We are about to embark on a short vacation but the drive both there and back will be very long (10 hours both ways). 20 hours in a four day span. I'm not sure how my body will react to being couped up in a van for that long and how I will do for the two days after we get there. I am really stiff in the mornings already.
Anyone have any tips for making the trip without much discomfort?
It will be hot and humid where we are going as well so I'm worried about my body reacting to the weather.
Even though I'm looking forward to this short vacation it scares me that I might pay for it.
Thought I would reach out to you all for advice.
Thank you in advance.
M....
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Can I go with you??
Moving this to General Support.....
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I have to go on long drives every time I go to my LLMD; one is coming up soon.
Regarding the stiffness, stop a lot more often than required for gas and food, and always get out of the car and stretch and walk a little. (Assuming you can, not knowing your condition.)
Keep appropriate food, water etc. in the car for you, so you can have it any time you need it and won't have to wait for a stop, or depend on something from your diet being available. I have a terrible time eating low carb when I travel.
I recently started getting my low carb meals from a local food delivery service. This trip, I am planning to take all the food with me in a cooler, so I can eat it at a rest area or heat it up with a hotel microwave.
If you have someone else to drive, then don't drive. In my case anyway, that adds to my stress and muscle stiffness and especially makes my neck hurt.
Use a neck pillow of some kind to support your neck so it doesn't fall over to the side if you doze off in your seat. Take all the pillows necessary to add padding wherever you need some, so you won't be bumping against corners and hard surfaces.
If possible, arrange the car so that your seat can be reclined, or if the van has a bench seat in the back, you could go stretch out on that (with a seatbelt) if you need to. If your back seat lays flat to make a bed, that might be even better as it would give you a place to lie down all the way and rest your neck and back, plus a bit of room to do stretches.
The main thing I try to do if I can work it out is not to drive more than 6 hours in one day. That doesn't sound like an option for you for this short trip, but maybe you could leave the night before, drive a few hours, then stop overnight and continue the drive the next day, so at least only one of the driving days would be 10 whole hours.
Because of all my extra stopping, I plan that every 3 hr. drive will take me at least 4. For 10, I would allow 13 or 14 to get there, not counting traffic or construction. If you can do it, avoid committing to arriving at a specific time of day so you don't have that to stress about.
For the heat, maybe ice in a cooler, that you can suck on if you are getting overheated.
While you are there (not driving), do your best to get a lot of sleep and take naps. Then you won't be so tired or sick when you get in the car to come home.
Before I knew I had Lyme, I went on a two week trip overseas that involved tons of walking around city streets and up and down stairs. I ignored all of this advice, and my mysterious pain and fatigue, and had a fun trip in spite of it, although it put me in bed for a couple days after I got back. Plan yourself some time afterward to rest.
Have fun! (Don't forget that part.) Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
I don't do so well with long driving trips either.
I usually avoid driving as much as possible. It wears me out quickly because I have a hard time focusing/paying attention/ processing everything around me. It is overwhelming to me.
If you can try to stop frequently, like every 2-3hrs, to get out and stretch. Stay well hydrated. Being dehydrated will make you feel like crap.
If you are the passenger in the car, bring a pillow and take a nap or two. When you are not sleeping shift around in your seat and change positions frequently. I can't sit still for long because it makes my body hurt. I probably look like I have ADD or something because I'm always moving around.
Portable DVD and MP3 players are great for entertainment. Helps the time pass more quickly. If you don't have these things your friends or family might be willing to loan them to you.
Bring healthy snacks and bottles of water in the car. It is cheaper and easier than trying to find something on the road.
Bring ear plugs and your pillow from home to make it quiet and help you sleep at night. You need your rest at night so that you can enjoy your days.
For the heat and humidity, drink extra fluids and take air conditioner breaks (go inside a couple times per day to rest). Humidity always makes me tired more quickly too.
Try not to worry and have fun! You will Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
Advise?
Enjoy yourself. Forget your limitations and forget Lyme. Every other day is reality, soon enough your return.
Posted by Michele (Member # 13669) on :
Thanks for the replies everyone and the reminder to enjoy myself. I'm so caught up in worrying about feeling bad that I'm sucking the fun out of it.
I feel blessed for the opportunity to have this vacation with my family, to see my children view the ocean for the very first time and to have you all here to lean on.
Thank you and Bless everyone on this website!
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Pack Light, You can buy things when you get there if need be. Bring pain medication, bring sleep medication. Use them often -- at much as you're permitted safely through the trip. (Assuming you're very sick with Lyme still)
Make sure the suitcase is as small as possible and easy to pull. Having wheels isn't enough. (Only bring the essentials.
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