RE: Re: Traveling/Vacation

[Guest guest]

I do it all the time. I gave up on the notion of not bringing Prilosec for daily

use and having Maalox ready to hand helps. It's eating late that causes me

trouble. That is controlable. We are asking for trouble eating at 9 PM and going

to bed too soon after.

You will have a great time! Just don't get carried away. Smaller, frequent meals

and those other things we already know about, work.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablindsayaus <lindsay_kite@...> wrote:I

want to know how one travels with this condition too!

>

> Has anyone had any problems traveling with achalasia? My hubby surprised me on

V-Day with a cruise to Bahamas that leaves this Sunday. I was devestated more

than excited since this happened. Normally we love to vacation and cruise. But

now this has interrupted my life so much, I dont do much of anything. I want to

go but Im terrified of something happening and not being able to get emergency

care. He thinks I will be fine being everytime I went to the ER it was before

they had an idea of what it was and I was always fine. Im just really

anxious/nervous. I would love to go and relax and get my mind off this but dont

know how my esophagus will behave.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you , that's encouraging. My other problem is the energy to do

anything and to even get on the boat. Due to not eating much, I don't have the

energy like I normally do. Going to start whole food vitamins and I believe I

am actually digesting food now instead of dumping. So hopefully that will help

as well.

> >

> > Has anyone had any problems traveling with achalasia? My hubby surprised me

on V-Day with a cruise to Bahamas that leaves this Sunday. I was devestated more

than excited since this happened. Normally we love to vacation and cruise. But

now this has interrupted my life so much, I dont do much of anything. I want to

go but Im terrified of something happening and not being able to get emergency

care. He thinks I will be fine being everytime I went to the ER it was before

they had an idea of what it was and I was always fine. Im just really

anxious/nervous. I would love to go and relax and get my mind off this but dont

know how my esophagus will behave.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dealing with achalasia while traveling is as personal a matter as dealing with

achalasia on an everyday basis, only that we are out of our comfort zone and not

always able to control our environment. In many ways it can be the same. The

answer, in part, deals with where you are on your achalasia " journey. "   Have

you just been diagnosed, had a dilatation, had an HM or more dilatations, or an

ectomy?  I think that the answer tends to fall into the realm of " anecdotal. "  

 

I have been fortunate to have traveled extensively the last 18 years always

feeling that each meal might be a challenge, but always up for it. Being away

from home I know I can't control what is served. Many of you know that diet soda

(or any soda for that matter) is my drink of choice. If water is the best liquid

available, then that is what I have to work with.  The degree of availability

directly affects the amount I can eat.

 

If the tour group is leaving and I am still eating, then I try to take something

with me, or sometimes I will fail to do so. My backup plan though is to try to

either bring canned food from home or pick up things along the way to have when

I was unable to eat enough food at a meal. Carbonated beverages is like " gold "

to me so I try to have as much available as possible both to get the food down

and to kill spasms, which seem to happen less when I vacation (stress, I

know).  There will be times that I just can't get the food down and I will

leave hungry (or find some privacy to regurgitate).

Its all part of the adventure of this that we all have to live with and cope

with.

 

The main thing is to go in with the attitude that you are not going to let this

thing beat you. I have lived with this for 30 years now and I don't let it

prevent me from doing anything I want to do, nor do I let my life get defined by

it. Sure, vacationing can be more difficult, and it has been, but in all my

years of accumulating wonderful memories, I have no specific negative ones of a

trip being compromised by the disease.  I just know that I have to be prepared

to deal with it and I do. Having a spouse who is totally supportive is not a bad

idea either.

 

________________________________

From: lindsayaus <lindsay_kite@...>

achalasia

Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7:04 AM

Subject: Re: Traveling/Vacation

 

I want to know how one travels with this condition too!

>

> Has anyone had any problems traveling with achalasia? My hubby surprised me on

V-Day with a cruise to Bahamas that leaves this Sunday. I was devestated more

than excited since this happened. Normally we love to vacation and cruise. But

now this has interrupted my life so much, I dont do much of anything. I want to

go but Im terrified of something happening and not being able to get emergency

care. He thinks I will be fine being everytime I went to the ER it was before

they had an idea of what it was and I was always fine. Im just really

anxious/nervous. I would love to go and relax and get my mind off this but dont

know how my esophagus will behave.

>

[Guest guest]

This concerns me also. Just had a trade show to attend in vegas. On the day

leaving was one of those days in the bathroom every few minutes with my

esophagus rejecting food from the day before. It was constant - in the airport,

on the plane, to the hotel. Thankfully it finally settled down enough that I

could walk the show the next day. but exhausted from not eating the day before

and afraid to eat that day!  I would love some tips here too.

