New Zealand

[Andy]

Well, before Christmas I said that hopefully this year bigger and better things would happen... well in early March, myself and Mike (my partner0 will be relocating to New Zeland. Mike is a kiwi and has been here for nearly 5 years and is very much looking forward to heading home.

I have got a about 10 weeks worth of meds from my GP/ Tx clinic, which will give me enough time to settle down, and sort out meds from that side.

I will still check into KPG regularly and keep up to date with the goings on.

This board, the advice and friendship has been second to none. Wishing you all the very best- remember to follow your dreams.

Love
Andy xx

[Budgie]

W O W !! wanted down under Big Adventure
Best of luck hope the move goes well
Guess you will be very busy ATM
piccies we will need piccies when you get there

[cindywoolley]

Dear Andy wishing you luck, love and happiness in your new adventure. Hope it all goes well and keep us posted.

[JMan]

Andy, the very very best of luck to you and Mike. and remember SKYPE makes it a small world:)

Jim xx

[Andy]

Just a quick update, we are still in shaky New Zealand, and have found out this morning that my residence visa has been approved (thinking that 5.3 magnitude earthquake at 3 am, was the start of something). Very exciting- as it was hard work proving that I was worthy enough to have even with the costs of my meds.
Been here since early March, still a bit like an extended holdiay as I havent worked yet, however have volunteered with St John. Now I can start work (bit Mike is most looking forward too).

I am so greatful to my donor and her family, this move would have been impossible, if it were not for her!

Live you dreams.
Andy xxx

[Doolally]

Fantastic!! Sounds like things are going well. How bizarre to feel all those tremors.

Really pleased you're getting settled and into life out there. Enjoy! Good luck on the work front...

Lots of love
Ali xx

[Andy]

Hey guys,
Just thought I would update you all on my emigrating to New Zealand.
The process of the visa was a long one, I had to have a medical exam (as do all people wanting to emigrate here), had to get clarity from my renal unit ( which was a bit like getting blood out of a stone)- in the end I went via some one I know who worked in the unit to get a different doctor who has not treated me for a number of years to write me a letter- which thankfully worked. The rule for NZ is that you do not cost them over a certain amount per year- my immunosuppressants take me slightly over the threshold, but then they consider other reasons why you are here.

So being with Mike- who had been out of NZ for 5 years makes him high on the priority list to get him back to his home country, and being a nurse also helped.

So now all that is sorted- I was able to make an appointment to see GP here and asked to be referred to the nephrology team. Had my bloods done, and my creatinine is about the same as what it was at home- high 60's. However I havent had my tacrolimus levels checked- will hopefully get them done in the next week, prior to seeing the nephrology team on Aug 4th. I am also hoping that the neph team will prescribe me my Tac and MMF as my GP was not happy to do so in first instance- I have enough to last me another month!

I start work this week, looking forward to it, to being in touch with patients again, but not looking forward to feeling a earthquake when in an unfamiliar place like the hospital- by all accounts it shakes quite nicely!!

As alwyas very greatful to my donor and her family.

[Doolally]

Good to get an update. I hope the renal team prove to be really good and helpful and accepting of you. I guess your GP might prescribe the meds if the renal unit write to him/her, or prescribe it first.

What's happening on the work front?

Hope the shakes keep to a minimum. You moved over at a particularly 'active' time.

Ali xx

[Budgie]

Great to hear from you and that things are getting sorted sounds as tho Meds are the same even on the other side of the world
We could do with piccies of you chillin and where you are
Regards
Chris

[amanda in CA]

Must be exciting to be living in a new country, I know that it was for me. When we visited New Zealand I thought that it was a beautiful country - wouldn't mind living there myself.

[lancs lass]

Hi Andy this is my first time on the forum and i hope you dont mind me contacting you. Have just been told through a phone call from my GP yesterday that I have stage 3 kidney failure and am just in the process of trying to emigrate to NZ through the family section (I have a daughter in Timaru who is married to a kiwi and has been out there for the last 12yrs and they are able to sponsor me) I am still reeling from the phone call and, of course my first thought was there goes any chance of ever being approved. If there is any info, you may have that will be useful i would be very greatful, just not sure were to go with this at the moment. Many thanks

[Andy]

Hi LL,

That is great that you are in the process of trying to emigrate.

