Leaving on a jet plane, scared to death

Hoping Margaret will forgive me for plagiarizing, it seems like the perfect opening.

I have never been to the east coast to visit. I kept thinking throughout my life I would one day follow spring and drive the USA, but it never happened, despite the fact that I have gone halfway around the world. I now realize it won't ever be any more sensible, any easier, any cheaper, than now. So I planned with DD in Pennsylvania to visit her and her children. Other DD heard about it, and insisted on going with me, and even stooped to the level of baiting her offer with Granddarling. I couldn't refuse. The last time I traveled with them, I took Granddarling to New Orleans to join her parents who were enjoyng a brief vacation at Jazz Fest. Granddarling is a joy on such occasions.

I still have pulmonary embolism problems. I know this isn't conducive to trouble free travel. (This is the part that scares me.) My doctor told me I should follow my own heart, or did she say head? We are leaving this week, probably staying just four days near Philly, then back home. It won't be lengthy, but already I am exhausted. The suitcase presents a monumental challenge, just packing the basics. I dread the hassle of processing through the security I championed for others. My meds alone could create a nightmare. Shopping for a few small gifts is a real challenge for someone who detests shopping in any form. But I fully intend to fake it and get through this. If you don't see me here, it's because I don't recall my password and can't figure how to post from DD's computer. She is a webmaster, and promised to help me configure a "decent system" to bring home, which is powerful incentive to make the trip.

So I seek your prayers, though not seriously enough to post in Prayer Requests, and your patience. When I do return, I might bore you with my family, so please bear with me, I am old. (Doesn't that entitle one to certain lapses?) Now if I can just get on that plane without any major hassles......

Dear dear Aimee, I will be thinking of you journeying to the east coast, I wish you a safe travel. Let your Daughter handle the suitcases, pack your meds on a carry on in case the unmentionable happens, and just try to relax about it all. If you have to change planes, and you dont feel up to the walk from terminal to terminal ask for a wheelchair, be sensible.

When are you leaving? You will be greatly missed here.

Have a safe trip, Aimee! :-)

Don't be scared Aimee!! All the implications of travelling these days, the security and such, are soon tolerated and then forgotten. Only memories of your stay in PA will remain with you. However, now I understand why you have not been posting as much, as well as your not being too well. If you have an early flight then the processing doesn't take too long and if not, then just sit down and allow the fitter of the team to stand in line. You can always while away the time with a good gardening magazine and some tidbits to munch on. I can't believe you are going to be on the East coast and still way out of my clutches!! Drat!! God speed ((Aimee))

Oh Aimee! You can do it! You go and have fun and please do bore us with your family when you get back! LOL I will pray that you be brave and safe.
HUGS!!!

Aimee...Listen to Friend Roadrunner...YOU"LL LOVE IT! When I had DH to do the driving we traveled somewhere each year...as I was not "into" flying....it used to cause me great ear pain. WEll, like most parts of our bodies, the ears changed. I now either fly...or (*shudder*) stay home! I elected to fly...and the only times my ears hurt me is when landing after having crossed a very high mountain range! Then for only about 5 minutes.....very poor price to pay for the pleasure I get from visiting others.

I'll be thinking of you!! Jo
"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder"!!

Margaret, I did think of that factor, and couldn't think of a way to tie anyone into it, as it will be a brief trip and probably require lots of rest for me.

I am not afraid of the trip as such, but flying is known to be risky for pulmonary embolism. And sitting for any length of time is difficult, everything going to sleep and freezing up, etc. Joints and damaged nerves don't like travel since chemo did its thing. Yes, I will probably require a wheelchair before it's over. I sometimes have to use what I call the sissy cart in the supermarket when joints and things are too balky. I am packing one suitcase and checking the other. We have one change, I think maybe in St. Louis, can't recall which one we decided to take, and that means added risk for connecting with luggage, but I decided it was just too much to try to do my usual light travel when I carried it all on. DD will have to check hers anyway, so I might as well. I suspect one reason she is going is to make me do these sensible things and not try to reinvent Amazon Woman. As I sit here unable to recall from one moment to the next what I am to do, I have to agree it was a bit adventurous of me to plan such a trip alone. Would I get to St. Louis and forget why I was there, if I can't even recall why I am standing in front of the coffee pot at times?

HAVE A NICE TRIP AIMÉE!!!

If they give you any hassle about your medicine at the airport, make sure you have all of those big long medical words, and descriptions,(or invent your own), for each little thing, and then ask them if they understood.
That should get your holiday off to a perfect start ;-)

Enjoy yourself my dear!!

*sending nice thoughts to Aimée, galavanting all over the North American Continent in search of a better computer system* Yeah ok !!

Wintermoor


This message was edited Tuesday, Aug 20th 2:31 PM

Aimee,
Have a great time..Don't forget your books and STUFF!! LOL..
Larkie

Aimee, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Try not to worry. You are going to have a great time and I'll look forward to hearing all about your vacation.

