My husband and i are going on a long road trip in a couple weeks, and i was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to get through it. I have enough trouble going on and sitting there for airplane rides! I do have heated seats, hopefully that will help. i am bringing my many pillows to surround and support me, but i expect my hubby to do most of the driving since this was his bright idea!
Any suggestions for other fibro friends who have done a road trip?
hi anderjam,
stop every couple of hours to walk a bit. stay hydrated even if it means stopping to pee often. heated seats are heaven. love mine. eat small healthy meals. stay in hotels that have hot tubs and heated pools. use them. try as best you can to stay on your schedule of meds and sleep.
saved the best for last, have hubby massage you every night before bed and when you rise in the morning. okay, giggle, i may be kidding on that! hey, one can hope, yes? glad he is doing most of the driving. i like to do some of the driving just to take my mind off my body being in the car so long. also having the steering wheel to hold on to helps. i tend to choose winding roads that lead to heaven knows where when i travel. i get lost on purpose. giggle.
have a wonderful trip. be open to your body being however she will be and treat her with respect.
peace,
blue
Definitely, frequent breaks. Stretch and walk around a bit every time the car stops.
When my dad's arthritis was at its worst, we'd stop for dinner, and he'd pace around the outside of the restaurant while waiting for the food to come! It would loosen him up and help him sit through the rest of the trip. (He's better since the surgery, but he still hates sitting still.)
Last edited by janewhite1; 10-30-2011 at 07:34 AM.
With all those pillows, you must be sitting in the back seat!! I like doing the driving for road trips and position the built in lumbar support perfectly for my back. If I'm in a seat that does not have the support i use this wire and mesh support that they sell at some of the dollar stores, its really a good support. I use one on my computer chair.
Blue nailed it when she said stop and move around often, how often will depend on your comfort level. I'm good for about 3 hours, then it's time to stretch the legs and move.
I also use one of those U shaped neck support travel pillows - I also have a battery operated massaging thing that you hold in the palm of your hand and it has little legs that you massage wherever you place it - great if it's nearing your time to stop but there's nowhere to pull over. I never sit in a car for more than 2 hours at a time as I pay the price and I vary positions and stretch whilst we're driving - good luck
I'm probly repeating stuff you have already been told... Having a heck of a time focusing, so sore...
The main thing is to not stress or over do it when getting packed. I always stress... Plus packing my stuff plus my hubby's & 4 kids... Then trying to get stuff taken car of around here... We went on a road trip this summer... I was so sick the first night... Did ok the next. I never feel well so ok is normal for me... Then the next day I was in the tent all day incredibly sick... Couldn't leave that day as planned... I was so dehydrated from not keeping anything down, I didn't pee all day... Then after being gone 6 days, I unpacked & was bad again. Anyhow, anytime we take off, I'm miserable. Love & Hate vacations...
Also, make sure you pack all your meds! Pack lots of water & healthy snacks... Books & stuff to help you relax... Stop as much as you can...
Have fun!!!
If you don't have kids have your hubby make a bed in the back seat. Mine uses to large dog beds pillows (aobut $15 each) and then a few thick soft blankets. He puts luggage behind the seats with a board on top of them to make the bed wider. We recently traveled 2500 miles and this "bed" was a life saver! We also stopped every couple of hours and slowly walked around the rest area. Also, when we plan trips that are more than a couple of days in length, we will stop in the middle of the trip and stay a day where ever we are. When we traveled from Az to Va, we stayed in New Orleans for a day. This gives you a break from sitting.
Just remember to try and relax, use the heated seats, and have a good trip.
Last edited by lifewithfibro; 10-31-2011 at 06:06 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to lifewithfibro For This Useful Post: anderjam (10-31-2011)