I spoke to a couple the other week who were both Brits, whose parents were in the process of emigrating too, but it had been a long slog- and they were spending 6 months in Nz then 6 months in Aus until their visa was approved.

have you started the process yet of the paperwork? You must have a medical examination to submit with your visa application- this will include having bloods, a chest xray etc.

There is a chance that they will approve your application (I spent months wondering if mine would ever get approved, but was damned determined to try it!).
I guess at the moment the best thing to do is to see what will happen regarding your current health. I would possibly hold off with the application for now until you have some answers.

Part of the agreement of coming to NZ, is that you wont have any significant costs to NZ, unfortunately this includes any person that requires dialysis, and those with a solid organ transplant.

The response to my visa, twice was no- please provide more evidence, so I provided more, then I was able to apply for a medical waiver, which is when they look at other aspects other than your health (i.e. what will you bring ot NZ and family connections).

Hope this helps a little bit.
Please feel free to PM me if you need any help at all.

Cheers
Andrea x

[Andy]

I went to kidney clinic yesterday and I have total faith in the Christchurch Nephrology team. The Dr I spoke to was great, I had the most thorough examination that I can ever remember having.

We discussed a number of things including, my ridiculosuly/dangerously high blood pressure- he has started me on a different tablet (my tablets from home, give me the worst headache (more like a migraine, and sickness- to the point that I do not fucntion).

He asked me about pregnancy- something that has never even been mentioned at home by the Tx unit- which was really nice to be asked- and was quite open in saying that if and when we felt ready we could discuss it.

Also mentioned about protein in my urine- which I have had for a long time- (I had been asking about this at home- with no answers) and said that it is likely to be from my high BP.

So I have to have a blood test next week, to check that my new BP med hasn't affected my renal function, and I will have a follow up appointment in 3 months,.

He also precribed me my immunosuppressants- and reassured me that I can contact them at any time.

As always I remain ever greatful to my donor and her family.

xx

[jkirk]

Hi Andy,

First time poster but found your thread and found it very interesting. I hope that things are still going well for you, Mike and your graft.

My wife and I are researching the possibility of emigrating to Australia and wonder how this may differ from NZ?

We are both kidney transplant recipients and would come over on my wife's visa, as she is a Registered Nurse. I understand the "costs to NZ" as a country which you refer to and have been emailed by Transplant Australia who state we must have health insurance in place which may be prohibitively expensive; never mind the costs of CellCept, Tacrolimus etc and regular checkups.

Could you give any info on costs of tx meds and checkups in NZ which may be similar to Oz or any info on the health insurance situation? We have my wife's sister and my Aussie cousins within 2 hours of each other so already have family there.

I appreciate that NZ may be quite different to Oz but any "been there, done that" day to day experiences from a Tx patient viewpoint would be useful, so that we can see if we are just dreaming and whether a move is just not realistic.

Many thanks. JOHN

[Andy]

Hi John,

The moving process to NZ was pretty intense. I do not think I would have been accepted if I did not have a kiwi partner.
There is a rule that excludes all solid organ transplants recipients from moving to NZ. I think that it did help that I am also a nurse.
I am not sure how the health system works in Aus compared to here, bascially here I am entitled to the same as kiwi born recipients. I pay $3 per med every time I put a new script in to the pharmacy. (so, every 3 months its $12). Also we pay here to see a dr, so that is around $37 each visit. However hospital care is free.

I had to keep on top of my doctors in the UK to send in the relevant stuff. In the end I bypassed all the specialist nurses, HO, and Regs, and got my friend who works with the consultants to sort it out for me!

I don't regret at all, moving to NZ. My care here is second to none, and I love the life style.

All the very best, and let me know if you have any questions.
Good Luck
x