My daughter wants me to fly back to the midwest (I live in Seattle) with them in January to help with the transition of moving my mother into a home for Alzheimer's patients. The more I investigate flights and getting there, getting around between three cities (airport, Mom's condo which we need to clean out, and the home where I will stay while there) and my daily needs . .. the more stressed out I get. I am hoping some of you can give me some hints.

Exhaustion: How do I deal with this when traveling and during my stay? How do you explain it to people who say "we all get tired?"

Flying: How do you handle flying, airports, and delays, etc.?

Flare-ups: What do you do if your body shuts down, flares up or you encounter difficulties that could jeopardize your itinerary or health?



I am one of those people who like to plan as much as possible for issues and contingencies . . . what are some of your best strategies for stressful travel?

The last time I saw my mother she was just beginning to have memory issues. . . now she does not recognize anyone and her condition is much worse. Needless to say, this is a necessary trip, but not one that will be easy, even if I were strong and healthy.

Are you taking injections? If so, you may need to call the airport ahead of time to ask about getting your syringes through airport security. I haven't flown or traveled much since my ms diagnosis, but if I were to go on a trip, I would try to make sure that I made the trip as easy on myself as possible by arriving at the airports early so that I wouldn't have to rush. When people tell me "we all get tired" i just say "well I get extra tired and need a break before I crash". I've learned that straining myself too much flairs up my symptoms, and that sometimes I just have to tell people that I need to rest. Your health comes first, and that is important to remember. Good luck with the trip! Don't forget to call about the needles if you use them.

I need to fly soon, and I am quite anxious about it. I am looking forward to some replies to your thread to pilfer as my own.

You will not need to call anybody about your carrying any medication, syringes of any type, just make sure you have the label from the original packaging it came in, TSA rule. Tell them you need a wheel chair from the curb, it will be provided by the airport. The flight attendants will make sure the terminal you are flying into will have a chair meet you, you will probably be last off for the chair. Do not plan to do any walking at any airport. You will get to board all flights first, with the first class, lots of room in the overhead.

One thing I never do, even though I love it, is drink coffee when I fly. Too many trips to the tiny lavatory. on the plane.

Your family will not overload you with anything to do, if they really care about you. Do not overload yourself, just enjoy the time with family.

If you think it may be needed, have a chair rented for you there. If you have your own, you can fly with it, gate check it. The airport will provide a pusher for your own chair if needed, it will be. Also, their pusher will make it better for you. Same with a scooter, there is no weight limit on this.

One person can go with you through any special gates, only one. And, there are special ones in most places.

One thing that I would add to Bill's post is security. The chair pusher will take you to a special area (a few feet from regular security) for those in a chair where your same sex security person will use a wand on you... really no big deal and you go thru security quickly

Hope you have a nice time with your family even tho you are going for a difficult reason.

Linda

Thanks everyone. I hadn't thought of using a wheelchair at the airports . . .. great idea! I am not quite that bad yet, but the walk would make me insanely miserable once in my cramped coach seat on the flight. My other fear is of needing the restroom at a time when it is unavailable (Crohn's urgencies) or right before boarding . . . and missing my flight!

After a week-end of calls from my daughter wanting to know what I want to do, I have come to the conclusion that I would rather travel alone than have my schedule and every move dictated by their needs. We are at that stage in our relationship (I love her dearly) where she can be a little "mothering" if you know what I mean. I have almost decided I would rather go ahead of them, visit my Mom solo for a couple days, and have our visits cross rather than try to coordinate every move. It would cost more. . . .but I am the kind of person who can relax and enjoy better if I am not on someone else's itinerary.

Does that make sense?

Besides, I am actually thinking of staying at a retreat run by nuns from the order my favorite college professors were in . . . I figure the quiet, prayer chapels and solitude might be helpful while making a stressful visit to my mom who won't know me when she sees me . . .

Am I crazy?