What is already known on this subject? The quality of life (QoL) of renal patients significantly improves after transplantation but the post-transplant QoL is lower compared with the QoL in healthy populations. Patients on dialysis and those who have received a donor kidney tend to use mainly emotion-focused coping strategies. What does this study add? This study offers several new insights regarding experiences of renal patients after transplantation: Patients experience a range of positive and negative emotions like guilt, gratefulness, and fear. Emotions are partly a result of normative persuasions. Persuasions may transform positive emotions into negative emotions and maladaptive behaviour. Physical limitations and improvements can due to the persuasions lead to negative emotions. Patients mainly use adaptive coping strategies.