on holiday soon and I'm all swollen up! Any advice please?

charleeh

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me with regard to travelling and arthritis? I am off from the UK to Louisiana in the USA soon.

I have never needed to tell the air port / flight ppl that I am disabled but after my last experience and given my current flare up I think I am going to have to.... does anyone know how I go about this? Do I just tell them I am having mobility issues as I am disabled when I check in??? .... then how can they help???

Me and my husband do travel a lot (as often as we can afford to lol) and I had never had any issue until my last trip abroad. We went to Cyprus and on the way back my knees had swollen badly, I had to climb a huge flight of stairs to board the plane - it nearly killed me. I didn't know what I had to do to let them know and to be honest, I wasn't expecting to have to climb stairs.

Any advice will be much appreciated!!

Thanks!!!

p.s I am having IV steroids before I go with the hope of being able to get about!!!

best wishes
Charleeh

freesia

Hi there...

You need to contact the travel agents or airline 'ASAP' and book in for "assisted travel"...
Most airports offer this service for disabled people, you will need to state if you can or cannot make it up the stairs to the plane, as they 'may' need to make arrangments for a lift device... The sooner you can arrange this the better...

ALSO, please make sure you are fully covered on your travel insurance.

Good Luck & enjoy your holiday...

As5567

charleeh wrote:

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me with regard to travelling and arthritis? I am off from the UK to Louisiana in the USA soon.

I have never needed to tell the air port / flight ppl that I am disabled but after my last experience and given my current flare up I think I am going to have to.... does anyone know how I go about this? Do I just tell them I am having mobility issues as I am disabled when I check in??? .... then how can they help???

Me and my husband do travel a lot (as often as we can afford to lol) and I had never had any issue until my last trip abroad. We went to Cyprus and on the way back my knees had swollen badly, I had to climb a huge flight of stairs to board the plane - it nearly killed me. I didn't know what I had to do to let them know and to be honest, I wasn't expecting to have to climb stairs.

Any advice will be much appreciated!!

Thanks!!!

p.s I am having IV steroids before I go with the hope of being able to get about!!!

best wishes
Charleeh

I often travel to America on 10 hour flights and usually pre arrange a few things to make life easy for me while in the airports. Firstly I always request a disabled seat on the plane with the airline. They will give you a "premium" economy/extra leg room seat on most airlines free of charge, but be sure to bring proof that you have arthritis. (I normally just carry my blue badge) I also request a wheel chair at the other end. I find that having a wheel chair service when I arrive helps me a lot, the walk from the plane to customs/baggage can be quite long in some airports and the waiting time in line can also take some time. I find that after a flight if I don't have the wheel chair support in the airport that I'm in some extra pain the next few days. To arrange all of this I usually just let my airline know at the time of booking and then it's done. It's also worth a mention that if you need to take any medication that needs to be kept cool such as injections to the airline as they will also arrange for storage in flight for that. I have always had trouble taking ice packs on board flights to America due to the liquid restrictions.

bubbadog

I travel a lot, and have travelled to many different countries. I have Osteoporosis and Arthur, I'm 40yrs old on Thursday . I have to use a wheelchair outside & walking crutches inside. When I go on holiday I use my wheelchair, as the others have said you need to ring the travel agent to sort out assistance at the airports (both) and the airplane your traveling on, seating to suit you. Booking a disabled adapted room. You need to think about you, your partner & any kids you have, how to make the holiday stress free and enjoyable for all, how your disability will effect the holiday, how to make it easier on everyone for example: would it make it easier using a wheelchair? You need to sit down and ask yourself a lot of questions and make sure every area of the holiday is covered. Good luck and I hope this will help you.

charleeh

Thanks everyone!!

I will ring the travel company tomorrow and the airline/airport.

I am covered for insurance for my disability, I always cover myself through allclear . com as they are designed especially for disabled persons and its easy to declare your condition without having to ring around call centres.

Managed to get myself booked in for 2 IV steroids before I go and I have ordered some of them velcro slippers so i can get some shoes on!!!!

Again, Thanks everyone!!!

Best Wishes
Charleeh

As5567

charleeh wrote:

Thanks everyone!!

I will ring the travel company tomorrow and the airline/airport.

I am covered for insurance for my disability, I always cover myself through allclear . com as they are designed especially for disabled persons and its easy to declare your condition without having to ring around call centres.

Managed to get myself booked in for 2 IV steroids before I go and I have ordered some of them velcro slippers so i can get some shoes on!!!!

Again, Thanks everyone!!!

Best Wishes
Charleeh

Good news about the IV steroids, they should sort you out in time for your holiday. I have just finished a weeks long course and feel the best I have done in years! Just remember to drink lots of fluids for a week or two after to avoid too much water build up in legs/ankles (Thats if you get that side effect)