Tropical holiday advice

[Juliepkd]

Hi. I live in the UK and have HD in a hospital unit 3 times a week. Once this awful pandemic has passed I want to travel again to the Caribbean, as I had wonderful holidays there before my kidneys gave out.

It's fairly easy and very safe to dialyse in Europe on holiday but how easy and safe is it to dialyse in the Caribbean? Do any of you in the US or Canada have any experience/advice for me? Is the cost prohibitive? Am I being over optimistic and maybe should stay in the UK or Europe? Any advice appreciated. I just want something lovely to look forward to, it's pretty miserable here at the moment. Thank you.

Julie

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Talk to the social worker at your dialysis center. She can look into it for you. I know people that have done dialysis when traveling, but I think it depends on the Caribbean island. Make sure you get the vaccine before traveling also.

[felizesperar]

Hi Juliepkd, My husband is on dialysis and isn't really in the best of health and he is in a wheelchair - so we obviously have a lot of 'needs' when we travel. We live in the US and have only traveled to Washington DC and Traverse City Michigan and scheduled dialysis. It all went well, and everyone at the centers were lovely. we had NO issues.We too always worry about how safe each location is, and you often don't have too many choices - and on an island - it is likely there is only one- if any- you may need to work your vacation around the location of the dialysis center - that is what we have done.

Not sure by your question if you have traveled at all with dialysis, but our biggest gripe is we usually don't find out the 'time' and 'days' of the dialysis until very close to the vacation - like a week or two. It makes it challenging. Before traveling I always search on google maps to find out what is closest to my desired location - you can see all this online nowadays. You also need to consider if you should travel if you are on a transplant waiting list.

This site has good information on traveling: kidney.org/atoz/content/tra...

from this site: "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."

Good luck!

[Juliepkd in reply to felizesperar]

Thank you for this. I appreciate it. Interesting to note about timings, I hadnt considered that factor. I cant wait to visit the USA again, I've had brilliant holidays in your amazing country. Best wishes

Julie