planning on driving 5 hrs ea wy to visit grandkids (actually, I would be a passenger). It is my first 'long' trip since dx. We would be there for 2 days. I really want to see them, but I am stressed about the whole thing. My thoughts of preparation are mentally paraylizing me. Any experiences taking long car trips?
With this disease I drove from Minneapolis,MN to Orange Grove, CA, then up to Campbell River, BC. Several 12 hour days of driving. We spent over a week with our 3 grandsons. I drove the whole trip home.
With potty stops every hour or so you will do fine.
Hi tbere,
Bring sunglasses and lots of extra eyedrops. I had to go on a five hour road trip last spring and had not anticipated the need for extra moisture for my eyes. I think it was the combination of the glare and the heat/ defrost in tbe car. Bring water to sip and get out and stretch when you can so your muscles dont get stiff.
Oh, and try not to stress, make a list of everything you need to bring ahead of time and everything should be fine
I can understand your angst! I had a friend last night ask me if I wanted to ride with her to different places to look at scrapbooking paper and I had to decline. I have a big trip myself coming up the end of March to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda...but thankfully we're flying. Good luck to you! I bet you will be just fine : )
Thank you everyone. My stress is lower; this group is really a gift.
Now, I have another question - a 5 hr flight may be coming up in May. Any frequent fliers (or occasional)? I would be going from a dry climate to a semi-humid climate.
Are you going to be the driver or just a passenger? If you're driving, you might consider which direction you'll be traveling and where the sun is. I like driving in misty rain or before the sun comes up. I hate driving right into the sun!
When DH drives and I'm the (reluctant, type A) passenger, I have to have something to do so that I'm not crazy by the time we get wherever we're going. I have some solitaire games downloaded onto my Kindle so I don't have to watch his driving. :P I can play eight games an hour! I've been known to have needlework to do, but I often end up frustrated so I wouldn't recommend that unless you've got something easy, like changing out some buttons on a sweater.
Also, I download books for free from my local library to my iPod, and we each have an earbud and listen to funny stuff -- P.G. Wodehouse is good, Tina Fey's biography was funny, Betty White's biography was a little dry.
Bring eyedrops, sunglasses and your blanket for the car. Don't forget a couple bottles of water (especially if you're a cheapskate like I am). Wear something with an elastic waist! I also like to wear a long-sleeved t-shirt and carry a zip-front sweatshirt in the car. 8)
Napping is also an option.
As far as flying, I'm a big fraidy-cat. My suggestion would be to ask your PCP for a script for Xanax! ::)
Hope this helps!
Thanks for your suggestions - I will follow every one, including some knitting; since I am the passenger. I am type A, so my husband will be grateful that I am distracted. And the audio tapes/iPod are a great idea!
I'd recommend bringing water from home. Tap water in another city may taste funny. And a small cooler with ice and fresh drinks. Recommend some favorite foods, like fruit (I love bananas!) apples, grapes, carrots. There's a lot of fast food on the road, salt, and that will hurt my stomach and constipate me, so the fresh food helps a lot. Load up on books and music on itunes/book reader if someone else is driving. A seat cushion for your back. Ice packs and heat packs for your back. All your regular medicines, and any advil stuff for headaches or backaches. And eyedrops. Have fun!!!
Whenever my mother and I would go on a short trip (4-5 days) she said it was like we were preparing to be gone a month on safari. LOL ;D
It helped me cut the anxiety by: making a list of what to take - meds, etc. ; printing out the route there and note-ing all the possible necessary stops (ie gas station, pharmacies, restaurants, hosp or instacares), List of phone numbers, I sure there is more but I don't remember off the top of my head here. ::) It just cut the anxiety for me because I felt prepared. You can't prepare for any eventuality, but you can try. LOL :-\
I shall go forth, armed with a bag full of 'goodies' and ohter stuff - thanks so much for your ideas and list of items.