RE: Holiday Abroad - Relieve Stress... any advice please?

[Guest guest]

Steve,Good to see you. I've only traveled by air a limited amount of times

compared to some but have found the same at most airports and with changes of

flights, layovers, etc. I finally found it helped if I could choose which

airports to fly out of. Some are smaller and MUCH more walk on easy than others

that are crowded, and also ask for handicap assistance whenever possible such as

early boarding, assistance across the airport for flight connections in the very

large airports and the such. It did make it much easier for me.Hope this helps

and you are able to start enjoying your trips.Best of luck, Basically... I

know I flared due to stress. The stress and thinking " what

will happen " ... the stress of the airport.. checking in, passport

control... the flying.. the getting off... the passport... collecting

luggage.. bla bla bla..

Is there anything you can advise that would help me go through that think

it's a breeze?

Steve

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve,

I am a bit different in regards to being stable, I am far from stable and I

don't work at all. However, I have the same exact problem as you with

Holidays/Vacations and Flying, etc.

Even before I was Chronically Ill and was working full time, whenever I took

a vacation I would get sick regardless of what I did.

Here are some things that I do now that has helped a few times, especially

if we are flying:

1. The night before you fly, take a dose of Airborne. Airborne is a

combination of vitamins, Echinacea, zinc, etc. It has been proven to help

reduce your chance of catching a cold in tight places like airplanes, etc.

I take more than recommended because of the fact that my immune system just

isn't as strong as others, that is why I start the night before. You can get

Airborne at any drug store, most grocery stores, etc.

a. Take Airborne before you leave for the Airport

b. Take Airborne right before you get on the Plane

2. The Week before, if you don't already take Vitamin D, take Vit D5000

Daily, continue to take it throughout the holiday (especially if the holiday

is in the winter).

3. The Week before, if you don't already take Vitamin C, take, Vit

C1000 Daily, continue to take it throughout the holiday.

4. When you make your reservation, tell them you need a wheelchair and

DO NOT be embarrassed about it. (I know, already told you this and

you thought, no way - I go to the gym, I work. etc, etc, etc.) However,

Going through the lines for security, getting to the gates, and on, and on,

adds a lot of stress to flying and always makes flying harder. You will also

get assistance getting on the plane and you should accept this assistance,

because the longer the flight the more stress on your body. Have this set

up before you get to the airport. If you don't you will most likely not ask

for the wheelchair support for flights and connecting flights when you

check-in. I know, because if I don't set it up before hand, I have a hard

time doing it at check-in. J

5. If you have stress in your back or joints, take Thermacare heat

wraps to help reduce pain in your back if it is a long flight - I find it

helps reduce my stress if I am in less pain.

6. Drink a lot of water on the plane. This is really important for me,

I get really dehydrated on planes and it makes me crash easily.

7. Now the biggest thing that I have to do on vacation/holiday, I have

to remember to listen to my body like I do at home. If I feel like I need to

rest, I do. Instead of going, and going and going, then crashing and not

being able to do anything, I have learned to remember that I have to treat

days away from home just like days at home, or I will most certainly crash.

So I know I have a certain number of hours before I have to rest. So listen

to your body and when it is time to rest, rest. That is the best way to keep

from crashing. An hour down or two down in a day is way better than two

weeks down.

8. Have a great time!!!

9. Use Airborne on the way Home!!!

10. I hope you don't CRASH!!!!

Hugs,

Alli