Planning a Vacation When You Have Renal Failure

Many people wonder if it's possible to travel or go on a vacation when you have renal failure. The answer is, it depends on the severity of the renal failure, the age of the person who has renal failure, the form of treatment they receive, what kind of dialysis they do, whether the person has other serious illnesses, and ultimately what the doctor says.

Many renal patients do hemodialysis three times a week. How is it possible to vacation when you have renal failure and must do hemodialysis so frequently?

For some patients it is in fact possible to travel or take a vacation. Following are some things that must be considered and done when planning a vacation when you have renal failure.

Talk to your doctor

The first thing you have to do when planning a vacation when you have renal failure is talk to your doctor about it. You need to find out if your doctor believes it would be safe for you to travel. If your doctor thinks it will be ok, he or she will be able to help you ensure that you have the safest and most pleasant experience.

Know where dialysis centers are and schedule dialysis appointments

If planning a vacation when you have renal failure you must plan far before taking the actual vacation. If you do hemodialysis you must know where dialysis centers are and schedule appointments for dialysis treatments. You cannot skip dialysis treatments.

It can be hard to get appointments for dialysis treatments at clinics where you are not a regular patient, so it is vital that you do the planning and scheduling beforehand. Once you find a clinic where you can receive your hemodialysis treatment make sure everything is clear and settled before going on vacation. Have the address and directions to the clinic so that you arrive there on time.

Make sure you'll be able to stick to your renal diet

When you have renal failure it's important to follow a healthy diet that has been catered to your health needs. If you are planning a vacation and have renal failure make sure the proper foods are available to you and that you avoid, as much as possible, potentially harmful foods and drinks. Do not drink alcohol unless your doctor gives you the go ahead, and even then, make sure you follow your doctor's instructions and don't overdo it.

Make a list of things you need to bring with you

When planning a vacation when you have renal failure you'll need to make sure you have everything you need with you. This includes medications, phone numbers, addresses, and any other important aspects of your treatment. It's also a good idea to establish where the closest emergency room is to where you'll be staying, in case anything should go wrong.

If you talk to your doctor, schedule dialysis treatments, and plan way ahead of time it is possible to have a relaxing, enjoyable, and safe vacation when you have renal failure.