Holiday Travel Tips for Kidney Patients

The holidays are quickly approaching! Wherever your seasonal gatherings are taking place this year, be sure to make any necessary preparations to facilitate your festivities with ease. This article aims to share guiding principles and reminders for patients to consider before embarking on their travels. 

General Travel Tips for Kidney Patients

Our providers recommend keeping a checklist of your action items. To the general population, it is always recommended to stay on top of your routine vaccines and pack any travel hygiene products such as hand sanitizer and face masks if you are susceptible to illness. 

For dialysis patients, in addition to the above, be sure to inform your dialysis team well in advance about your travel plans so they can ensure you have enough resources either on hand or at regional dialysis centers for you to continue your treatment on the go! Another best practice is talking to your kidney providers to replenish any medication you need alongside your treatments.

Staying Accountable to Your Care Routine

Keep your holidays and vacation time fun and safe by remembering to be conscious of your diet and hydration, especially for prolonged travel plans! You may find yourself eating out more frequently within a shorter period – in which case, be sure to keep track of your potassium, sodium, and fluid intake. It’s all about maintaining a balance!

With proper notice, your care team can help devise an action plan for you to follow during your travels that is conducive to your health without forsaking your enjoyment! Prepare a couple of months/weeks ahead to give the staff proper notice so they can get a better understanding of how to meet your needs and avoid any concerns. Moreover, oftentimes your team can accommodate and align different schedules to meet ideal travel units near your destination so giving them ample time to coordinate this is always appreciated!

Travel Preparations

Travel preparations and needs will vary based on the type of travel you are planning; however, our team has listed the following as a starting point:

Domestic vs. International with Dialysis

Domestic travel tends to be easier to plan for hemodialysis patients because your local clinic has the resources to arrange everything with less work for you. International travel with hemodialysis is a little bit trickier, but not impossible. Key considerations for patients may be cost, as insurance may not follow through overseas. Additionally, depending on your destination, some areas may not even provide the services you need within a close enough distance for easy access. To mitigate these issues, we highly recommend planning international travel needs much further in advance. 

For patients on Peritoneal Dialysis, travel is made a lot more simple! PD offers more flexibility, making it much easier for you to facilitate your travel plans. The most significant part of your preparation will be ensuring you have enough materials and medication to last your trip. Once you’ve secured your supplies and cycler, you can pack them to take on your travels or even ship them to each destination during extended travel. 

Pitfalls to Avoid

Common pitfalls patients succumb to are failing to alert their care team and needing more resources to enjoy a comfortable travel experience. For patients who are new to traveling with their condition, we often stress that consultations are key to identifying any gaps in your plans and ensuring your safety on the go! Next time you stop in for your check-ups or dialysis appointments, be sure to communicate promptly so we can best assist you with any areas of concern.

In addition to informing your health professionals, go the extra mile by sharing your care plan with friends and family who will be traveling alongside you and can offer support. Loved ones can offer support in a myriad of ways by setting reminders, helping find inclusive food options, and checking in to help as needed.