Planning a holiday (tips and advice for travellers with Persistent Pain, Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS)

Does the very thought of planning a holiday leave you feeling exhausted?

The thought of a long journey and sleeping in a different bed is enough to raise your anxiety levels before you even consider the expectations of yourself or others regarding what you will actually do whilst on holiday.

Isn’t it supposed to be pleasurable or at the very least somewhat relaxing?

The following advice , all supplied by our clients, might help.

Driving:

Whether you are driving or travelling as a passenger, plan the route to include regular breaks. This may be 5 minutes just to get out of the car and have a good stretch or longer to take a proper rest.

If you are a passenger consider using an eye mask and earplugs to block out noise, light and movement.

Train:

Travelling by train may feel easier as you can sit back and relax and get up to stretch whenever you want to. However, carrying luggage and walking between platforms can be a problem. Think about arranging special assistance to help. Check out the following website for more information.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/disabled_passengers.aspx

Please note a health problem does not have to be visible for a passenger to ask for special assistance.

Plane:

Travelling by air can present a number of difficulties. There is often a lot of standing in queues and long distances to walk between the departure lounge and the boarding gate. Special assistance can help. However this does seem to vary between airlines and airports so make sure you research this well before you set off. The following website will give you some ideas about what is available.

www.easyjet.com/en/boarding-and-flying/special-assistance

It is important to book this in advance, the airlines tend to say at least 48 hours but several of our clients have suggested you do this at the time of booking.

Try to book flights that do not mean getting up at 5am!! These may be a bit more expensive but messing up your sleep pattern may not give you the best start…

Mobility aids:

Even if you don’t normally use a wheelchair or mobility scooter think about hiring or borrowing one for a holiday. Participating in an outing may be possible if you can eliminate the need to walk as far.

Holiday accommodation:

Think carefully about the type of accommodation/holiday that will best suit you and communicate this with your fellow travellers.

An all-inclusive resort or a cruise may be the answer for some with no worries regarding catering, entertainment and activities to amuse other members of your group whilst you take a break. However the sensory overload may be difficult to cope with and is worth considering.

A quiet villa/cottage away from the main hustle and bustle may feel like the best option but travel may be more difficult.

If you are going in a large group try to arrange your own room, a place to escape and rest if needed.

The holiday itself

Discuss holiday plans with the whole group. Look at what is realistic and try to prioritise which activities are the most important for you to participate in. Don’t overdo it on the first day and end up in bed for the rest of the week.

If possible try to stick to the sleep pattern and daytime routine that you follow at home.

In summary-

PLAN well,

PREPARE everything in advance,

PACE yourself throughout the holiday,

PRIORITISE the activities you really want to do and it should be a more PLEASURABLE experience.

Written by Beverly Knops, Expert Clinician in Fatigue and Pain.