Kidney Function

The fact that a kidney transplant may potentially save your life by restoring proper kidney function is obviously something to consider when weighing the pros and the cons of having such a major surgery. However, in the interest of keeping you informed of all aspects involved, here is a brief run down of all the negative consequences of having a kidney transplant.

Pain and Discomfort of Surgery

Although you will not likely experience any pain during the actual surgery, it is very common to experience pain and discomfort immediate following the procedure. Pain killers are often given to help minimize the pain.

Risk of Rejection

There is no way to 100% guarantee that a transplanted kidney will take and that your body will accept it. However, recent advancements have made rejections less likely than they were in the past.

Frequent Medical Needs

After receiving a transplant, you will need to make frequent visits to check in with your physician. Anti-rejection drugs may also cause problems that may require you to be hospitalized.

Weakened Immune System

Your body may lose the ability to fight off certain infections, some of which may be life threatening. This is another reason why frequent trips to your physician are imperative after being the recipient of a kidney transplant.

Conditions Caused by Prescription Drugs

Some patients may experience visual cataracts, arthritis, and in some cases even cancer (the most common type being a type of skin cancer that is usually easily treatable) due to drugs that are prescribed in the wake of transplantation.

Stress

It is quite common for kidney transplant patients to experience ongoing anxiety, mostly rooted in the fear of losing function of the newly transplanted kidney and having to then return to another type of dialysis.

Cost

For those without medical insurance, the cost of a kidney transplant can be financially crippling. Assuming the surgery is successful and there are no complications, the average transplant in the United States costs around $34,000. This price includes the transplant surgeon’s fee, tests, laboratory fees, medication, anesthesiologist, operating room, nursing care, the costs related to organ donation, and general hospitilization fees.

Medicare coverage will cover most of the above mentioned fees.  However, Medicare will only cover the cost of anti-rejection drugs for the first year after the transplant.

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