How To Travel with PD: Tips and Tricks?

[TiffanyJean]

Hey everyone so at the beginning of September we are finally taking a vacation (its been postponed twice this year). So we are calling Baxter in the next week to set up everything we will need for our 12 day trip to Northern CA (SF and then to Sacramento to visit family). Richie will be bringing his Baxter PD Cycler.

So what we are wondering is what do we bring and what do they deliver? if we have to bring all the cassettes, and tubes and what not will we have to pay for the extra bag or can we get a medical note or something?

Are there any books that anyone can suggest? like a how to travel while on dialysis?

Any tips or tricks or suggestions that anyone can give will be much appreciated!
 
Thanks So Much!!

TJ

[willowtreewren]

This is wonderful news, Tiffany.

You will want to notify the airline BEFORE going. And get a letter from your clinic. Talk with them to find out what can be delivered to your destination.

We have a different machine and haven't flown with it, so others will have additional tips.

Have a GREAT time! 

Aleta

[Jie]

For all my travels, I brought everything except the solutions, which was delivered to the hotels by Baxter ahead of time. It needs at least 2 weeks before travel in the U.S. to order the solutions. 

For the cycler, I used the hardcase to check it during my first trip. It ended up being broken during the flight. Therefore, I always used softcase to carry the cycler on board later on. The medical supplies and cycler should not be counted as luggage. I flighted a lot, and my cycler has almost earned a "MVP" as well. I have not brought any letters from my neph or clinic. The airport security would usually open the cycler case to the cycler. Just tell them it is a dialysis machine. I called the airline for my first trip, but they told me that I don't need to call it. Different airlines may have different policies, so it is a good idea to call it ahead of time.

[djgaryb11]

Baxter will deliver your solutions to your destination.  You need to bring everything else.  So that means your Cycler, Cassettes, clamps, BP machine, scale, proper soap and hand sanitizer, mini caps, tape, gauze, etc.  When I traveled by plane i used a hard case that i purchased myself, some Clinics have loaner cases that they loan out , but mine didn't.  I took my cycler on the plane and stored it in the over head bin....it does not count as baggage, and I also got a letter from my PD nurse saying what it was and that it was a "life saving medical equipment"..something like that.  I just got back from a 2 week trip down to the Florida Keys and Key West....I drove there, so I brought my cylcer machine and all my supplies with me in  my car, all the PD fluids were delivered to my destination.  Everything worked out great for me.   Good luck with your trip !

[djgaryb11]

Also, this is a great article to read also

http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/tom/200810/