[Dew58]

Heart Flight from hell, home,,


I was at the Phoenix AP 1 1/2 hrs earlier, had my printed off boarding pass in hand. My b-n-l, Bill, and nephew, Jimbo, got me to the AP on time, and we said our goodbyes..all was smooth. Once on the flight home, I was able to chill, and it was very relaxing...until the flight got to Dallas, TX. There had been bad weather in Dallas as we were descending, which put everything off schedule. Planes were lined up, waiting to be unloaded, be it in the air or on the tarmac.

The full plane I was was waiting on the tarmac, over 30 min..the a/c had been turned off..people behind me became loud and I could feel their anxiety and disdain because of the uncomfortable situation. A male passenger behind me was yelling that he had just made a trip from Iraq, and he had to be out of the plane immediately, that he would miss his connecting flight! A crowd of passengers behind me started getting VERY LOUD. At 45 min, we were allowed to get out of that sauna..it was hell.

I was 8 min late for my connecting flight to Lawton, OK. The wheelchair was waiting for me and the airline gentleman had me rolling (swiftly)on my way to gate 36. While going to gate 36, the airline CHANGED the gate to 18...which is in the opposite direction of gate 36..now I was over 20 min late for the connecting flight! I was not alone, people were running in a panic to their connecting flights..cussing, some acting out very loudly..got on my last nerve.

By the time I was at gate 18, I wanted a cold drink so bad I would have paid 20 bucks for it...pretty desperate, I was sweating so badly, the humidity was UNREAL...I felt lightheaded, and tears started to flow because of my sympathetic nervous system was in overdrive.

I was already going into a pain flare from the wait to get into the Dallas airport from the tarmac. Two women, that were on the flight to Lawton with me, saw me in distress and came to assist me.One wet my traveling washrag, and the other bought me a cold diet pepsi..as water was sold out. They would not accept pmt. for the drink..or to assist me.They were angels.

The other workers and flight attendants were rushing around trying to control and appease the unhappy passengers, and that group of folks seemed to everywhere.

Finally, after waiting one hr in the Dallas airport, I was gaining some control over me..starting to cool down. They loaded me and an elderly woman on the flight to Lawton, first. There were issues with the passenger entry way directly to the plane and we had to use the elevator to get down to the tarmac. The elevator was NOT air conditioned, and that meant going from an acceptable climate controlled area to HOT and humid, immediately!

Once on the hot tarmac, we were rolled to the Lawton plane, and we had to climb 10 stairs while the hot wind whipped about. The steps were steep and I was in extreme pain getting up those darn stairs. I thought once on the plane, all would be well..NOT! The inside environment was hotter than the tarmac, as there was NO air conditioning.

The flight attendants were very nice, handing cups of ice water to passengers as each boarded the plane. It helped, but that cups of ice water went fast..I really wanted to have the ice to lower my body heat index.As expected, my sweating became unbearable. Both of my legs went into spasm and sitting nor standing would relax them. I began to silently meditate to calm me down in the hot tin can of a plane. It was a full tin can,too.

A baby was screaming in distress. I felt very trapped and helpless. The flight attendants announced that once on the plane, it would be much cooler..NOT!
Once everyone was loaded,we ascended, and once we leveled off, everyone thought there would be this burst of cold air coming from our individual jets, place directly over each seat. It was a shallow hiss of hot air...sighs

Immediately, the flight attendant closest to me handed me a bottle of cold water, Thank God! I was in the last seat located at the back of the plane.. the attendant shared that her and I have the hottest seat on the plane. I was to be the 1st one to walk down the stairs once landing was achieved. GASP!

The airplane ride to Lawton was very bumpy, and sometimes sounded like pieces of the plane were being hit by something that caused a loud "Bam" sound. The flight took about 45 min., and everyone aboard the aircraft was fit to be tied to get off the hot tin can of an airplane.

Once we landed, there was an issue concerning the luggage of the plane to be loaded BEFORE the passengers. That was not going to fly with the passengers, me one of them...the muscle spasms in both my legs were outrageous. It took another 15 min to get the door opened, to feel an even more humid, sultry wind that crashed onto my face. I just wanted to get inside the airport where A/C would be available. First, I had to descend the stairs to the tarmac...growling

Once rolled inside the airport, the A/C felt so wonderful. Finally, I was home and my hubby was waiting for me at the gate It was 4:00 PM..the flight was to be in Lawton, after the initial delay by 3:20 PM. If all had gone as planned before the delays, I would have been in Ron's arms at 2:35 PM.

My hubby had a new cool, wet washcloth in a baggy for me...who needs flowers, this man knows me! I introduced my hubby to the 2 angels that watched over me in Dallas. Ron attempted to pay them for their kindness and they would not accept any money. There are nice people in the world.

I had not eaten anything all day, my clothes were sweated to my body, and I needed pain medication. We still had to wait to get my bag, at least it was in a cool environment

Ron pulled up in our luxury car, and once inside I noticed the A/C was not as cool as I am familiar. Ron said that he needed to get the A/C serviced!!! I started to laugh..and cry at the same time. We went to Brahms and ate burgers followed by ice cream on the drive home.

Yes, my home was a cool, crisp 70 degrees, and I was greeted by my 3 cat babies, our dog, and my son's cat. Son was working. It wasn't long before I was in the shower..in a clean night shirt..and asleep in my chair!~

My son came home with a 4 course Chinese food buffet! We ate together, and had a nice visit. I slept for 6 hrs,totally. I am getting use to the time change,now...in a cool house, with my family, human and animal, alike.

