Travelling

[arcticfox]

This is kind of like a success story. I just didn't know where to put it on the message board!
I have IC. I have had it for a very long time, but only just been diagnosed last summer (2003.
I live in a isolated northern community. You can fly out or drive (the drive is very, very, very long). For about 11 years, since I arrived I did not go anywhere because of the problems I was having with my bladder (little did I know I had IC). I met a wonderful man, and he encouraged me to travel, to take a chance. I didn't know if I could do it. Our first trip was to a another community in my territory (Northwest Territories, Canada). It was okay, he stopped whenever I felt the need to go pee. The 2nd trip we made together we left the territory! We went to beautiful BC and travelled through the Canadian Rockies which was always a dream of mine! And you know what I did it! I did it through managing what I drank. I had water with me all the time taking little sips throughout the drive, I tried to relax and enjoy the view, knowing that I was expanding my shell was exhilerating! My happy news is that I am going on another trip! I 'm taking a 2 hour plane ride to Calgary, Alberta! I have never been there before. I have family and friends there that I have not seen since I was a young girl. Mind you, I must admit that I am a little anxious about going on the plane, but I have already gone on the plane this past summer to Edmonton, Alberta to get diagnosed. It was not that bad! It fact, a couple of Ativan helped me just fine for the trip down, and I didn't have to take any when I was coming back. I am so excited that I am expanding my horizons a little bit more! I feel that I can do anything!
hi

[ICNDonna]

What a marvelous attitude! I'm so glad you are getting out and doing some traveling. I love to travel. The IC can be a nuisance at times, but I like to go enough to make allowances for it.

Warm encouraging hugs,
Donna

[vm]

Way to go!!! I hope you have a wonderful time. :)

[Iris]

Hey terrific, hope you have a great time on your travels, all the best Iris. hi :)

[Sarojini]

That is great!! :) I am so happy for you!!

Your post was perfectly timed too-- on Feb 18 I am flying across the country on business and it was nice to hear a pleasant travel story before I go!!! Gives me moral support!! :)

I had been worrying about the trip, because my husband and I had flown to visit my family in Boston at Christmas... and on the way back I had the worst plane ride of my life-- I must have gotten up to go to the bathroom 5 times during a 2.5 hour flight. And I would have gone more except I had gotten stuck on the middle seat and the lady on the aisle was getting mad :( So I just sat there for as long as I could with incredible pressure/desire to void the whole way back... my husband told me that he was calling the doctor the minute we got back.

ANYWAY, now I am trying to think about your pleasant travel story rather than my awful one!! Thanks for posting!!!!! grouphug kissing

[liz2]

I find cruises to be wonderful. There is no packing and unpacking, and through 3 cruises the cruise line has worked to keep me with an IC friendly diet.

Plane rides are not too bad, if they are short. For the longer ones, I plan a day or two of down time to rest before I try to do anything.

Car rides in a smooth, larger vehicle are fine if I make plenty of stops. I max out at about 5 to 6 hours. I carefully choose my eating places and take a cooler with me. I replenish the cooler with periodic grocery stops. I usually put 4 six packs of water in the car and replenish when I get down to one six pack.

I also take a big and small suit case. Clean clothes from the big suitcase are unloaded into the small suitcase every two days. The dirty clothes go into a big dirty clothes bag kept in the vehicle.

Get someone else to lift out the small suitcase if you are going to be responsible for you own luggage. If there is no passenger and no motel/hotel help, strangers by the door will lift your small suitcase out. Mine is on rollers. I also carry a tote bag which I can put miscellaneous things in, along with my purse.

You can get the whole thing down to a science. An occasional "down" day is very helpful, especially after several longer more stressful days. I have traveled all over New England this way and a number of states in the Mid West.

After IC, I have managed to see all of New England, Hawaii, Alaska, and a cluster of states around Michigan.

We plan a cruise to The Northern Capitals of Europe this Summer. My other travels abroad were prior to my having refactory IC. So this will be my first trip abroad after IC reappeared following many years of remission.

However, I did deal with a long plane ride home from Hawaii. Going was easy because we had a short plane ride to Calif. and then boarded the ship for Hawaii. We were at sea for 4 days and I had plenty of rest time before we got to the Islands.

You have to really pace yourself on a vacation and be willing to tell others when you have reached your limit.

[arcticfox]

I am so happy to hear that I can be of some moral support to someone else who has IC! I tell you, this message board does wonders some days! It has for me!

:)

[ICNJess]

That is such a great message!! You are giving hope out, and on top of it you are living! So wonderful, keep it up!!!

Love,
Jess grouphug kissing angel

[Cali girl]

If you do have to take a plane, try to sit in an aisle seat and maybe even near the bathroom. I know the times I have flown it seems the bathroom is always occupied and with one or two waiting outside to use it.

Cali :)