Traveling and doing PD

[Evanisthebest]

We are trying to plan a trip to Cancun, but found out the solution bags we use are not compatible in Mexico. We would either have to ship the solution we have there, which could be very expensive, or would have to do 3 manual exchanges a day while there. Has anyone doing PD ever had this issue? Any suggestions? Is there any kind of "medical" discount to not have to pay for the luggage with the solution? Not sure what to do.

[Erifre]

Hi Evanisthebest!, me and my husband have traveled to Mexico and found the same problem.

1. Any airline allows you to check in your medical supplies without any charge, the only thing you need is to show a letter from the doctor letting them know the patient’s condition.

2. Yes, you are right, although the solutions are manufactured and brought to the US from Mexico the connections are not compatible (in our case, with the Amia cassette).

3. You don’t need to ship or travel with your bags, it will be extremely expensive and the possibility of them getting damaged is high.

What I do when traveling is to call Baxter to send the solutions to the hotel and ask my nurse to get a prescription for some adapters. These are connected to the bags and to the cassette, so you don’t have to depend or manuals or ship your solutions. The only thing you have to do is take your own cassettes.

You need (depending on the number of bags needed (in my case my husband uses 3 bags per night - 3 adapters and 3 Short Nose Clamps), I’ll atach pictures and the Codes so you can get those.

Your PD nurse can ask the doctor to send a prescription directly to Baxter and the items can be delivered to the dialysis clinic or to your home.

[Erifre]

The codes are:

5C4136 - Easy-Lock Connector To Spike Adapter Set

5C4527 - Short Nose Clamp for Outlet Port of Plastic Container

This is the adapter and the clamp attached to the bag

[Evanisthebest in reply to Erifre]

Thank you so much for the information and the picture. I will talk to my PD nurse and my contact at Baxter. We have not traveled at all since Jim was diagnosed a year ago, except for 3 days to Michigan, and that was not a problem just packing up everything in the car. I will let you know if I have more questions.

[Erifre in reply to Evanisthebest]

Sure!, I’m here to help, my husband was pretty scared to travel, but now we try to go everywhere!, life and science are giving us a great chance to enjoy life and we are taking it!, have fun, enjoy your trip and let me know if there’s anything I can do for you guys!

[Evanisthebest in reply to Erifre]

HI,

I talked to Jim's PD nurse about the adapter that you told me about. She thought it was a great solution so she called her contact at Baxter, who also called the travel department there and they said she cannot order the adapters because our cycler is Amia. It is against company policy. I wonder if this is a new policy or how you got the adapters ordered if you also have the Amia machine. Just wondering if you can shed some light on this. Thanks!

[Erifre in reply to Evanisthebest]

Hi!, of course, I can help. The first time we got them our PD nurse ordered them directly and they were delivered to our clinic. Then, the second time, our Nephrologist signed a prescription and these were added to our Baxter portal.

We also have an Amia, the travel center doesn’t deliver cassettes or any other adapter in Mexico. You need to take those with you. The option is totally safe, there’s not risk at all, these adapters are precisely to fit the spike bags from Mexico and connect them to the cassette. I’ve done it many times.

[Evanisthebest in reply to Erifre]

Thank you again for your response. We will see our PD nurse and Nephrologist on Tuesday, so I will ask them again about this. Maybe different Baxter locations have different “policies”. Can I ask what state you live in? We are in Wisconsin, but the closest Baxter that delivers to our house is 40 minutes away in Illinois.

[Evanisthebest in reply to Erifre]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that my husband, son, his girlfriend and I just got back from Cancun yesterday. We made it!! We ended up taking the solution bags with us and all the supplies and the machine. It was a little stressful before hand, but once we got there it was all worth it. A wonderful resort call the Hyatt Ziva Riviera. So glad we were able to make it and celebrate my husband Jim’s 80th birthday. Hope all is well with you and you have a Blessed Easter.

Peggy

[Erifre in reply to Evanisthebest]

Hi!!!, I have been thinking about you guys for a long time!, didn’t know if you got my private message. I’m so happy to read that you had a great time!, it takes a village to get all the supplies ready for any trip, but, as you said, when you get to your destination….. it’s all worth it. I’m glad you guys enjoyed your trip, specially you. Good moments like these are the ones that keep us going on. Have a blessed Easter you too and Happy, happy birthday to Jim!!,