Another Newbie

Susiesoo

Hello everyone.

I feel as if I know some you of already as I have looked at some of the recent threads. I now feel it is time to take the next step and join in.

I was diagnosed with RA nearly a year ago and have experienced, and still am, the shock, denial and worry of the diagnosis. I have been unable to find any local support groups and know of nobody else with the disease so I'd really appreciate being able to "chat" to people who understand.

I have one main question at the moment and wonder if anyone can help. Although rumbling around in the background for some time, the condition suddenly became a major problem as I stepped off a plane on arrival in Portugal last May, so a 2 and a half hour flight. Things are pretty well under control at the moment and we are thinking about booking a holiday for later this year. My Rheum Consultant has said that flying had no bearing on the onset and there is no reason not to fly again. I'm not too worried, but my husband is understandably very concerned and feels reluctant to risk it (we did have a pretty awful holiday last year).

Does anybody have any thoughts, advice or experience that might help, one way or the other? Any comments would be really appreciated.

With many thanks and I hope to share more with you all in the future.

ELAINE55555

HI Newbie,
My RA started one day after I came back from a flight from Australia. My Ruemmy suggested "it might have been the stress from the flight". Although you would have thought I would have got it on landing in Australia! Having said that, my flight back was very stressful as we were leaving my daughter and her new baby behind in Australia (she is home now). Do you feel stressed on the flight? I am flying again in 2 weeks time on holiday, Ive got the RA now, so it cant be reversed. Like you, its under control at the moment, so I'll just make sure I take plenty meds with me. Get on your flight and enjoy your holiday and try not to stress!

stickywicket

Hello Susiesoo and welcome to the forum. RA is not a very nice diagnosis but I've lived with it for over 50 years and there have been more good times than bad. (The bad were pretty cruddy though ) I'm sure you'll find everyone on here really kind and helpful so fire away with any questions or worries you might have.

As for the plane - I have a son in L.A. who I visit every year and the only flight problems I have are the usual ones of expanding feet. I don't think the flight was what did for your joints though sitting still for all that time might have suddenly set something off. I walk about a lot and drink plenty of water and juice which means more walking to the loo. If you're flying again, why not get airport assistance ie a wheelchair and someone to push it. Standing around in queues is not something your joints need.

Madonna

Hi Susiesoo

Welcome, like yourself I have "lurked" on this forum and never posted until now. I found it took me awhile to come to terms with the diagnosis and not feel like an imposter by actually posting. Its a great place and besides the practical and emotional help its the humour and spirit of the regulars that have really helped and lifted me on bad days.

I'm OA so not much help re: your holiday question but maybe try a shorter trip say Guernsey/Jersey as a taster to build up your and OH's confidence again.
Take care

tillytop

Hello Susiesoo and welcome from me too.

RA is a cunning beastie and seems to vary in the way it manifests itself and the speed at which it happens. If yours had been "rumbling round" for a while it may well have been that sitting in a fairly cramped plane seat for a few hours just gave it the excuse it needed to get going properly :roll: I can't advise on the plane travel side of things - other than to say that moving around regularly during the flight might help prevent you stiffening up too much. I am pleased for you that things are well controlled at the moment and really hope you can manage your holiday.

Tillyxxx

Heather65

Hello Susiesoo,
I cant help you with the flying problem but just wanted to say hi and welcome and hope you find this forum usefull ,
Heather65

Susiesoo

Thank you all for the welcomes and thoughtful comments. I must admit, Madonna, it was reading the regulars' humour and spirit that made me sign up. It's so important to have a sense of humour. Thank you, everyone.

dreamdaisy

Hello to you Susiesoo and Madonna too: the first post is somehow a 'rite of passage' - especially on a forum where everyone appears to be already aquainted - but we all made that first step.

Susie, I don't have RA, mine is another form of inflammatory arthritis plus OA, and I lack the courage to fly anywhere but I need to get to grips with it: if Sticky can last to the States then surely I could get to somewhere in Europe.

Madonnna, please just chip in. Everyone has a voice and experience but if that feels a step too far just say that you are thinking of someone - that can make a deal of difference. Well done on posting tonight, you did OK girl, you hear? DD

hileena111

Hi Susie
Welcome to the forum
I've got OA so sorry not much help to you.....just wanted to say welcome

Love
Hileena

petals

Hi Susie,

If I was you I would definately go on holiday. I have flown several times since being diagnosed with RA including a trip to Australia (22 hrs flying time) my only problem was swollen ankles but I suffered from them before I had RA so no difference there.

We have recently returned from Tenerife and I suffered no harmful affects from the flight, however I did benefit from the warm sunny weather.

