It was/wasn't everything I had imagined: advantages and disadvantages after kidney transplantation

To know the advantages and difficulties that people with chronic kidney disease experience after renal transplantation.

A qualitative and descriptive study with 20 kidney transplant patients in a city in Southern Brazil, from May to July of 2013. Semi-structured interviews were used, analyzed according to the critical incident technique.

The main advantages were presented in the similarity to "normal" living: advantages resulting from the kidney transplant category, related to the patient's discharge from dialysis, food and water restriction, among others. The difficulties were presented in the permanent chronic condition and the need for care category.

The advantages and disadvantages depend on each person's experience. The health professionals need to understand and promote health actions that promote the uniqueness and context of renal transplant.