Travelling w/a portable dialysis machine(PD)

I have been able to do a little travelling around the country. But travelling with the machine has often proven problematic. One, because it's pretty heavy! Two, the weight makes it very difficult to lift it into overhead bins on airlines.

Has anyone found a suitable suitcase w/wheels that will carry the machine? I use the one suuplied by Baxter but it does not have wheels & using a cart makes everything even heavier.

Any tips on how to effectively deal with airline desk folks and/or stewardesses who refuse to assist in lifting the machine? This is,of course, illegal because the airlines are required to assist disabled individuals. But reminding them of legalities at the time only antagonizes. Anyone have any quick responses that work?

My Dad recently started Dialysis and we were curious about portable Dialysis machines.Can you reccomend a specific manufacturer?What are the negatives other than the weight?Is there a website you could reccomend that goes further in depth on this topic?

Please reply to my email address at IRJOHO@aol.com

Appreciate your time....

David

I'm not sure if you're asking about the negatives about the machine specifically or the negatives of the larger health issue-peritoneal dialysis? If the latter, there are a lot of sites that compare PD vs hemo. I have found kidneydirecions.com(http://www.kidneydirections.com/us/p...pare/index.htm) to be helpful.

But if you're wondering about the machine itself, I can only tell you about the one I've used - it's the Baxter HomeChoice Pro. I've used it since Feb. 2003. During the period, it had to be replaced once (a pump in it broke). When that occurred, Baxter was very prompt in delivering a new one the next day. Initial drain/fill discomfort was resolved by making adjustments on the machine.

I have traveled around the country & have contacted Baxter each time in advance to arrange for my solutions to be sent adhead. So far, this has worked well.

Really, the biggest issue I have had with the machine is its weight & the difficulty that causes when in transit.This is far outweighed by the benefit of doing home dialysis, in my opinion! Having to be"tethered" to the house for exchanges or having to go to a center(for hemo) s infinitely less appealing.

There are other machine manufacturers. Quite frankly, when I had to start dialysis, I was far too ill to spend time investigating the machine options. But I have not had reason to feel that the machine I have was not a good choice.

My husband has been on PD since may, and this past weekend we took our first trip since we started. We only went about 3 hours away, but needed to be there overnight for a family thing on Sunday, well anyway, we stayed in a hotel, everything went great, but my only question is: when done dialysizing in the morning, do you leave the tubes and stuff in the waste baskets or do you dispose of them yourselves? We kinda felt funny leaving the tubes and everything, so we used on of the solution boxes and brought it home with us to dispose of. We didn't want the hotel staff to think we were doing any sort of surgery or something.

Yeah, we felt uncomfortable leaving tubes, etc beind at first too. But it becomes very cumbersome to dispose of everything yourself after a couple days. So we started to use the boxes. Another solution is that I take along some plastic garbage bags in my suitcase. They're lightweight & don't take up much room in your bag. I bag up the disposables, tie it & leave it by the outgoing trash for the maid to take.

[Denea]

Sistren,
Sorry for the delay, am still trying to find some resources for you. I've been told that the machine that you are using is the smallest.
Did receive a letter that may be helpful:
To: Airline Personnel
Re: Assistive Devices
Please be aware that my patinet______________will be traveling with an assistive device which may be outside of your carry-on policy. my addition-(This item is very difficult to handle and s/he will need assistance from your flight crew) Please also note that this device contains a non-spillable lead acid battery that is classified as Non-Hazardous per IATA Special Provision A67 and a lithium battery that is classified as Non-Hazardous per IARA Special Provision A45.

Physician Signature

Physician's Name (printed)

I added a comment (red) that may help. You may wishs to have the Social Worker/Nurse have this typed up for you, sending a copy when you make reservations and hand carry a copy. Will let you know of any case or other helpful info. if I get it.

[manola]

I've been told that the machine that you are using is the smallest.
sonnerie portable gratuite

[rottendobie]

We are getting ready to take a vacation in our rv with the pd and was wondering if any one had and experince doing this. I t seems like you sure have a lot to take with you.

[annie]

Hey rottendobie-

I haven't done an RV vacay yet, but it's on my list

I have travelled around the country (plane/Xcountry roadtrip), though.

It it certainly doable. How long are you going to be on the road? I wonder if it would be possible to pick up/have delivered your supplies someplace?

Are you staying at an RV campground for any portion of your trip? I know a lot of those places have "long term" folks (people who come and stay for weeks/an entire summer), and receiving packages is not unheard of.

I would contact the RV parks. Also, you might want to talk with your social worker. There are also quite a few folks on this board who might have some ideas.

Whatever you find out, please post back and let us know.

Have a wonderful vacation!!

[rottendobie]

Well that trip is in the end of July and we will be gone for 9 days, but we have a chance to do a trial trip in May for 6 and we should be able to take everything with us.
so I will let you know how it works. We did try it out in the camper the other night, tight but doable so this should be fun.:

[annie]

You may also want to try taking your bags out of the boxes. I have found that I can find little nooks and crannies for the bags that the boxes don't fit into. I did this when we moved cross country (bags I needed for the trip itself).

However, do be conscious of temperature and safety of the bags (e.g., don't put them where they could be punctured or heated/frozen ). Don't forget to bring a few extras with you. Well worth it if you accidentally contaminate something...

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip!

[thb98329]

I have been on dialysis for around a year. I still go to the kidney center for dialysis. I am thinking of going to PD in the near future (4.5 hours three times a week is getting to me). I am now healthy enough to do some traveling. At the most, I get two days in together to travel. PD seems to be the answer I need advice and our experiences to help make the decision.


Thanks Spring Bear

[angieskidney]

I travelled from Canada to the USA (Minnesota) while on PD and since I was on Fresenius (larger than Baxter) I decided not to travel with it but have a second one delivered to me. I was able to do this thanks to the Canadian health care system working with Wisconsin (the State that sent the 2nd machine to Minnesota) and had no issues.

I heard it is a lot easier to travel with the Baxter PD cycler.

[annie]

Yes, Angie!

It is quite simple to travel with the Baxter cycler. They come with wheeled roller cases now. Your unit can order one for you if you don't have one.

Although they are heavy to lift, most airlines won't let them in the cabin anymore, so it doesn't make a difference (re: over head bins). I just gate check mine. As far as road trips go, I just put it in the back seat. It's great.

The case is about the size of my home printer/copier. not too bad. I am sooo blessed to be able to do PD.

[angieskidney]

Originally Posted by annie

Yes, Angie!

It is quite simple to travel with the Baxter cycler. They come with wheeled roller cases now. Your unit can order one for you if you don't have one.

Although they are heavy to lift, most airlines won't let them in the cabin anymore, so it doesn't make a difference (re: over head bins). I just gate check mine. As far as road trips go, I just put it in the back seat. It's great.

The case is about the size of my home printer/copier. not too bad. I am sooo blessed to be able to do PD.

THAT is the part that scares me! What if your luggage gets separated from you or never gets to you or on the same flight as you? Just this week a priest lost
his priest clothes and it was an important event (a really close priest friend of his getting ordained) and they screwed up not only with sending his luggage on the wrong flight but gave him a different flight all together (and he got there too late anyway (a few screw ups). I don't really trust airports anymore so when I had to bring a PD pole with me (for manual before I was doing the cycler but at least this was within the country so less strict) I had to bring my pole on board but as a musical instrument so that I could keep it with me lol.