Traveling on Dialysis

Technological advances have made traveling by car or plane while you’re on at-home haemodialysis (Home HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) simpler than ever before. An essential thing to remember is to make sure to pack enough of your medication to last you for your entire trip, plus a few days extra just in case.

You also need to either bring everything you’ll need to perform your home haemodialysis (Home HD) treatments while you’re away, or arrange to have the necessary equipment and supplies delivered at your destination in advance of your arrival. It may also be possible to make arrangements with a clinic or hospital at your destination to perform your in-centre haemodialysis (In-Centre HD) at their facilities. Make sure to check with your insurance company about whether your treatments at this new centre will be covered.

Your healthcare team will be able to tell you about the practicalities and airline guidelines for traveling with medical equipment and dialysis solution. You may also want to double-check with the airline you’re flying on. Also remember to bring any personal and medication information you’ll need – including your insurance card, your medication and allergy list, and all your treatment instructions. Making a full list of what you’ll need to take with you while you’re running through your treatment is a great way to make sure you don’t forget anything important. 

If you are a home haemodialysis (Home HD) patient, it’s important to plan well in advance, so any deliveries or changes can be made. Most dialysis companies recommend planning with at least 60 days’ notice.

You should coordinate your travel with your clinical care team, to make sure that you have all the supplies and information you need. Keep in mind that solution configurations, cycler sets, and power sources vary from country to country, so you will need to plan for that as well if you are traveling outside of your own country.

You must be sure to pack enough dialysis supplies to last you a few more days than the length of your trip, in case you experience an unexpected delay getting home. It might be possible for you to arrange to have your supplies delivered to your destination so that you don’t have to carry them with you. If you choose to do this, make sure the supplies will arrive before you do. You also need to arrange to have access to a clean and well-lit space at your destination that you can use for your treatment.

If you’re on APD and you’re planning to be away longer than a week, you’ll need to bring your own cycler with you. Any other supplies you need can be delivered in advance.

If you are planning to receive in-centre HD while you are away, you need to start planning for it at least 8 weeks in advance of your trip. Keep in mind that you will need to arrange your travel dates around the availability of treatment centres in that area. If you have specific date and time preferences, let the centre know as early in the process of arranging your treatments as possible. The centre may need a copy of your medical records in advance, so be sure to have these handy, and bring an extra copy when you leave for your trip.

Your first-choice centre might not have enough space to accommodate you during your trip. Be prepared to contact more than one centre in order to increase your chances of receiving treatment on the dates that are right for you.

If you have the chance, you should visit the centre you’ll be treating at as soon as you arrive at your destination. Speaking with a nurse or administrator there may make you feel more at ease about treating away from home. 

Your dialysis clinic will usually be able to provide assistance with creating a plan that is right for you and help contacting the appropriate clinics near your destination.