As long as you wear your flight socks, move around as much as possible so ask for an aisle seat, drink lots of water and don't forget to take your meds with you in your hand luggage (in case they lose your suit case) you should be fine and probably benefit from a week in a warmer climate.

Good luck, hope you enjoy a lovely holiday.

Petals

skezier

Hi Susie,

Glad you made the jump to join and post I agree and know I am in trouble when my SOH deserts me. Held together with loud music, oxy's and pregabalin now a days

The flight thing.... I might be way off here as been up all night but stress triggers flares and getting to your destination with all the packing etc might inadvertently have caused you stress and that triggered the flare.

The arthritis takes so much off us but this one could honestly 'just' have been triggered by stress.

Don't know about planes.... i kinda chicken and wont go in them :roll:

Nice to met you and I lurked for at least 6 months before having the guts to post...... Bit like flights eh? Total chicken Cris x

Hi Madonna,

Good you decided to join as well and just post where ever you want and you will be welcome on the thread with out fail. Nice to meet you too. x

bubbadog

Hi Susie, I haven't been posting for a while due to personal reasons but slowly getting back, but wanted to say welcome to the forum and my OH & I have used planes to get to our holiday destinations. Due to my using a wheelchair we like to make sure every base is covered to have a nice easy experience and no stresses to our holiday, 1st thing we always make sure is sorted is the disabled assistance at both the departure airport and arrival's airport. You can phone your travel agent to do this but because we have come upon a couple of times where the agent has forgot to do this as of our last holiday! This year we are going to sort this ourselves! And as for the flight, I have small legs so no problems there, as for comfort I as Skezier suffer with swollen ankles so no problem there! But I try and relax listening to music or sleeping.
But if you want a Holiday without flying worries (or you can fly like we are this time) take a cruise! This is what my OH & I have enjoyed doing for many years it's handy if your disabled because you get treated like a Queen/King and your OH doesn't have to worry so much! Worth considering!!

And also welcome to the forum Madonna! Hope you enjoy....

tjt6768

Just wanted to welcome both the newbies..
Hope today is treating you well, our as can be lol
This forum is a great place, I'm sure that you'll both settle in very quickly, we are a friendly bunch..

Best wishes

Susiesoo

Thank you for your comments, thoughts and the lovely welcomes. I think we might start looking at holidays soon. Will let you know if we book anything.

Susie

earthspirit

if you have a severe arthritis then it may be affecting your blood platelet levels, as mine is. they went from totally normal to drastically high and i was advised that i should not fly, even from london to aberdeen, without the levels being reduced. that was the point i was prescribed baby aspirin.

my levels went down and then raised again which is why i was prescribed sufasalazine - sulphur & aspirin.

if you are flying you need to drink plenty and walk around.

nobody wants dvt just to have a holiday.

mine is rheumatoid arthritis and i think the above info only applies to this as opposed to wear and tear arthritis.

normal level of platelets is around 4 - 500 and mine were nearly 1200. not bad enough to get warfarin or any other blood thinning drug but bad enough for me to receive the warning.

dreamdaisy

I cannot help on the flying front as I am unwilling to try, which I realise is silly seeing as how Sticky ( a veteran arthritic) can get from here to the U.S. :oops: I suspect that it is a matter of courage being screwed to the sticking point so maybe it would be good to start with a short (possibly internal) flight, see how that goes, then go to somewhere in Europe, and then truly spread your wings (I know, ghastly pun!) once you know what is what. This is a vey personal thing - you need to establish what is or is not possible for you and we cannot help with that - but we will be here to help you cope with either the fall-out or to celebrate. As for Mr DD and me we're off to the Latitude festival in a swanky camper van - well, that's the plan! DD

valval

mine not got name yet just inflimation arthiritis but try to go away twice a year makes me feel so much better.
but do not over do it before you go, packing, cleaning etc space it all out so you are fit to go. meds in hand luggage a must walk around airport before flight and go to loo on flight keep sipping water and relax val

tjt6768

and one extremely important thing.....
ENJOY YOURSELF

Susiesoo

Hello again and thank you all for comments and welcome.

We are going to look into a trip to Italy. Does anyone know the procedure or availability of help at airports? Do you need to be registered disabled or have some sort of proof of diagnosis? Although standing in queues would not be a good start to a holiday I think I'm not bad enough (at the moment!) to warrant help and would feel a fraud.

Hope you are all having a good day. Susie

stickywicket

You should find all the info you need here. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/travelholidaysandbreaks/gettingthere/dg_4017242

If you've any questions just get back and I'm sure one of us will be able to help. Personally, I never assume they'll have got it right for the return journey. I always ring a day or two in advance to make sure.

Have a good holiday!

Susiesoo

Hi SW - thank you so much for that. I'll have a look and see where I stand. Blooming arthritis! Susie