Flying and travel
 

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. :cool:

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! :eek:

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?

You are not crazy! A little quiet can be very good for helping to recharge, makes it easier to deal with some of the stressful stuff.

Have a very good trip.:)

I have always rented a scooter from here where I live but for our Disney trip I rented it there and it was so much cheaper. Even if you normally do not need a scooter, which I don't, it does come in handy to preserve your strength for when you do need it. One time I took my rarley used wh/ch with me on the plane to Philly. It was one of the last things they put on the plane so that it was right there when I got off the plane. Take good nutritious food with you on the plane in a bag. They don't serve you much these days. I have AAA and I would just let my agent handle as much as she could.

I just got from a trip to Texas. I don't know if it is just American Airlines, but I had a real problem with getting help at the airports. I requested assistance when I made my reservations. I requested assistance when I checked in. I even reminded the flight attendant that I would need help at the Dallas airport. It was the same story everywhere. There was no one available to assist me at the airports. I had to wait about 20 minutes at the Dallas airport for assistance. Once I got off the plane and saw that there was not an attendant I went to the nearest gate and requested help. I just could not make it there on my own; my connecting flight was two terminals away.

There also was not anyone available at the Austin, TX airport so I walked there. I had the same problems in Chicago. Luckily my flight was in the same terminal -- although the gate was at the opposite end. I just walked slowly and took a few breaks. I had long enough layovers that I was able to make my connecting flights. So that is something you need to think about when making reservations. On the other hand, waiting around in the airports for the connecting flights can be exhausting. They also seem to frequently change the gates so that can also be stressful.

I hate flying!

Have you seen the news lately? the flights are over booked, and passengers are stranded everywhere! There are half the employees there used to be and they are all doing customer service. Its awful! There are not enough employees to fly the planes now, let alone shuffle us wheel chair folks. The last time I flew I found myself hoofing it, because there was no attendant around, and the shuttle was crammed full of teenagers going on a ski trip. I told the attendant on the shuttle that I was handicapped and needed to ride or be pushed. He said he would be back for me after dropping off the teens. (he couldnt ask them to move?) and I never saw him again. I walked and barely made my connection.

It helps if you bring your own wc, and a friend to push you. Past that, you may wish to have a rollator, or something to hold steady to while you hoof your way to your gate.

They made millions in profits this year, and yet cannot allow you a blanket without charge. They charge you for your checked luggage, they charge for snacks, and they over book each flight, because they have cut the number of flights leaving by almost half. its a scary time to fly.

My nephew and his wife were supposed to fly home from Pittsburgh to Boston this evening. Jet Blue either canceled the flight or their reservations to make up for all of the people that have been stranded without flights in the past several days. They re-booked them for Saturday. They decided to rent a car and drive back instead.

I fly all the time, sometimes I take my own w/c and sometimes I use the airports (depends on what I am doing at my destination). Most airports and airlines are very good as previously emntioned. *Remember that any major weather disruption or holiday is a bad time for anyone to be in an airport, as there are only so many personell to help bazillions of people (who are usually angry).

I think the retreat sounds perfect and I hope you choose it. Good luck and blessings on your visit with your mother. It is so hard to have your mom not cognitively be your mom anymore. Gentle hugs sent your way for peace and strength my dear.

As for injections or any other Rx- take it in pharmacy labeled container (or have the label cut from the box etc). I usually carry a letter from my doc that states what I take and why just in case I get an over zealous TSA agent who freaks at my liquid Rx or my autoinjectors. You will get a pat down and (if in a chair) swabbed with look like wee coffee filters. This is normal, just go with the flow IMO

Arrive early at the airport and remind each gate/flight attendent about what you will need {an assitant/wheelchair/gate check etc} as sometimes things get lost in the computers. You will usually be first on and last off - so plan any connecting flights accordingly.

Travel safe!

Leave extra early, give yourself 3 hours at the airport before the flight leaves just to make sure you have enough time to check in, etc... Have fun. Don't worry about being tired. Let them know in the beginning how it is and then rest when you need to. Don't skimp on your naps or sleep. Enjoy yourself. :hug: