I know many of us have a hard time maintaining the energy needed to do day to day things. It seems an insurmountable task at times to think about travel. However, if you can, it’s often a great idea for lifting spirits.
I actually found a great article on the topic and just thought I’d leave that here for you to peruse. It emphasizes talking to your doctor and planning! Planning is a HUGE part of chronic illness life, but just know that as they saying goes…the best laid plans of mice and folks with chronic illness… You may need to make changes as you go.
My only advice to you is to share how I felt when traveling by plane. Plane travel is very difficult with chronic illness. All that waiting in line while standing is very hard. Lugging around luggage is much easier if yours has wheels. Also bring snacks because the food at airports is expensive and you’ll need to wait in another long line to get it.
Long car rides can be difficult too as you’ll be sitting in a cramped environment for a long time and that can wreak havoc on your muscles. I’d suggest stopping often and stretching your legs every few hours if you can. Even an hour car ride for me is a bit hard at times so do what you feel you can.
I can’t really add much more to it other than to say that every individual with chronic illness will be different and may have different needs and limitations at different times.
What are your best travel tips?
Check back next week when I finish the series with summer activity ideas for those of us with chronic illness!
People with chronic illness, particularly fibro are often sensitive to temperature and temperature changes. Heat can aggravate pain and fatigue and cause other heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion as we talked about last week. This week, I’d like to share some tips for beating the heat of the summer for chronic illness. Here’s mine. Feel free to comment and share yours!
1.Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol and caffeine Caffeine and alcohol can get you dehydrated more quickly which is a bigger problem when you add heat to the mix. Stay hydrated by carrying a water bottle or thermos with you in the car and even from room to room in your home. The AC can cool things off but it is also drying the air so hydration is key.
2. Avoid direct sunlight for too long As I pointed out last week, heat issues kind of sneak up on you. Make sure to limit your time in direct sun or heat to avoid the heat illnesses or fatigue creeping up on you.
3. Eat smaller meals Eating smaller meals allows you to avoid getting hungry which can contribute to fatigue. It also allows you to eat more frequently. This keeps you from eating too much at one time which can bring on a food coma. 😀
4. Luke warm showers instead of hot showers Taking luke warm showers instead of using hot water helps keep you from those huge temperature swings. I’ve had to adjust to those. I love taking HOT showers. The kind that my husband says burns his skin! ROFL The heat can help my muscles but it also contributes to my fatigue after a shower.
5. Wear layers especially when going in and out of ac, lightweight light-colored clothing If you’re like me, you can go from freezing to burning up in two seconds flat. I always wear layers to help keep myself regulated. Sometimes I even get both at the same time. I call that FROT. Freezing Hot!
6. Keep medication cool. Some meds are sensitive to the heat and some make you sensitive to heat. (Lupus) It’s best to keep meds out of direct sunlight and away from humidity. Many people keep them in their bathrooms, but that room can get quite muggy from showers. I keep mine in the pantry in the kitchen.
7. Know your limits don’t do too much I’ve said this many times. I have no idea what my limits are and they change from day to day and week to week. But this is something many doctors and articles tell you so I’m including it here. Do the best you can with it. I’ve almost given up trying to figure my body out in this area. LOL
8. Know the signs of dehydration:
Loss of appetite
Dry skin (you no longer sweat)
Decreased urine volume or abnormally dark urine
Unexplained tiredness
Irritability
Rapid breathing
Dizziness
Come on back next week when I’ll be talking about summer travel tips for chronic illness folks!
Many of us with chronic illness have been socially distancing ourselves for quite a while now. We have been doing it because we are either too tired or in too much pain to make it to social events. Speaking for myself, I have often been too tired to go visit people and my Essential Tremors make it difficult for me to drive so I have been mostly alone in the house for at least a few years.
Those of us with chronic illness often feel we have nothing to offer others. However, what we know about coping with social distancing could fill a blog post and so here it is!
I’ve put together a list for you and I asked my Life Beyond Surviving group members to weigh in on this and here’s what they said to those who are struggling with social distancing during COVID19:
Since I cannot go out much, I have found social media invaluable for keeping in touch and connecting with others. Reach out to others online who have similar interests and discuss them, share your ideas and your creations with others. I do this by sharing my humorous JoJoisms on social media and in my groups.
“To keep in contact with family and friends, we’ve been using a lot of FaceTime, Google Duo, and the video option on Facebook messenger.” -Amanda O.
A great way to keep in touch with family and friends is by phone. Now that everyone is at home and fewer are working (or are working from home), you can reach out to family on the phone. Want to see their faces? Do Zoom calls with family or friends!
“Develop hobbies (Reading, painting, crochet, knitting, needlework, coloring, dancing freestyle to music), learn to enjoy silent times of peace and quiet reflection, enjoy music, movies, have a routine, do certain things on set days still not just through each day, reach out, do some sort of physical activity if it’s stretching, walking or exercises, Livestream tv and movies, FaceTime or video chat, Facebook lives, declutter your house, cook and freeze meals ahead, read stories to kids in person or record and send to them.” -Angela W.
Watch some educational things on YouTube or some documentaries on TV. Get closer to family now that you are spending more time with them (if you are) and why not do Movie Nights with popcorn like a theater!
“Don’t sit for more than about 45mins, set a timer if you need to and get up and move around, get a glass of water. Set out healthy snacks for the day, plan your meals, add in some treats!” – Amy W.
Have small children? Check out some fun crafts or games online to do at home! Have games in the backyard. Do puzzles. Spend quality time!
“Gargle with warm salt water, especially after being out and up your vitamin c. Make sure you get out and exercise.…cleaning, reading. I talk to my daughters through the Facebook chats. Listen to my Spotify music list.” – Cynthia P.
One thing I love to do is to minister to others. Why not help someone. For example, text an inspirational message each day to someone who is needing some joy. Post the beauty of God’s world or scripture on social media or text or share it over the phone.
“Reading, writing snail mail, and doing virtual field trips. I am traveling via shows, virtual tours of various places I had dreamed of going to. My husband and I are listening to various music via Concerts on TV, on YouTube, Instagram. There are live streams of symphonies, ballet companies, dance shows, etc… Our son clued me in, that you can find some Broadway Shows on various platforms! I felt isolated but truly, the world is available to me! I feel blessed.” – Becky P.
I hope that helps you all out there! Please share this post and leave a comment on the blog with any ideas you have!
