends on several factors, including your overall health, your quality of life, and the availability of a kidney donor.
If your kidneys have not failed completely, you don’t have to be on dialysis before getting a transplant. In fact, many doctors recommend trying to get a transplant before starting dialysis. This is called a preemptive transplant, and it’s often linked to better health outcomes.
You can choose to go on dialysis either indefinitely or while you wait for a transplant. While dialysis is a lifesaving treatment for kidney failure, it requires ongoing treatment and can be difficult both physically and mentally.
What Should I Do Now?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with kidney disease, here are some smart steps to take:
- See a kidney specialist (nephrologist): They can help monitor your kidney function and slow down the disease’s progress.
- Follow your treatment plan: This may include medication, dietary changes, or managing other conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Start learning about transplant options early: The more time you have to prepare, the better.
- Talk to your doctor about when to start the transplant evaluation process: This usually begins when GFR is between 20 and 25.
- Consider living donation: A living donor transplant often means a shorter wait and better results.
Needing a kidney transplant isn’t something that happens overnight. Many people live with kidney disease for years before needing one—and some never do. The best thing you can do is stay informed, keep your kidneys as healthy as possible, and start exploring your transplant options early if your doctor thinks you may need one.