Well I made it but barely. I came down with yet another diverticulitis
infection a few days before the trip and the doctor decided at the last
minute to let me go. It meant going off MTX and enbrel, going on
an antibiotic, and a liquid diet for 2 days followed by a low
fiber diet for 1 days. Believe me, this is not east to do when
travelling by plane and going to a new locale. Am I glad I took the
chance?Yes! First few days were the roughest. We had to drive 2
1/2 hours to San Franciso,drop off the dog with our daughter, spend the
night and take a flight the next afternoon to Frankfurt. Then it was
another flight to Rome where we arrived on time but our
luggage didn't and we had to wait for th next flight to arrive to
get our luggage. Next, a train trip followed by a 7 block walk to our
hotel when we couldn't get a cab. This of course meant hauling our
luggge. Splints helpedbut I was weak from being on a liquid only diet.
The next two days we toured the Vatican and I learned that Rome is not
handicaped friendly. There are no elevators in most old museums. There
are few seats. You stand in long lines to wait for exhibits. By day 2
my legs gave out in the Sistine Chapel and I was completely unable
to walk. That's when my husband used his Italian to find me a
portable cane which I have depended on since. This is a wonderful
place and the people are very kind, but it is very rough going as far
as walking and getting around. The streets are mostly cobblestoned and
the ancient ruins are full of huge stones that are hard to
navigate even with a cane. The public transportation involves a lot of
walking too.
I am now back on MTX and off the antibiotic. I'll have to wait until
going home to try the Enbrel. I don't think it would have
been possible to bring it with me easily. Thankfully, I'm more or
less on a regular diet again. I use those handiwipes to try to
stave off any more infections. I'm taking trips in smaller
doses now and letting my husband and brother in law go off on
long winded walking tours while I stay in the hotel. That way I can
conserve my energy and pick the things that really interest me.
The art work is stupendous and the museums fascinationg. I saw a
Rahpael exhibit yesterday on my 60th birthday and ate canneloni at an
outside restaurant with tiramisu for desert. Am glad I did it ?
Yes. Although next time, I'll bring a cane and maybe a portable seat .
Oh yeah. We saw an opera seet agianst the ancient baths of Rome. I
took my portable neck pillow which worked very well as a seat
cushion and could be deflated to fit in my purse.
Has anyone else with RA done Rome? Any suggestions?
I just think you are so brave. I would love to see Raphael and the Sistine chapel. I've always wanted to go there. I would never make it as far as you have. At least your family is understanding that you just can't do it all. Thanks Deanna. I am sitting here in my hotel room figuring out how to
use the laptop website. My husband and his brother had lunch with me
earlier but I am going to have a jacuzi and a simple room meal of
cottage cheese and a banana and then read a good book. Tomorow I hope
to be in shape to do some shopping and maybe hit another museum. They
are taking a bus about 20 miles to see a concert at an ampitheater. My
brother in law is 15 years older than me but in much better shape
as is my husband who is 7 years older. I'm also going to
explore a website that specializes in tours for people
in wheelchairs or who have difficulty
walking(www.disabilitytravel.com) and see if there is some way I
can see the catecombs. Our consierge says no but I think there is a
possibility. The only thing that worries me is that I have
been off MTX and the enbrel (I just put myself back on MTX
the day I finished the antibiotics)and my legs are very much worse I
hope it is not permanent since I wasn't using a cane before this trip
and now I really can't function without one. Of course I've been
doing miles of walking which I don't normally do all at once. It is
really interesting trying to cross the street in Rome. Traffic
pays no attention to pedestrian crossing signs. They just roar by on
either side of you: cars, trucks and especially motorcycles. It is
wonderful to be able to access you all from Rome. We have another
few days here and then are going to a place where we can relax
and swim before flying home.The doctor said I might need another week
on levaquin, an antibiotic for the diverticulitis, but the arthritis
was so bad and I felt reasonably ok in the gut so I put myself back on
the MTX and did not start the seconfd week on levequin. Think I did the
right thing? I was afraid to trust a doctor here who didn't know my
situation so am playing it by ear.
LindaK, I admire you for taking this trip!! You had so much going against you, but darn it, you were persistent & went. This is a trip of a lifetime that you will never forget. You hang in there girl and keep having a wonderful time.
Trisha I imagine that it is all the extra walking that is hurting you. You don't realize how much muscle strength you lose with this disease. But taking a day off and looking for ways to still see what you want to is a great idea. I don't know about the antibiotic. Guess you'll just have to see what happens. Ah, but it sound splendid to be sitting in Rome, relaxing in a jacuzzi, reading a good book. Sounds like a peace of heaven. Enjoy!!!
Thanks tricia, I'm having a hard time using the laptop in Rome so
please excuse all my mistakes. I hope I stay relatively healthy for the
rest of the stay. I have to do it in small doses. I'm learning how to
make it work for me and that includes not trying to do
everything everyone else is doing. I think that's probably true in
general for RA. We just have to allow ourselves to take babysteps.
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