Hey woman.........get your running shoes and your cane...sure fire way to make it to the front of the line, hee hee!! They have little carts that they will shuttle you to your gate on........so hitch a ride on one of those!!
If they know when you check in, they'll have one waiting for you!! Have a wonderful flight, and a lovelier visit!!
See ya when ya check back........warning ya.....ya got 7 days afore I call the laws!!!

"eyes"

Have a safe trip Aimee!!! We'll miss you!!
Becky

Enjoy the trip Aimee and You'll be allright !

Have a great trip Aimee. I will sure miss you around here and you be sure and take lots of pics we are waiting to see the family. Hugs my friend safe jouney.

Have a great trip Aimee. Here is what i do when I travel to avoid blood clots, etc I get up and go to the back area and walk or jog in place while holding on the metal bar that is usually there by the little fold up seat that the stewardess uses to sit on when everyone has to be seated. I do that a lot during a long flight. No one ever minds me being there and I actually strike up lots of conversations with people who are killing time and go back for another bag of peanuts or another drink.
Jo, I too have always had problems with my ears while traveling. Go to the drug store or Walmart or somewhere like that and got a product called Ear-o-planes. They are ear plugs that maintain the proper ear pressure for your ears. They are wonderful and I haven't had a problem since I started using them several years ago. They are well worth the money, believe me.

Elena I could have dittoed and dittoed your post. I do the same on long journeys and am I ever glad to hear of the ear plugs since I suffer horribly. Why didn't I know of this wonderful aid??

Oh Aimee..you will have a wonderful time. I want to hear all about it when you return!

Aimee - before you leave, I would suggest you call your travel agent or the airline directly and explain your medical situation. I would take advantage of their assistance and ask for a wheel chair. Thus you would be first one on and they would help you get to your connecting flight. Do you have one of those wheeled carry on suitcases? I do a bit of business traveling and bought one last year. I used it on my last trip - it was wonderful and saved an aching back and shoulders. Good luck and I hope you have a great time!

Thanks for the info, Elena!! I'll try those. Jo

I know I need to stay off of here, but was taking a break with my feet up to keep the usual swelling down as much as possible until flight time. The closer it gets, the more it seems I retain fluid. But DD told me she has called the airline and requested that a wheelchair be available. Because of the cheap tickets I found online, there is no pre-boarding, but I wouldn't put it past that young lady to maneuver it anyway. She told me she is going because she knows I won't ask for these things. (Originally, I was going alone, then she and Granddarling butted in.) My required distilled water is already arranged for at the hotel, if things go according to promises. A friend manages the new Marriott where we will stay in Philly, so that smooths the way a bit. Okay, I do feel a little anxious, but apparently I'm not doing something many of you wouldn't do, huh? Just because there are some stubborn old blood clots still hanging around is no reason to think I can't travel. Your comments make me more relaxed and feel less foolish. Thanks! I know you will be praying for a safe trip, so could you also add a little request for a painless, bloat-free one? No IBS, no short breath, just normal old lady with no problems, huh? And I hope to get a photo at the mint!

Well, I finally caught you! Where have been Lady? And you are going to take off again! When are ya leaving?

I wish you a pleasant trip to and back home safely!

BTW...Trip is back on to Washington! DD took my G'darling's back...I have been so sad!

Aimee,hope the trip goes great

and hope you love the east coast so much you move out here with us guys

Oh, Aimee! How exciting! I know you'll be just fine!!! Being with your DD and Granddarling on the journey there and back will help take a lot of the stress off you and you know how bad stress is for a person. You'll have so much fun, I just know it!!! How cool!! Yes, I'll be checking back in for you and keeping a close eye out for you. ;)

Louisa, I have no idea why the ear plugs aren't advertized more abut they are life savers. Just follow the directions about when to use them and you shouldn't have a problem. I have found that I can use mine more times than they say also. They do last longer but I guess the company has to give the shortest length of time just in case they don't. I always keep a spare pair in case the older ones I insert don't work and I could change them immediately. I haven't had to do that ever and I reuse them a lot. Jo, hope this works for you. I don't think anyone could have had worse problems than I did. I also spray my nose with one of the 3 day sprays like Afrin about 30 min. before boarding a plane. I use the 12 hour kind. That clears the sinisus and help greatly also. I have had to spray more than once on long flights like to Australia because it is such a long time from leaving Nashville until arrival in Australia. There are also many changes of flights. Use the earplugs on takeoff and on landing. As soon as it feels like the plane is descending for landing, I insert mine. Good luck to all of you travelers.

Aimee, what a wonderful opportunity for you to go out East and enjoy your family out there! I'm praying you'll have a bloat-free, joyful, safe and relaxing journey there and back. Have *fun* and know you're being lifted before the Father -- and though He's a *whole* lot higher than that plane will ever get, He's also right there with you in your airplane seat. :)