Travel Tips: A Guide for
Kidney Patients
For many patients who are on dialysis
or have had a kidney transplant, the ability to travel is
important to their self-esteem and lifestyle. Working
patients may need to attend business meetings or
conferences. Older patients may have dreamed of travelling
during their retirement. A family event such as a wedding,
graduation or family reunion may require travel away from
home. At times, emergencies such as illness or a death in
the family may require travel.
Is it possible for kidney patients to
travel?
Yes, most patients who receive
dialysis or have had a kidney transplant can travel safely
and continue their treatment while away from home. Of
course, you should always consult your doctor before
planning to travel. Most doctors encourage travel if the
patient's health is stable. Travelling can give a big boost
to a patient's morale and sense of well-being.
How should haemodialysis patients
begin to plan a trip?
Many dialysis centres have a staff
member who is experienced in arranging dialysis treatments
away from home (transient dialysis). Some centres will
assist patients in making their own arrangements. Ask your
social worker or primary nurse if there is such a person at
your center.
It is important to start planning at
least six to eight weeks in advance. More time should be
allowed for popular vacation spots or travel during
holidays. Be flexible about the dates for your trip as space
in dialysis units may be limited. If you would prefer to
have your treatments on specific days and at specific times,
let the center know in advance. The unit may not always be
able to honour your request, however, because space is
limited.
You or your patient travel coordinator
may need to contact more than one center in order to find a
center that can provide dialysis for you. Check with the
center as soon as you arrive to confirm your appointment.
You may also want to visit the center and meet the staff so
you will feel more comfortable. Before doing this, however,
make an appointment with the social worker or nurse manager
of the dialysis center you plan to visit.
How will I find a center to dialyze
at?
If you plan to visit friends or family
out of town, they may be able to give you the name and
address of the dialysis center nearest them. Resource
publications are available at your center listing dialysis
centres around the world that are willing to accept
transient dialysis patients. Your social worker or the
patient travel coordinator at your center will be able to
assist you.
What if I need to travel in an
emergency?
Many dialysis centres make every
effort to accommodate patients in the event of an emergency
such as illness or death of a family member. Dialysis
records can be faxed ahead, or you can hand carry them with
you.
What information will my transient
dialysis center need to safely provide dialysis for me?
Most dialysis centres require the
following information in order to assess your health and
plan for your treatments with them:
- the dates you need dialysis
treatment
- your name, address, etc.
- medical history and recent physical
exam reports
- recent lab results
- recent EKG
- recent chest x-ray
- your dialysis prescription and 3 to
5 recent treatment records
- dialysis access type
- special needs or dialysis
requirements
- information about your general
health
- insurance information
- where you will be staying in the
area
- a list of the medications you take
during treatment and at home.
This information will be sent to your
destination center for review. It is important for the
doctor and transient center to know as much about you as
possible in order to care for your needs while visiting
their center. In addition to mailing your records to the
center, you should hand carry a copy with you.
How can I be sure about the quality
of care I will be getting away from my regular center?
You may want to ask the following
questions when making your arrangements for haemodialysis
during your trip:
- Does the center reuse dialyzers?
- Does the center reuse bloodlines?
- What is the average treatment
length of dialysis at the center?
- Can they provide the treatment time
your doctor has prescribed?
- What are the hours and days of
operation? Travelling patients often are placed on an
evening shift, which could end as early as 7:30 p.m. or as
late as 2:00 a.m.
- What types of dialyzers are used?
- Can you use the same type of
dialyzer you use at your home center?
- What types of dialysis machine does
the center have (conventional, high flux capability)?
- Does the center routinely provide
lidocaine?
- Are patients permitted to eat or
drink while on dialysis?
- Is an ice machine available for
patients?
- Is public transportation available
to get to the center?
- How many patients are assigned to
each nurse or patient care technician?
- Can you get all the medications you
get at your home center during dialysis?
What if I get sick while I am
visiting another center?
Don't overdo it! Be realistic when
planning activities. Allow enough time to enjoy sightseeing
outings and activities without becoming overtired. Also, be
sure to watch your diet and fluid intake. Before you begin
your trip, you will most likely have a doctor assigned to
you by your transient dialysis center. Find out how to
contact the doctor when you first arrive. If you do become
ill, call the dialysis center or doctor as instructed.
It is possible that a transient
patient may require hospitalization. If this should happen
to you, your transient doctor is prepared for this
possibility and will care for you during your hospital stay.
He or she will probably talk to your regular doctor to
coordinate your care. You may feel more comfortable to know
if this coordination has taken place. Being hospitalized
while away from home can be a stressful experience for any
patient, and it certainly can change your travel plans.
Preparing ahead for this possibility can help make the
experience less stressful. The following suggestions may be
helpful:
- Make sure your family knows your
travel plans.
