travel alone | Arthritis Information

 

I'm thinking of making a solo trip to see my mom for her 80th birthday. It means a plane trip, renting a car and driving 2 hrs. I'm not a great one for driving in unfamiliar places. I have been enjoying pretty good health RA wise for a long stretch but since my last drop of prednisone this has been the worse I've felt. I've started to get a little swelling, today I really wished I did not have to put shoes on, my wrists and hands are hurting and I am unable to open certain things which was not happening before my drop. I was "scheduled" to do another drop Monday but I did not.

If you don't have one already, invest in a GPS......  You just enter in the address of your destination, and it gives you verbal turn by turn directions as you drive.  I inherited my dad's poor sense of direction...and we both have one.  He calls his "the lady in the box".... and he loves it.  I hope you go. I've traveled alone quite a bit and it is much less stressful than with other people along. You want to rest? just rest. You don't have to ask someone to sit for a bit. You want to eat? You can eat, you don't have to hear that the other person isn't hungry yet.

You can do www.mapquest.com before you leave from the car rental place to get exact directions.

Request the car you want and be firm that you need a specific type of car. One time they tried to give me a mini van instead of small economy car and I refused it. I didn't want to spend that much extra money on gas. They told me that was all they had and I told them I lived in NYC and never drove anything but a small car and that I wasn't confortable driving a van. Then they managed to find a nice upgrade that was small. A brand new PT cruiser which was sweet. You should get an upgrade, you don't not have to take what they give you if they don't have any economy car.

On trips I up the pred and return back to normal dose the day after I get home.

GoIf it were me, I'd go for sure.  If you are renting a car, you can rent a gps unit to go in the car from the car rental agency. I agree with the tips the others have given you.  If you are concerned about a flare, maybe call your doctor and see what they tell you to do. Maybe you can stay on your current dose for your meds without tapering any further.  Take your time driving and rest if you need to.  I think in the end; you'll be glad you went.  Hiking_galDitto to all of the above, just go and enjoy yourself.  Make sure you rent a comfortable car.  There's a big difference between that little economy car and a larger more comfortable one.  This might be the time to splurge a little.  Stock up on snacks and MUSIC.  Lindy

I say go and enjoy yourself.  I try to take annual trips to see my mom (I think she's 71 or 72, but don't tell her)  and also go solo.  It's the best thing for me and I can do things on my schedule.  I keep reminding myself and my husband agrees that she won't be here forever, so these trips are important, especially since she's in FL and I'm in MN, so too far away to go more than 1/year.   Since being diagnosed in early 07,  I've taken two cruises with her and one was to London, which meant a long plane ride back, but it was fine.  We just made sure to take it easy.  The funny thing is that I thought with all the walking and activity that I might have a problem, but I actually felt better than before I left.  I honestly think that it was more relaxing to be on vacation then go to work.    

Hi SnowOwl, We go through the same music scenario except you're much more polite than I am about it!!!!!!  With us it's country/jazz-blues-anything but country! What works for us is one hour of each type of music.  Too little time to make yourself crazy but enough time to feel the music.  Lindy Hi Wantobe,...in my opion you should go. See your Mom and have a good time. She will only be here for a while and if you don't see her this once and she is gone...then you will certainly be regretful. I know because I did that. Go see your mom and take your meds!