Q. Is travel possible with dialysis?
Yes dialysis is possible with travel. There are dialysis centers almost anywhere you may want to travel. Transient dialysis must be scheduled in advance of your travel plans so that the facility you are visiting will be able to fit you into their schedule. As well, you may need to have any necessary tests completed such as a chest x-ray or blood tests to check for diseases such as AIDS or Hepatitis. Your social worker at your current dialysis unit can help you make all the arrangements.
What about cruises?
There are a couple of travel agencies that book dialysis cruises. These are just like any other cruises. The only difference is that onboard they have some dialysis machines, around 10 or so machines. They are not cruises just for dialysis patients, but all people. So they wouldn't be a "special cruise", but a regular fun cruise that everyone is enjoying only you have to take some time out for your dialysis treatments, and no one need know but you and the staff. Bring your friends and family along. Have fun!
People on peritoneal dialysis probably already know that they can travel just fine with dialysis, you just need to bring a large suitcase for your supplies needed to do your exchanges. Of course bring the cycler machine if you use one.
Visit the travel dialysis links listed at this topic.
Q. What happens if someone chooses not to have dialysis or chooses to stop dialysis treatment?
Without dialysis, a patient with end stage renal failure (ESRD) would die. Dialysis or transplantation is needed to sustain life at this point. Fluid will build up in the lungs and blood stream putting pressure on the heart and making it hard to breath. A person may drown on his or her own fluids. A person may die of congestive heart failure. Potassium levels may build up to lethal levels causing the heart to stop beating. The toxins in the blood will build up and cause damage to vital organs. It is impossible to know how long someone would take to die, if dialysis is refused. It could be days, weeks, months, or longer depending on the individual person and their medical conditions.
