Long haul flights and update
 

Hi, I haven't been around as have had a nasty dose of bronchitis - even though it is the middle of summer over here - weird!!

I was wondering if anybody has experienced long flights and how you coped with it? New Zealand is basically at the bottom of the world and at some stage I will be going to the UK and I really don't know how I will cope with it -the tiredness and noise will be terrible, not to mention the time at customs and bag collecting - to be honest it is putting me off. I can not afford to go first or business class.

Also has anybody been on a cruise and how did you find it? Did you have trouble with balance etc?

And Jeffn, how are you doing? Sissy and Donna?

I still haven't made any decision about going back to work - I don't think I could face walking in the door - guess I have until mid May to decide - have been thinking that I wouldn't mind being some kind of part time advocate for the mild brain injured as the thought of others going through the same poor treatment that I did really upsets me. I still can't handle any kind of pressure - the "have" to dos still upset me. I am coping with the basics ok but that is about it. The best part is that I still can laugh at jokes!

Lynlee

Hi Lucy.

I can sure relate to your situation. "Have to's" or any pressure situations really send me for a loop too.

I'm also wondering about tips for travelling for both flying and in vehicles. I still get kinda sick in cars and on the bus. I'm trying these bands you wear on your wrist (they apply pressure to special acupressure points for motion sickness) but taking anything like gravol makes me really sick.

MargN

Hi Lynlee - good to see you back, I hope you will continue to improve. I have been doing pretty good. I am going swimming in a warm water pool a few times a week to try and loosen up tight muscles in my neck and around my head and I think it is helping. Since learning that tight muscles in the neck can cause head pain I have been much more relaxed about any pain at the back of my head. I believe that that is my problem, even though I never had any neck pain. I wish I had known about referred pain months ago.

I don't know how flying would agree with you. Would you have someone with you to help with luggage? I really wanted to go to Germany last Dec. when my dad was in the hospital, but didn't think I could handle the long flight so now I am planning to go this summer.

Hi Lucy
 

Good evening Lynlee Good to see you back on line.

How's your rock garden doing;) ? I saw some really cool ones today and hope to take a trip up north next week to look at some rocks? They are so cool.

Flying I don't know, as I haven't been on a plane since I was hurt. I'm a little concerned about flying right now and I need to take a trip down south in the next few months, but I am concerned about flying right now, need to do some research on this before I go.

I do know that I will be traveling very light 1 lap top and 1 small back pack 20 lbs max.

I learned a trick from a friend in regards to traveling and that is to mail your stuff first and then mail it back to yourself when you want to return, so I think thats what I'm going to do on this next trip.

I'm making progress Lynlee and with each day I have a little more peace. It's OK to be disabled and I just have to accept the fact that the person I was before the injuries may not be coming back, and that is OK today.

The important thing is the quality of my life to day and I'm thankful that I can learn to live life with this invisible disability. I just do things a little slower and I have to rest more and I have to manage my affairs differently and sometime I have to go ask for help when I get confused or if I'm unable to solve a problem and that's OK today.

I like the idea of you becoming an ADVOCATE for those who suffer from TBI/PCS and I think you would be very good at this type work, as this is one of the issues for people who suffer this type of disorders.

I hope you are enjoying your time off work.

Peace jeffn

I flew 3 months after my wreck and my poor mind was still confused (still am as a matter of fact 1 yr now) but I have to fly handicap due to other issues and not being able to walk far. So the airport was easy...they pushed me in a wheelchair right up to where I caught the plane. Ha, sure was easy. :)
Had I had to find my way through the airport it would have been impossible. I have to admit that I was a bit scared something would happen like, having to go to the bathroom, and then I could forget how to get back to where I was...that is while I had the long wait for the plane. Luckly it was next to where you caught the plane.