I fully agree with Annie, it is essentiel that MG be stable, I should have first mentioned that...
As for Kathie, it all depends on your physical abilities, what are you capable of doing during the week? Yesterday we did (with my wife) some gardening, law mowing, weed elimination and even pool starting preparation and even if I feel a bit tired to-day, I would not hesitate to take a several hour drive. We still have family in Belgium which we regularly visit and we share the driving burden (7 hours) together with my wife without problem.
In summary, if you are normally rather severely physically limited, donīt push your limits too far and restrict yourself to what you are normaly able to do...
Best wishes to you all,
Maurice.

I, too, have mild MG and I went to Europe last November. (My trip was a luxury river cruise - a PERFECT vacation for people with MG.) I have asthma and many allergies but no serious breathing problems like those mentioned by other responders. (Of course I took all my various inhalers.)

Things that helped me :
- organize a wheelchair in advance if you have plane transfers. Airlines are glad to cooperate.
- don't rush; give yourself lots of time to do EVERYTHING so you don't get anxious or stressed
- avoid heat!!
- build plans for naps into your day - don't do much in a day - keep plans flexible - keep excursions short, without too much walking
- don't push yourself. If you overdo things (not realizing it at the time) you may suffer a lot for the next few days.
- eat small healthy meals - maybe more than three per day. Don't let yourself get hungry. (I have a lot more energy if I don't eat gluten or dairy.)
- always make an escape plan - e.g. ask if you may return to the bus early if you become tired.
- don't be embarrassed about mentioning your condition to friends, tour guides, etc. You are your only advocate.
Have a wonderful time!

Thanks for validating what I already knew, that I can no longer drive 6 teenagers 6 hrs to busch garden for a week of amusement parks in the Virginia summer heat. I just can't seem to figure out what kind of vacation would fit into my mg limitations.

kathie

Thank you for the great ideas. I will be staying at a private home outside of Milan. There will be several family events I will be attending. There will be opportunitys for day trips if I feel up to it. The family I am visiting has a few MD's who practice in Milan. I will be able to rest often. I am on a weekend trip now to guage how I may do. If I don't do well with a short trip then a long one would be impossible.

^ This is basically it right here! Give yourself time to do everything, including airports, train stations, sightseeing. Don't rush, take your time, leave breaks for when you can sit and rest, or lie down and nap if you can. Also, ice your muscles when you can! It's a big saver. Especially in Italy, where it can be very warm.

and like this poster that I quoted, along with MG I have asthma, a number of allergies, and also hypoglycemic and a bit of anxiety. It's a lot to handle, but it can be handled now that I got used to everything, I know what feeling is what, and what is the sign/symptom that I know I need to stop, take a break or eat. That's probably the hardest part, especially when you are going you don't feel like you don't need to stop. It still happens to me, even at home lol but when I travel I am learrning to sit down, chill out and let my muscles rest a minute or 15.


I've been diagnosed for about 2 years now, and have done US to Europe 2x (well, one failed, thanks to MG, but I was also "new" at it), and I've also done cross country flights (NJ -> California and back) which are 6 hour flights, almost like going US to Europe! I'm also going back this summer to Germany & Switzerland for two weeks. I'm nervous but I know myself better, and the person I am with knows what I have, and I told him what to do if it needs to be done. I also have a cute medical bracelet too that I wear when I travel




Hope you have fun though, good luck Italy is so beautiful





edit: just saw this post you made:


I'd feel 100000x better knowing I'm staying in a place with some MDs nearby haha. Can I borrow one for my trip?!

Sandy said....".. I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks and if things are going well my doc says I can go. He says my disease is mild,

and that I have to live my life..."

And that's definitely the most important part

Jet lag tips.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/tr...anted=all&_r=0

I'm glad you have so many things in place for your trip. Just don't kid yourself into thinking that you can ultimately control MG.

I hope you have a great trip.

Annie

Annie
Thanks for the jet lag info. I have my follow up with the NM doc on tuesday before my flight leaves on Friday. Do you know anything about mestinon dosage timing and time zone changes? My biggest concern of the trip is is the recovery from the long flight. I never sleep on overnight flights.

I know that there is still so much I don't know about my disease. I have learned to listen to my body and back off when I would have pushed through in the past. This forum has given me the most useful and relevant information about how to live with MG
Thanks
Sandy

Maurice said, "......covered by a comprehensive insurance which covers pre-existing illness..."

Bonjour, Maurice, "Comprehensive insurance" is perhaps one of the most important issues in travel today, for anyone, and I'm hopeful that readers caught this in your post.