Kidney Disease & Cruising

[Girls Only]

About 6 months ago, my wonderful niece (27) was diagnosed with Kidney Disease. We are very close & my way of handling bad things is to ignore them & think they will go away. Well, about 2 months ago she went back to the Dr. because she was feeling bad. They said it is progressing faster than they would have thought. They rearranged her medicine & put her on a very strict diet. She is beginning the process for placement on the transplant list. Since I can not hide from the fact that this is serious, I am putting together a family trip. Now here are the questions. Has anyone cruised with Kidney Disease or traveled with someone who has it? I think I am going to feel really bad enjoying all the wonderful food & watching her eat plain rice (or something like that). I don't know the whole extent of her diet, but I do know that the foods she is allowed to eat has to be fresh. Nothing processed at all. She is handling this pretty well. The only way I can tell she is ill is that she gets tired a lot & she can't eat a lot of stuff. Now about insurance. I was going to book through Dreams Unlimited (thanks to this board), but the Disney insurance does not cover preexisting conditions. Merrie from DU suggested a website for travel insurance, but I don't know what I'm looking at. Any suggestions? I'm sure we will be able to take the cruise, but I don't want to end up losing a whole lot of money in case something happens. Thank you.

 

[TheWog]

I'm sorry to hear about your neice. There is another couple threads outlining travel insurance going right now that you may want to look at. But I would go with a private insurance company that covers pre-existing conditions. You must purchase the insurance within the specified number of days, but they do have exceptions to cover you. Of course I strongly recommend you read all the information and discuss it with the company prior, but you should be able to cover the costs of the entire vacation for a pre-existing condition. insuremytrip.com gives you comparisons for the different coverages. Good luck. You will have a great time.

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by Girls Only
Now about insurance. I was going to book through Dreams Unlimited (thanks to this board), but the Disney insurance does not cover preexisting conditions. Merrie from DU suggested a website for travel insurance, but I don't know what I'm looking at. Any suggestions? I'm sure we will be able to take the cruise, but I don't want to end up losing a whole lot of money in case something happens.

I've just signed up for the next Freewheelin' cruise, for which a bunch of us need travel insurance that accepts all manner of preexisting conditions. Cruising Co., Etc. recommended insurance from CSA because it has a range of coverages...
The number for information about this is (866) 733-8511 and have a GREAT trip!

 

[Girls Only]

Thank you both. I'll be making some calls. I'm also looking in to a stretch limo service. I want to make this a REALLY special trip. I think everyone (all 13 of us) would get a real kick out of having a limo (or 2) waiting for us. I'm going to keep that one as a surprise from me.

 

[pw2pp]

GirlsOnly:
There is such a thing as a "Dialysis Cruise" (at least there used to be). I don't know which cruise line it is or anything but you could check with her Social Worker at her dialysis facility.

 

[wintermom]

Good Luck and I think your family cruise is a great idea.
I went through insure my trip.com to find insurance but unfortuantly I waited too late to be covered for pre-existing
conditions, (I really didn't know that any policy would cover
pre-existing conditions, just assumed they wouldn't until I read
these boards) but I got insurance for the rest of us.
My point is to hurry with the insurance booking, some only give you 7-14 days after your first deposit to include pre-existing.

Second about the eating. DH has had lots of chemo treatments
and been on restricted diets. The opposit of your problem, nothing fresh, everything must be well cooked or processed. Even a lettice leaf of garnish on his plate was not allowed. Anyway, we did two cruises with DCL that way and they were great. We filled out a medical form befor we went on board and the head server visited us on the first evening. Everything was perfect.

The first time we were on a family cruise (sort of for the same reason you mention) and we were all a little careful about the situation, skipping salads etc. The next time we were on our own,
by now I am much more comfortable with the situation and I eat
what I want, I think that makes DH much happier anyway when
we treat him without the kid gloves. While the food is good on the ship its not the main thing, the magic is, the people , the service, the beauty of the ship!

We love DCL, we are going on our third trip in 3 months!

Wintermom

 

[gator287]

Hi, I am a dialysis social worker and have been on DCL 3 times. Feel free to ask specific questions. Has your neice started dialysis? That is the first question that comes to my mind. Answer that and we can go from there. I hope to be able to help,
Suzy

 

[TheWog]

Originally posted by Girls Only
Thank you both. I'll be making some calls. I'm also looking in to a stretch limo service. I want to make this a REALLY special trip. I think everyone (all 13 of us) would get a real kick out of having a limo (or 2) waiting for us. I'm going to keep that one as a surprise from me.

A stretch Hummer or Navigator would fit everyone in the same car and would be a neat surprise. Good luck.

 

[Girls Only]

Thank you all very much. This has been a great therapy session for me. I get good advice and it's free! Can't beat this.

 

[tchoney]

Girls Only, If you would please pm me. My grandfather recently died of kidney disease as well as his 9 brothers and sisters. My aunt, mom, cousin and baby brother have all been diagnosed with kidney disease. Actually, my brother is a married adult and a dad, but he'll always be my baby brother....

Anyway, My brother recently began seeing a physician in our area that has transformed his life. I can give you several ideas and tips that you can pass on to try. They have worked significantly in my brothers life.

 

[sweet angel]

It might also be helpful to specify what type of kidney disease she has (I'm assuming polycystic kidneys is not the only type of kidney disease).

Also, if she is already on dialysis, whether she visits a center or does it herself nightly at home.

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

I work at a hospital and Dialysis is our specialty. The Social worker in Dialysis gave me some cruise brochures and I would be happy to send them to you if you would pm me your address. She did say that the cruises are very expensive since Medicare won't pay for dialysis treatments in international waters. Maybe the other social worker who responded to you could answer this question. The brochures that I have are from Dialysis at Seas cruises so just let me know and I will send them out to you. Mary Jo

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

Girls only...I sent you a pm...the company that I sent you the brochures on (which have already left my desk and will go out in this afternoon's mail!!) have information on insurance and pre-existing conditions. Have fun on the cruise. We leave on DCL in two weeks and only God knows where we are going to end up...pretty soon there won't be any ports left in the Caribbean left to cruise to!