Kim

________________________________

From: lindsayaus <lindsay_kite@...>

achalasia

Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7:04 AM

Subject: Re: Traveling/Vacation

 

I want to know how one travels with this condition too!

>

> Has anyone had any problems traveling with achalasia? My hubby surprised me on

V-Day with a cruise to Bahamas that leaves this Sunday. I was devestated more

than excited since this happened. Normally we love to vacation and cruise. But

now this has interrupted my life so much, I dont do much of anything. I want to

go but Im terrified of something happening and not being able to get emergency

care. He thinks I will be fine being everytime I went to the ER it was before

they had an idea of what it was and I was always fine. Im just really

anxious/nervous. I would love to go and relax and get my mind off this but dont

know how my esophagus will behave.

>

[Guest guest]

Kim,

 

In direct response specifically to the nearly constant regurgitation you did on

your recent trip, please consider carrying with you easily disposable plastic

bags. The size that you can find in the meat section at COSTCO takes up nearly

zero space in a pocket or pocketbook, yet easily opens to a size large enough to

accommodate most previously eaten meals. At your convenience you can then toss

it.  I'll admit it may not be a pretty sight to regurg in public but usually

you can find a less conspicuous place. While a bathroom (hopefully, one that has

availability), is the logical first choice, it is not always located

conveniently when you need it the most.

 

While traveling, when possible, I would go the extra mile to try to eat foods

that you have a better track record with, plus drink more liquids before,

during, and after the meal. Believe me, I understand that when the LES closes

down, nothing can get thru at times. Try the best you can to determine as early

as possible if you are in a " shut down " mode, so you don't continue the " pile

up " at the base of your esophagus. Sometimes people " listen " for the feeling of

a cold or hot drink reaching the stomach. If you don't get that sensation of

warmth or cold, perhaps its all getting backed up.

 

Also, while some people take nifedipine in order to stop spasms, others take it

as a smooth muscle relaxer that in many cases relaxes the LES, and food will

then be able to pass through to the stomach. Just place a 10-20mg capsule under

the tongue, let it dissolve (or crack it open with your teeth and let it

dissolve), and in many cases you will get the relief you need.

 

________________________________

From: Leda Mae <leda444@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 9:49 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Traveling/Vacation

 

This concerns me also. Just had a trade show to attend in vegas. On the day

leaving was one of those days in the bathroom every few minutes with my

esophagus rejecting food from the day before. It was constant - in the airport,

on the plane, to the hotel. Thankfully it finally settled down enough that I

could walk the show the next day. but exhausted from not eating the day before

and afraid to eat that day!  I would love some tips here too.

Kim

________________________________

From: lindsayaus <lindsay_kite@...>

achalasia

Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7:04 AM

Subject: Re: Traveling/Vacation

 

I want to know how one travels with this condition too!

>

> Has anyone had any problems traveling with achalasia? My hubby surprised me on

V-Day with a cruise to Bahamas that leaves this Sunday. I was devestated more

than excited since this happened. Normally we love to vacation and cruise. But

now this has interrupted my life so much, I dont do much of anything. I want to

go but Im terrified of something happening and not being able to get emergency

care. He thinks I will be fine being everytime I went to the ER it was before

they had an idea of what it was and I was always fine. Im just really

anxious/nervous. I would love to go and relax and get my mind off this but dont

know how my esophagus will behave.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Kim and for the tips. I'm taking the step finally to call the

surgeon today and schedule a consult for an HM. It's time!

Kim

________________________________

From: Kim <kimellenbailey@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 12:26 PM

Subject: Re: Traveling/Vacation

 

Kim, , the way I have handled the regurg thing. is- I carry a large purse.

Inside that purse I have plastic cups,all stacked inside each other except for

the one i am using at the time... i get  colored ones so no one can see what is

in it..( i have been in TJ Maxx before and actually was down and aisle and was

seen, they thought i was drinking something,, NOT!  i got real stealthy with

this procedure)   Carry several cups stacked inside each other and  some

gallon zip lock bags and some throw away plastic bags like from walmart. I put

paper towel in a cup so it wont slosh.. and the towel will absorb the barf ... i

always have one cup fixed like this--- paper towel in cup, cup in gallon zip

lock and zip lock in a plastic bag... sounds like a lot but i dont like being

embarrassed anymore than i have to be.. when the cup gets something in it, i zip

the lock bag.. and use till cup gets as full as i am willing to let it go..

then. zip her up tie a knot

in the plastic bag and toss,. fix another one to be ready for next barf. Dont

skip the paper towel part , it helps with the slosh factor.. 

Girl, i never thought i would have to share this hint.. hope it helps.  Kim

Ellen in the Sweet Deep South..