Victoria I am sad to hear of your pain levels flaring now that you're back home. Irony not lost on this group, I'm sure - travel to Mexico where it sounds like your symptoms were at least behaving themselves, then on the return flight home and immediately afterward ... Bam! Pain rears its ugly head, with zero time allowed to let you decompress a bit.

Travel itself is stressful for a lot of us, changing time zones, climate extremes, foods .. I think all of that can really upset things. Interesting how you had a lessening of symptoms (if I understand correctly) during your actual stay in Mexico. Yay for you! I imagine you were surrounded by lots of distractions just being in a foreign country - that always helps me get outside of myself to focus on the distraction, be carried away by it almost and that intractable TOS pain just ain't runnin' the show in those moments. Don't know if I'm making any sense (nothing new there!). Just so damned frustrating not to be able to bring the rest and relaxation you enjoyed in Mexico home with you to Canada, O Canada!!

I do hope you will start to feel much better soon. Also, if I remember correctly you and your (new?) doc have been working together to change up some of your meds. I know for me, that can put me through changes until I adjust to the subtraction or addition or new combo or whatever of meds being tried to address my symptoms. Bottom line though, my thought is that stress (good stress or bad) can really upset your balance before you know it, and finding that balance I think is key in being able to self-manage the pain and other physiological stuff, not to mention the emotional and mental aspects.

I know you know very well how to take care of yourself, and you will be absolutely fine once your routine kicks in. And good on you for taking a trip to Mexico in the first place! I'm so jealous! Anyway glad you're home, good to see you here good luck working with the new meds as well as the tried and true. You have a way of making your doctors a member of your team and stay actively involved in the decision process, which is awesome. Better days and nights ahead! Here's wishing you a wonderful New Year Victoria.

Best, Alison