My husband and I are suppose to go on a cruise next June to the Mediteranean.
We havent made the plans yet. However when we began making plans, I wasnt yet diagnosed with RA.
Now with all this medication and the possibility of getting germs and getting sick so easily, I am wondering if we should just do something safer. I would hate to get sick and no one around to know how to treat me.
I am thinking all that time on a plane (Germs).
Then on a boat for ten days (Germs)
I am getting nutty or what?
Has anyone done any extensive traveling with all this medication?
BarbI don't think you're nutty at all for being concerned. I don't take the immuno suppressesing drugs and I have thought that I would be reluctant to go on a cruise. I just heard of another cruise ship this week where 700 passengers got sick and they had to bring the ship into port and clean it.
Traveling by plane is not as big a concern - I would suggest wearing a face mask for the flight. I know it is embarrassing, but hey you don't know these people, will probably never see them again, and if it keeps you from getting sick it would be worth it. You should probably sit on an aisle so you can get up and move around, or at least get bulkhead seats so you have plenty of leg room.
Okay, that's my two cents - I'll shut up now.
Barb, at this moment I'm sitting outside looking out over the mango grove to the Pacific Ocean. If I had decided to "play it safe" because I have RA I would never be experiencing living in Mexico and traveling throughout Mexico, Central, and South America.
I'm careful. I wash my hands with bacterial soap at least 5-10 times a day. If someone coughs I leave the area where they are. If flu season hits I stay close to home until the worst has passed. There are certain safety precautions you have to take but don't let RA win. The one thing I don't do anymore is travel to the mountain villages and deliver food and clothing. TB is prevalent in the villages so I've given up making the deliveries and meeting the people. Now, I just sort the clothing and help repackage the food for delivery. Life's a trade off sometimes.
Stan and I travel in the U.S. for 6 months of the year and live and travel south of the border for 6 months. We are planning a trip to Europe in 2 years. I won't allow RA to stop me.
I'm not sure that I would go on a cruise because of the problems they've had in the recent past with upper respiratory and food borne illnesses. But then many people wouldn't think of going to Mexico and traveling when they're on immuno suppressant meds.
You have to make a decision based on what you want to do and what you want from life. I chose to take the risks and enjoy life to the fullest. I'm older than most of the people on the forum and don't have small children at home so I look at life a little differently.
I Hear ya Linda!!!
Looking over the mango grove out at the Pacific Ocean sounds wonderful!!! I am so glad for you, too, that you didn't let RA limit you!! Please think of me when you look out over the mango grove!!!
You go girl!
Trish
Barb, YOU NEED to go. Don't let RA take that away from you. The trip sounds amazingly relaxing and exciting. Don't let fear stop you. I have not gotten sick except for RA sick since I have been on the biologics. Just take Linda's good advice. (I so would like to be in Mexico right now and I have friends there that would love to have me
Barb, You can choose what you do each day. Take one day to sip margaritas in a lounge chair and the next to go exploring. Let your body tell you what you can do. I believe being happy is RA's worse enemy. Go and ENJOY
Dont let the disease rule your life!
I have been to Cuba twice, Mexico, Panama and Europe with the disease. I actually came back feeling recharged and with a better outlook on life on EVERY occasion!!!
Take it easy when away...dont do a lot of tours where walking is necessary...limit yourself and enjoy other cultures.
Cuba pics to get you drooling and ready to go...
Go for it, take your drugs with you and anything you think will make you more comfortable, but go and have fun! I've flown many times since this hit and haven't had any problems with getting sick. Maybe a bit sore sometimes from being tired, but getting a good nights sleep helps. I traveled to CA weeks after my official diagnosis. And then took an even longer trip just after I went on Humira. My travel frequency was the reason my doc chose Humira, so I figured that meant I could go on as before. Though I do take it easier than I would have in the past.
As the others have said, our meds are meant to help us do what we want to do. So do it! Have fun, enjoy the sun and enjoy dreaming about it between now and then!
I have had RA since 1997, and I've been on immunosuppressant drugs since that time. My husband and I are going on a cruise next week. This will be the third cruise I've been on since I was diagnosed. I take precautions.. drink "airborne" before every flight, and once a day while I'm on the ship. I stay away from people who are obviously ill, and I've not had a single problem.
Everyone has advised you well here...don't let RA stop you from living. It's "part" of your life, but it doesn't have to "dictate" it.
Go. Have fun. Live.
Claire, Don't you just love Airborne! I almost always ended up with a cold after flying somewhere. Saw them advertized in an airplane magazine, ordered them and haven't had any problems since. Like you, I take them before the flight, during the flight and daily while I'm away. Do it. But be sure to get traveller's insurance, just in case. I'm envious.
Oh, and one of the worst places to be is in the ER. I just made 5 trips there with my daughter. Probably in 6 years, I've made over 20 trips for relatives and friends. Only once did I actually get sick.
But I wash my hands like crazy all the time.
There is some great advice here. I have used airborne in the past and really need to pickdome up. Now that the holidays are here.Do you guys really feel like you avoid illness with airbourne? I really hate the taste, but i may try it again now that I am on enbrel just for precautions.
I think my worst thought about traveling was packing the enbrel or trying to avoid the day I take it for traveling. Thanks alot, now I am going to be concerned about airplanes and cruises, which I LOVE! J/K
BTW, I am a school teacher, around snotty noses and coughs all day long, and knock on wood, ive only gotten sick once this year. I think we are sooooo good at washing our hands, using hand sanitizer and avoiding close contact that we actually avoid alot of what normal immuned sytem people may get. We can be greatful for that!
I hope you take your trip and have a wonderful time, and not worry too much about illness, just take precautions, carry hand sanitizer everywhere u go, and use it! I am truely jealous, i would love to get away on a cruise, or beach, or just about anywhere right now!
Go on the trip. I have traveled quit a lot since I have been diagnosed. I am on Mthx. and Humira. Not a problem traveling with this stuff. However, keeping the Humira cold sometimes has been challenging since not all hotels supply refrigerators. Call the cruise line before you go if you need to have the Humira with you. One hotel, I just kept packing ice from the ice machine around it. Others have been nice enough to supply a refridge. They do have a doctor and nurse aboard--maybe they could keep it refridgerated for you until you need it. Make sure you have a note from your doctor stating you can have the drugs and needles --esp. since you are going international. Our TSA security hasn't blinked an eye at it. No problems at all. Take Airborne with you---it is great. Also, I don't wear a face mask on the plane but I do carry my antibaterial wipes with me and I use them. Clean off the remote control in your stateroom, the phone, light switches. door handles with the antibacteral wipes. Enjoy your trip! Can someone explain to me if we can or cannot take Airborne or similar products. I was under the impression that we should not take things to boost our immune system, since that is what they are trying to suppress to slow the progression of the auto immune diseases we suffer from. I was a huge fan of Echinacea until all of this came up, and read on here that I shouldn't take it anymore. Is that true of Airborne also?