- Make sure you have important phone
numbers with such names as your regular doctor, dialysis
center, etc. Have a copy of your medical records with you
while travelling.
- Make sure anyone who is travelling
with you knows where you keep your records and what your
medical needs are.
- Make sure to bring enough of the
medications you need to take to last for the entire trip,
with enough extra to deal with possible emergencies such
as lost luggage or a spill. Also carry written
prescriptions just in case.
Is home haemodialysis possible on a
trip?
Yes, although most home haemodialysis
patients make arrangements for in-center treatments while
travelling. Patients who wish to continue doing their own
treatment while travelling should check with their dialysis
care team about whether they can do home dialysis away from
home. Some patients travel with their machines, supplies and
portable water treatment equipment. An example would be
people who have dialyzed in campsites equipped with hook-ups
for electricity.
Even if you do your own treatment, it
is important to know where the closest dialysis center is
where you could go for assistance. Let the center know when
you will be in the area, and ask if they would be willing to
provide medical assistance if needed. Carry complete medical
information with you. Remember that most dialysis and
equipment companies have toll-free numbers for assistance 24
hours a day. Carry these numbers with you.
What should peritoneal dialysis
patients know about travelling?
Travelling is often easier for
peritoneal dialysis patients because they are not dependent
on the availability of a dialysis unit. Peritoneal dialysis
patients still need to plan ahead and arrange for back-up
medical care for their trips, as do haemodialysis patients.
Typically, this would mean contacting a dialysis center in
the area where you will be and asking if they would be
available should a problem arise. The center may request a
copy of your medical records in advance. In any case, you
should always carry a copy of your records with you as well.
CAPD patients should carry enough
supplies for the length of the trip, plus some extra
supplies in case of problems. It may also be possible to
arrange for delivery of supplies to your destination for
longer stays. Make sure these supplies have arrived before
you leave on your trip. CAPD patients also need to plan for
adequate clean space where they may do their exchanges while
travelling.
CCPD patients who plan to travel for
one week or longer can arrange for supplies to be delivered
to their destination. Smaller cycler machines are now
available, which are easy to carry on airplanes and to use
in hotel rooms, campers, etc.
Is it possible to travel if you are
active on a transplant waiting list?
Yes. Simply inform your transplant
coordinator about your travel plans. The coordinator will
help you decide whether to be "on hold" during the trip or
whether you would be able to return within a reasonable
amount of time if a kidney became available. Arrange to be
contacted in the event a kidney becomes available.
What should diabetic patients know
about travelling?
Since the unexpected may happen during
a trip and meals may be delayed, you should carry glucose
tablets and appropriate snacks, such as low-potassium juice
boxes or hard candy, to treat low blood sugar. It's a good
idea to travel with a "brown-bag" lunch or a packaged
nutritional supplement in case of delays. Managing your
diabetes can be made simpler by having insulin, syringes and
blood glucose monitoring supplies handy.
Will my insurance cover treatment
during travel?
Check with NHS before you travel.
If you have commercial insurance as
your primary insurance, you may need to request a letter
from your insurance company stating they will pay for your
treatment at the transient dialysis center. Some commercial
insurance will pay for dialysis outside of the U.K.
Transient dialysis centres will often call and verify this
coverage themselves. Be sure to allow enough planning time
to make these arrangements.
A doctor's fee may also be charged by
the transient dialysis center. Be sure to ask what portion
of this charge will be your responsibility.
Further information
Where can I get more information?
Following is a list of other resources
you may find helpful:
- "The List," a comprehensive list of
international dialysis centres accepting transient
patients. Available from AFREKID
- Also available are companies that
specialize in vacation and travel planning for dialysis
patients, such as cruises, foreign travel, and wilderness
travel. Camps are available for dialysis and transplant
patients (both adults and children). Contact AFREKID for
more information and a directory of camps. Your health
care team can also give you more information about these
options.
Don't forget!
- Hand carry essential medical
information, your medicines and other medical supplies in
case of the unexpected, such as lost luggage.
- Bring enough of your medications to
last for your entire trip, with enough extra to deal with
possible emergencies. Also carry written prescriptions
just in case.
- If you need extra assistance
boarding a plane or train, inform personnel when you check
in so they can give you special instructions.
- If you are planning to travel by
plane or train, make arrangements for any special meals
such as low-salt, low-fat or diabetic, at the time you
make your reservations.
- When making a hotel reservation,
you can request a first-floor room or a
handicapped-accessible room, if stairs or distances are a
problem.
- If you use a travel agent, tell the
agent about any special needs you may have, such as
special meals, accessible rooms, and assistance while
changing planes. The agent can also advise you about
special considerations regarding safe transport of
dialysis supplies while travelling to foreign countries.
See also in this A-Z guide:
- Dining Out With Confidence
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