Hi Tina
Gutted for you, and can relate to it (probably told you already so if I have, apols for being boring) as cancelled 2013 holiday due to dad dying, and 2014 due to my first/diagnosing relapse. Returned from Rhodes at start of month, and was treated fantastically by all hotel and airport staff.
The purpose of this is to help allay some fears you may have; I suspect you fully deserve a break.
Take care fluffyollie xx
Thanks Fluffyollie,
Glad you had a good time in Rhodes - you deserved it after not one, but TWO forced postponements.
I’m not visibly disabled, so can expect little, if any, special care or consideration from hotel or airport staff, because nobody can tell I have the strength and stamina of somebody 20 years my senior!
I seem to remember, from travelling with Dad when he was ill (sadly, I lost my dad, too), that they were very prescriptive about special concessions for disability. If he wanted to be escorted to the front of the queue, and things like that, he had to agree to use a wheelchair - which he was mortified about, and wouldn’t! (No more would I). So he had to take his place in the queue like everybody else. I remember, on one occasion, having to beg staff: “Please could a chair be found for my father; he can’t stand here like this, he’s terminally ill!”
I suppose the rules are partly there to prevent uproar if a seemingly able-bodied passenger is seen to queue-jump. But there was no special accommodation at all for Dad, unless he would agree to the wheelchair. Totally different illness, but similar dilemma - nobody could see he was ill, and he wasn’t disabled in any obvious way (fully ambulatory without a stick) - just invisible pain and fatigue (he had only one functioning lung).
On the way back, however, where it was about a mile to baggage reclaim, he was much more willing to say he needed assistance, and this time was spared a wheelchair, and they took him up on the little bus, like a milk float! He was OK with that, in a way he wouldn’t have been with the wheelchair.
Anyway, I digress. As I haven’t been anywhere for literally years, it may be a blessing in disguise not to start with the hassle of flying straight away, and to test myself with a UK break.
Because I haven’t tried for so long, I literally don’t know what I’m still OK with, and what may be a problem.
Tina
x
HI Anitra
I to find going out even stress full, the pain Isn’t always worth the gain,
but I do find flying easy, they don’t exactly advertise the fact, but you can take your own,wheel chair, electric
or self propelled, scooter which I use, drive around the airport, onto the truck that lifts you up to the door, getting
from the truck to your seat can be a struggle,I have seen the staff carry some one to there seat,same at the other
end, then wheel chair, scooter friendly mini bus to the resort, Its a question of making sure you have the right accommodation
when you get there, ie walk In shower, I go to Lanzarotte every year, If you want to know any more look me up on face
book David Longhurst Ashbourne
Thanks David, I’m sorry to hear of the difficulties you face going on holds, but glad you haven’t let it stop you.
I am walking completely unaided - for which I know I should be thankful - so it’s not limited mobility that is the cause of the stress.
It’s limited strength, stamina, patience - all the rest! It’s also lack of practice - not flown anywhere in five years (and not going this time, after all), so not used to all the security palaver, or exactly what the limits are on liquids, or worrying whether my hand luggage might be fractionally too large, etc. etc.
People who are frequent flyers have all this stuff down to a fine art, but when you haven’t been for five years, it’s: “OMG, what am I allowed to do again? Have I even got the right sized bags and bottles?”
Anyway, I suppose I’m going to have to face up to it again at some point - unless I resign myself to never leaving the country - but it won’t be this year now.
Tina
Sorry, I do mean hols - must have aircraft HOLDS on the brain!
HI Anitra
Sorry to hear of your problems with flying and the airport, I take It you have got MS but at an early stage,
which we have all, gone through, you mentioned your Dad and his unwillingness to use a wheel chair, we
have all been there, I am never going to use one of those or be seen In one, but my advice would be, give In
at an early stage,limited strength, stamina, so you would not be able to stand In those long queues, pass port,
security etc, wheel chairs are supplied at the airport, use one, take the stress away,straight through, In a wheel
chair, I used to get one, half the time I was pushing my girl friend around the airport,but I needed It all the same,
stamina, strength. as for liquid, you cannot take any liquids through security, buy as much as you like, when you
get the other side of security, google air craft friendly hand luggage there’s a list as log as your arm, any more excuses
ha ha ,I take It you are not scared of flying, other wise all this advice has been a waste of time,get your self off for
some winter sun,vitiman D Is very good for you,although do not sit In the sun,I do not go on holiday I live there for
several months, Its really not expensive,let me know If I can help any more David
Hi again, Dave,
Well, just an example of the huge variability of MS, I guess. I’m coming up to my five-year anniversary of diagnosis, and my neuro and I both think I probably had it years earlier, so I might have had it ten years, even 20 - who can say?
So “early stages”? No, I think and hope not. I suspect it’s been going on for donkeys’ years (had odd, minor symptoms, and never felt as if I was firing on all cylinders, even when young), but I’ve been lucky so far not to have had a very aggressive disease course.
Unfortunately, as we all know, outward disabilities are not the only effects. Mostly I feel like someone about 20 years older than I really am - who also happens to have flu’ - but nothing shows on the outside.
I am nervous of flying, but not to the extent I cannot or will not do it. Just adds to the stress I suppose - and I’m already quite a stressy person, which may itself be part of the illness (as a “club”, we have much higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general population).
Yes, I try to keep my vitamin D up - supplements and sunshine in the garden, when I can get any, but I know a British Winter doesn’t provide enough naturally, so I have to keep going with the pills!
Tina
HI again Anitra
We seem to be having a private chat here, that Is exactly how I felt, diagnosed In 2007, men don’t tend to
go to the doctors un less they are at deaths door,so after a considerable amount of nagging I went In late 2006,
It took nearly 12 months of hospital visits, before I was given the good news,ha ha, like you said I had had MS
for years, Its a wonder I have achieved the things that I have, perhaps some times Its not as well to know these
things, perhaps until you need to, I have said before, on here give Into the MS, not to give up on life,In other
words do every thing you can to make life easy, as per my advice on wheel chair in the airport,special assistance,
they wouldn’t run about after you, but they are there to help.
Just like you I suffer with stress, It seems to be part of the MS,I don’t like going out for long periods of time,I like
to stay In my comfort zone, again please think about the winter sun even If you only go for a week,you will really
feel the benefit I can assure you, I don’t know where you live, Which Is your nearest airport, use Sky Scanner for
the cheapest fare usually Ryan air, i can help with suitable accommodation, please don’t put It off, David