How to Plan for Trips While on Dialysis

Living with kidney disease and requiring dialysis doesn’t mean you have to give up travel. While it takes extra planning and coordination, many people on dialysis enjoy vacations, family visits, or business trips with minimal disruption to their treatment. At Shifa Dialysis in Chicago, we support our patients in maintaining an active lifestyle, and that includes helping you plan for travel while staying healthy.

Travel Is Possible on Dialysis—With the Right Preparation

Whether you’re on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, it’s absolutely possible to travel, but doing so safely means planning ahead. The first step is always to speak with your nephrologist or care team. They can help determine if you’re stable enough to travel and provide guidance on how to manage your treatments while away from home.

Hemodialysis While Traveling

If you’re receiving in-center hemodialysis, you’ll need to schedule treatments at a dialysis clinic near your destination. Fortunately, many clinics across the country—and even internationally—accept traveling patients. It’s important to contact a center at least 4–6 weeks before your trip, especially during busy travel seasons.

Your Shifa Dialysis team can assist in this process by sending your medical records, treatment schedule, and lab results and helping you find a facility that can accommodate your specific treatment needs.

Once your sessions are booked, you can plan your itinerary around them. It’s also helpful to pack a copy of your medical history and dialysis prescription in case of an emergency.

Peritoneal Dialysis on the Go

For patients using peritoneal dialysis (PD), travel tends to be more flexible. Your supplies can be shipped directly to your hotel or temporary location. You’ll want to coordinate with your PD supply company at least two weeks before you leave to ensure timely delivery.

Make sure your accommodations have a clean area where you can set up your treatment. If you’re flying, bring enough supplies for at least one day in your carry-on in case of baggage delays.

Our team will walk you through every step, including:

• Confirming your supply shipment
• Providing travel letters for airport security
• Advising on how to store and transport your equipment safely

Tips for Traveling on Dialysis

If this is your first trip on dialysis, we have a few tips to make traveling as smooth as possible:

• Plan early: Last-minute trips can be difficult. Give yourself at least a month to prepare.
• Keep contact info handy: Have a list of your doctors, dialysis clinic, and emergency contacts with you.
• Know your insurance coverage: Some plans may require pre-authorization for out-of-network dialysis.
• Stay hydrated: Travel can increase the risk of dehydration—especially if you’re flying.
• Watch your diet: Stay mindful of your renal diet, even while trying new foods.

We’re Here to Help

At Shifa Dialysis, we understand the value of maintaining your independence and quality of life. If you’re thinking about traveling, talk to us first. We’ll help you navigate the logistics and ensure you’re set up for a safe, enjoyable trip. Your health shouldn’t hold you back from seeing the world—let us help you plan with confidence.