Travelling with Fibromyalgia

Vacations are the time when we are all supposed to relax- but traveling with Fibromyalgia can bring about pain, exhaustion, irritability and so much stress that when you get home you need a vacation to recover from your vacation! What can you do to minimize the impact of your impending trip?

If you are traveling outside of your time zone, you can start shifting your sleep schedule back or forward by 15 minutes a day a week ahead of time- this way, you won't have the huge jet lag problem when you get there. If you're traveling internationally, you'll probably still have some impact, but it won't be as bad, and when it comes to fibro, every little bit helps.

When flying, you will want to make sure you are as hydrated as you can be before you get on the plane. Flying dehydrates even healthy people, and when you have fibro, you do not want to add to the stress on your muscles by dehydrating them. If you can, arrange for a longer layover, so that you don't have to rush from one terminal to another. Being able to walk slowly through the airport, and maybe even stop and rest on the way, will help your stress levels and your pain levels. Also, take the time on your layover to have a snack and a drink- it's expensive, but your body will thank you. Airplane peanuts and the drinks they serve are not enough sustenance to refuel your tank, and since you can't carry liquids on the plane any longer, you'll need the water to quench your thirst.

Driving might sound harder on your body, but a leisurely cross-country drive is actually not a hardship if you make the right plans. If you have AAA, use their map service to figure out how to plot stops every four hours for a stretch and a snack or walk or some touristy thing. (This can be difficult if you have the kind of partner who wants to GET THERE NOW! but hopefully they'll be sensitive to your needs.) The biggest requirement is the right kind of car. A comfortable car makes all the difference. If your everyday car isn't the most comfortable, if you can afford it- rent one! Even some of the compact and sub-compact cars are very comfortable- my husband and I rented a 5-door Ford Focus for a driving trip to Key West, and were very comfortable in it, plus we had more luggage room than in our usual car! It's a good idea to bring pillows in case you get body sore, and sunscreen so you don't get a driver's or passenger's tan. Plan your trip carefully, including plenty of bathroom breaks, and you might find (as I did) that it's more fun than flying to your destination!

The next piece of the travel puzzle is the hotel. The hotel bed can make or break your vacation, since it's where you will be spending 1/3 of your day. If the first night's sleep isn't to your liking, don't be afraid to request a different room. The hotel wants you to be happy with your stay, and if they have the rooms free, they should be willing to swap you out to make you happy. If they don't have the room, consider checking to see if there is availability at another hotel nearby- you do not have to suffer in an uncomfortable bed throughout your vacation! Just don't do it. You'll only be making yourself and everyone around you miserable.

Once you've found the right place to sleep, the rest of the trip should be glorious! Enjoy yourself- but be cautious. Don't overdo it. Remember that it's a VACATION, and that you don't have to do everything at once. Plan your days carefully, leaving yourself plenty of time to rest. On my vacation, I like to give myself one day just to do nothing but relax by the hotel pool if it's a summer vacation, or the fire in the common room if it's winter. Because nothing says vacation like sitting around reading a good book. Treat yourself to something YOU enjoy that you don't usually do that involves sitting around doing nothing.

After all, it's your vacation!