Traveling by car with PD

[sassy]

I would like to take a trip by car that is about a 2 day drive.  Just wondering what people do to heat their bags when traveling?  Do you pull into a quick mart and use their Microwave, or is there something out there where you can plug in some type of heating pad in your car?  What about when staying at a hotel?  Are they pretty accommodating by letting you use a microwave?

[okarol]

I don't know what people do on the road, but here's a link to a heated throw blanket for use in your auto http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,97671_Wagan-Heated-Travel-Throw-Blanket.html?cm_mmc=PaidPlacement-_-Become-_-WBECM8-_-Wagan_Heated_Travel_Throw_Blanket

[sassy]

Thanks for the website.  I did also find one that sells heating pads that plug into the car - that could be an option too......

[KT0930]

We have a power converter which we plugged our usual heating pad into. The converter plugs into the car's power outlet/cigarette lighter and has two or three regular (wall-type) outlets on it. We did find that because a car stays a bit cooler than the house, we had to keep the pad and bags either in a box (a box that the fluid is delivered in works well) or a backpack. This works well because once you're off dialysis, you can still use the converter for things like laptops or portable DVD players. The converter is A/C Delco brand and my husband found it at BJs warehouse club, but said shop around. You want to look for one that's between 300 and 500 watts. Any less, it won't do the job, anymore, and it'll be too much of a drain on your car battery.

[sassy]

The converter sounds like a good idea.  I'll try to locate one.  Do you know about how long it takes to heat up the bag in the car with a heating pad?

[KT0930]

sassy, in the house it takes a bag about 3-4 hours to heat up. I would allow a bit more in the car, just because the conditions are not as controlled. I would take one that you've preheated in the house and just keep it on the heating pad to keep it warm if your first exchange is in less than about 5 hours. You can heat more than one bag at a time...I would put three under my heating pad and three on top, so would always have 5 bags ready to go and one getting there.

[mariannas]

Here's a question...what if you are on the road and there's nowhere to wash your hands?  Do you just use the sanitizer? 

[KT0930]

I always had the waterless gel in my purse, and my husband found some Germ-X wipes that are individually wrapped. We always keep a handful of those somewhere in the car. Also kept a couple of masks in the glovebox.