I checked my email and had over 1000...the last one from my sister, Wanda, which brought me to tears. Specifically, Wanda's kind words to me concerning her appreciation for my being available to her and the family, for the last 3 weeks.

It will be a long while before I walk into an airplane, again.



Dew

[nancyinLA]

my mercy, DEW.... that did seem like the trip from Hell!! or - it followed Murphy's Law (what could go wrong, did!). sooo glad ur home, cool & comfy! sounds like u had everything possible in prep. - just everyone else was unprepared! may i ask: what is the rag for?
i know ur sister & family surely miss u.... ur husband sounds like mine (a jewel). i don't know if i could tackle a plane trip! just therapy "noise" drives me crazy. u take care & rest up! glad ur back!

[Dew58]

I keep a cool wet washcloth in a gallon sz. ziplock bag. I only use the thick, plush washcloths as they retain fluid better, and are softer to the touch on my sensitive skin. I have ,at times, placed a freezer pack in the bag as well, to keep the cool temp inside the cloth.

CRPS I has caused a profuse sweating problem. I can not wear makeup anymore, as it will sweat off immediately. My sympathetic nervous system has a mind of its own, and there is no controlling the drips of sweat that pour from my head..very frustrating. With a swipe of the cloth, I get immediate relief. When and if I feel too hot, I place the cloth on the back of my neck..it automatically cools my core down. My family and friends have also got use to me wearing a wet cloth draped over my head, like a wide headband..hey, it works!

Try it, you'll like it!

[hope4thebest]

Hi Dew,

Just when you think things are going smoothly, details are in order, and you're ready for the next phase of whatever your doing...wham...the unexpected hits you...and in your case it kept coming in waves!!!

The circumstances of our limitations and unpredicatable health 'surprises' keeps us on that RSD rollercoaster!! despite our thorough plans!

Glad you're home after this tsunami of mishaps with your flight home!!
You are a trooper and an inspiration....good to hear there are still people out there to take the time to help..the way the two 'angels' helped you at the airport....
Hopefully, now, you can rest for days and days!
Hope4thebest

[fmichael]

Dear Dew -

That day sounds awful. About the only thing I can think of that you didin't mention - but maybe you took care of nonetheless - was to pre-request disabled seating which provides extra room at the front of the coach cabin.

And your reference to DFW reminds when, years ago, my wife flew with me from LA to San Antonio, while she was 7 months pregnant with our first child. Only problem was, we flew into Dallas during a momentary break in a thunderstorm, that had shut down most out-bound blights for literally 12 hours. When we were finally permitted to board at Midnight, I believe six hours after we had arrived, the control tower was on a graveyard shift with only a few controllers, and I counted over eighty planes ahead of us in line. My poor wife was so uncomfortable, she was literally at the point of forcing open an emergency exit when we were finally cleared to taked off at 4:00 am. We got to the hotel at dawn, only to discover that they had already given away our room, but not before they put in a forfeiture charge on my credit card!

Glad you're home safely.

Mike

[allentgamer]

Wow Dew!!! Now that is one trip you wont forget anytime soon LOL!

I am so glad you talked about sweating in so much detail, now I know what is going wrong with me. Thank you sooo much

Plus im so glad you dont let crps keep you from doing things that you want to do, even if some of the things wind up pushing the envelope.

Some folks might come away from that experience vowing to never do it again, but I would say keep on truckin!

I love how you tell about your experience, I was right there in the plane with ya, about to slap the the people behind you, and run ahead and hold the door at the gates!

Glad your home, and hope you get to see your sister again in the future, but the next time everything goes like clock work.

[lostmary]

wow..that sounded horrible. I know you are so glad to be home in your own space where you can have everything that you need. Now what you need to do is to take care of yourself and let everyone spoil you. You deserve it more then anyone I know.

Glad you are back
Missed you
Mary

[SandyRI]

Hey Lady -

Most importantly - YOU DID IT!! You go girl!!

What could you have done better? Maybe, like someone said above, tried to get a seat in the front where it was cooler. Live and learn, sounds like you planned the trip the very best you could, you took care of your sister just like you wanted, and you made it home under the very worst of circumstances in one piece.

You are awesome.

Wecome back, good job.

XOXOX Sandy.

[Summertime]

Welcome back home and sorry you had a heck of a trip home. But you are with your wonderful hubby.
Get some rest and take it easy...

[Diamond Lil]

Hi: I'm sorry to hear about all the problems on your flight.

It reminds me of what happened to me while I was flying with my niece to Florida. I was in the process of moving and my furniture, etc. was on its way in a moving truck and my niece and I were flying. I slept on the floor of my apartment the last day before the move. The only thing not on the truck was my telephone so she could call me when she was picking me up to drive to the airport. No problem, I just put my phone in my purse.

It was a holiday weekend and the flights were full. My niece got on a plane after a short while and said she would see me in Miami soon. There was no room for me at that time.

To make a long story short, I spent the next several hours going from one gate to another at a different end of the airport to try to get on a flight. I had to spend the night at the airport sitting on those hard chairs. The next day was a repeat of the first. I was wearing a business suit and pumps, and was also lugging a phone around in my purse.

I met a group of people who were also having the same problem getting to Miami. We traveled back and forth at the airport as a group and were about to pool our resources to rent a car to drive when we finally were able to board a flight. I had spent a total of 30 hours at the airport!

My niece was waiting for me when I arrived at Miami. (I still had my landline phone in my purse.)

A shower and clean clothes never felt so wonderful.
Regards, Lil