My summer vacation is coming up in August. Every second year we spend it in Spain and we drive there with a car. It is 1400 kilometers one way (from Germany). Usually it takes about 14 hours to get there.

This year I am not sure if I should go. Since I have problems with bumpy roads, I think I will have big problems sitting in a car for such a long ride. Plus, part of the trip I would have to drive.

So I was thinking about taking a Flight. I would be in the Air for about 2,5 hours. Normally I like flying, but since PCS I haven't been on an Airplane. The last time I flew to Spain it was rough due to bad weather, so that also concerns me

Since August is coming by quick and my PCS symptoms are pretty bad on some days, I think about just cancelling summer vacation.

Has anybody with PCS had a longer trip by Airplane or car? And how did you feel afterwards?

Hello Anja,
I hope you end up going on your vacation. Once you're there you can soak up some sunshine and relax.

I know there are other people who post here who have travelled by plane so hopefully they can give advise. The car trip sounds very long and tedious unless you could do it in stages by staying overnight in a couple of places on the journey.

It's still April, so it would be a shame to cancel now when you may be feeling so much better by August.

Hi Anja,

I hope to hear about your trip if you go. I have not travelled anywhere of distance. We were supposed to fly across the US to visit my dad in August which we've not been able to do in several years, but I've just decided I won't be able to do it even by then. For me, the big problem is the chaos, crowds, and confusion of the airport and travel with 2 kids. In that situation, I would basically be a third child for my husband to handle (I shut down), and I'm afraid I might have a panic attack in the airport. It was a very difficult and upsetting decision for me.

How much will you be able to rest upon arrival? I think I remember you have a child. Will you have the opportunity to fully rest and recover as needed when you arrive? And how long will you have there before returning? I think that would be a big deciding point. It's a very hard decision.

I hope everything works out in the most relaxing way for you.
Julie

I have done both. I found the 2 day car trip really aggrivated my neck and it was very fatiguing even though I wasn't driving. I have since learned to sit forward so the back of my head does not bump against the headrest.

I have flown several times and I used noise cancelling headphones to cut out airport terminal noise, the engine noise (and the screaming babies). But getting on the plane is the easy part - navigating the airports has been very stressful -so much noise and motion - So what I have learned is to tick off the disability option when I am booking my ticket and last time I flew I had someone meet me and escort me through security and to my gate where I was given the option of preboarding if I needed to. I had a medical note from my doctor but no one ever asked to see it.

I am in Canada so don't know if this option is available everywhere. But its worth checking out.

I think you (and all of us) deserve a summer vacation! 2.5 hours is bearable once the film comes on, often the things we fear the most end up fine. I reckon the worst thing could be the tension caused by being anxious about it. Keep hydrated on the flight, the brain likes water and get some vitamin D3 in the sun :-)