Kidney Matters - Issue 4, Winter 2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Bonnes Vacances By Alan Vaughan The holiday started to take shape immediately after I googled ‘Dialysis Units in the south of France’ and the unit Hemodialysé de Riviera in Antibes popped up. I went onto their website and contacted them via email. A series of emails then followed to sort out my preferred dates, days & times of dialysis. Then I enlisted the help of Cath, the secretary of Woodgate Dialysis Unit, my home unit, to carry on the communication and send the relevant documents to them so that everyone was happy that I was fit and healthy enough to go. This involved bloods for hepatitis, HIV, MRSA & other tests like a chest X-ray and an ECG. My renal consultant was satisfied that I was well enough to go too and approved the trip. So, once all that was confirmed I was able to book my flight, accommodation and a hire car. I dialysed on the Monday at home and then my first dialysis session in France was at 7pm on the Wednesday. The unit was easy to find and only 15 minutes from where I’d booked our accommodation. Parking was free and then everything at the unit followed much the same routine as back home. Go in, get weighed, hop onto the bed, then get blood pressure tested before the session started. Getting connected was all fine as I needle my own fistula. The staff there do have a basic knowledge of English but it is preferable to have some basic knowledge of French as it can only help. Halfway through the session a nurse comes around to take your order for food and drink. This consisted of a sandwich, drink and biscuit. Once I’d completed my sessions the days were free to visit and explore the area, and the south of France is a truly beautiful place. I went to lots of different places. Grasse is the perfume industry capital of France and has small, winding back streets and lots of independent perfumeries to visit. I also visited Antibes, where the main square was frequented with Brazilian street dancers who entertained us while we relaxed with our freshly squeezed orange juice. Saint-Tropez is a millionaire’s paradise. The main harbour is awash with huge yachts and the town’s backstreets a mixture of high-end restaurants, designer-clothes shops and independent outlets. On the final day, I visited Monaco. There, super-cars cruise the streets: Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Again, rows of super-yachts were moored up in the harbour. The casino in the centre of town had a superb array of exotic plants in its botanical gardens. So, definitely a place I would recommend if you are ever visiting the French Riviera! My favourite beach on the trip was the beach at Villefranche-sur-Mer; a bay that has clear and warm water. It just leaves me to say that I would recommend this trip wholeheartedly to dialysis patients who are worried about dialysing abroad. It really is not a daunting experience. Just go for it! More information For further information on organising a holiday while on dialysis, take a look at our ‘Dialysis away from home’ patient information leaflet at www.kidneycareuk.org/booklets
“I also visited Antibes, where the main square was frequented with Brazilian street dancers who entertained us while we relaxed with our freshly squeezed orange juice” www.kidneycareuk.org Issue 4 Winter 2019 37
Page 1 and 2: Kidney The magazine for everyone af
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to KidneyMatters Message fr
Page 5 and 6: ncial and welfare health check How
Page 7 and 8: From the Front Line Brexit By Fiona
Page 9 and 10: Getting a good night’s sleep Alth
Page 11 and 12: Chin-chin! Choosing alcohol wisely
Page 13 and 14: danger By Chris Rolfe dialysis by c
Page 15 and 16: spells danger lower end of the scal
Page 17 and 18: erry crumble kidney kitchen with Ch
Page 19 and 20: I’m still standing October 13th 2
Page 21 and 22: donors this patient, that may becom
Page 23 and 24: A PIVOTAL clinical trial for dialys
Page 25 and 26: in determination midnight, went to
Page 27 and 28: free and on dialysis By Brett Dowds
Page 29 and 30: Warriors We’d like to say a massi
Page 31 and 32: This leg of mine By Alan Kooyman In
Page 33 and 34: will travel By Shannon Jackson “I
Page 35: www.kidneycareuk.org Issue 4 Winter

Kidney Matters - Issue 4, Winter 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?