You know the song. It’s a John Denver Classic. Recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, in 1969 – I wasn’t born in 69, but my husband (Roy) was so we’ll call it a good year. Chantal Kreviazuk released an awesome cover of the song in 1998. I was 28 in 98.
By that point, I was an undercover Fibromyalgia warrior, working a full-time job, keeping the fridge stocked, the house clean, the gardens weeded, and chasing a wayward dog through the streets of town.
Like most women I know (with or without chronic pain), I was trying to do it all while still being a good (*read the best ever) wife, mother, daughter, employee, and friend.
I was also trying to make it look easy, and even though it may have looked like I was successfully keeping my shit together, I was in pain, battling fibro fog, and keeping my eyes open with toothpicks during my morning commute.
And, YEP, now that one freaking line is stuck in my head like my vinyl is scratched and the needle is stuck.
…leavin’ on a jet plane. Don’t know when I’ll be back again…
Two things:
If you haven’t guessed already, I’m going on vacation for a couple of days, and as much as I’d prefer to leave them on the counter at home, my chronic pain issues are coming with me.
Bitches.
Also, I’m sure you already figured this out, but this isn’t gonna be your typical how to travel with a chronic illness blog. There are plenty of excellent blogs, vlogs, and legit articles on the subject already out there.
This isn’t one of them.
I’m not that girl.
The one who plans ahead to deal with the inevitable pain flare-up caused by cramming her ass into an airline seat whose padding has long since given up any support role it may have once performed in the service of paying customers.
Nope.
I’m the girl who suffers from a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out). The one wearing the rose-colored glasses at the back of the plane squirming in the shittiest seat because I can’t wait to get to where I’m going. Also squirming because my fucking back is killing me, and we’re only thirty minutes into a seven-hour flight.
So why do it? Why travel when I’m already in so much pain? Because I’m never, REPEAT NEVER, going to be pain-free. So, waiting for a pain break? Yeah, stupid plan…might as well wait for time to stop…and if it does, I’ll be dead, so basically, no chance to travel after that.
Fuck that shit – I love to travel.
I want to go everywhere, see everything. Meet new people. Talk to strangers. Experience different cultures. Try new foods. And the beer – don’t even get me started on the local brews.
A large draft of Super Bock on the beach in Porches, Portugal, or on any beach in Portugal’s Algarve region, is TOTALLY worth the aches and pains of a four-hour car ride before boarding the first plane in Toronto.
Plus, a bum-numbing wait for the second plane in Lisbon.
And the long walk to the car rental place in Faro.
Not to mention cramming my already sore body into the back seat of a European tin can with two suitcases and a BFF.
God! Sounds like a nightmare, right?
Hell no!
THAT was an adventure, start to finish, and I’d pack my Aleve to do it again in a heartbeat. And again. And again.
In fact, that’s my plan for 2020. Travel. Travel. Travel.
To start off my living with chronic pain world tour, I’m grabbing the big 5 – 0 by the ears and giving it a big welcome kiss…in Nashville.
That’s right! I’m celebrating turning fifty – in Nashville!
So you may be asking yourself, why Nashville? Why not somewhere warm and beachy?
Easy. Country music, cowboy boots, craft beer, Peg Leg Porker BBQ ribs, and my best friends celebrating my half-century survival by dancing our way up and down Music Row with our hubbies in tow.
Need I say more?
Yep, I’m about to throw down in Nashville and party like I’m forty-nine! I’m even planning to follow some of the advice I discovered while researching traveling with chronic pain.
Top 5 Tips For Traveling With Chronic Pain
Best Tip No. 1
Dress comfortably for the trip. *Don’t be me. Skinny jeans are not your friend on a plane.
Best Tip No. 2
It HURTS to type this, but bring comfortable walking shoes. This is a shoe lover’s nightmare! Damn you, Ankylosing Spondylitis! *Stuffs all season wedges into suitcase just to spite.
Best Tip No. 3
Stock up on drugs – the over the counter pain relieving or prescription kind – not the white powdered kind you cut with a credit card on the back of the toilet in the men’s washroom with a stranger you just met who’s now your new BFF.
Best Tip No. 4
Stay hydrated. Got it covered. Mental note – drink the water Roy hands me between cold beers, frozen margaritas, and vodka shots.
Best Tip No. 5 (and possibly the best tip of all)
Be in the moment. Take photos. Get crazy. Have fun. Take a nap. Whatever your vacation means to you is what matters most. What’s the point of traveling if you’re not getting what you need out of it?
Hey, since sharing is caring, why don’t you drop a comment below and tell us what your best tips are for traveling with chronic pain?
Or, if you know of someone who might enjoy a little chronic pain travel humour go ahead and click one of those share buttons!
Finally, before I go…leavin’ on a jet plane…I know not everyone with chronic pain can travel. If that’s you, I get it! Sometimes reaching to answer the phone, or going from the bedroom to the living room can feel like a trip from hell, take three weeks to recover from, and cost too much in emotional and physical effort.
That’s okay, too. If you feel up to it, tell us where your happy place is. These days (when I’m home), mine’s the nest chair in the living room with my furry blanket.
Until the next blog – peace out pain sufferers.
Current pain level 6/10.
Safe travels, Enjoy 🤗
Best tip #4 needs to be trademarked #hydrate!
Happy Nashville Fifty with Beasties! 🎵😎🍻
Happy 50th EDITH! 🎂
Show NASHVILLE how Canadians celebrate! 😎
You go girl. Hope you enjoy your trip 👍
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and
wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog
posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and
I hope you write again very soon!
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Welcome to the tribe!
Edith