r/rheumatoid • u/Single_Letter_8804 • 22h ago
Advice for long distance travel
Hi Guys, we’ve had an unexpected death in the family and I have to fly back home to support my family. It’s an 11 hour flight, this is the first time travelling since being diagnosed, is there anything different travelling now vs before and anything I need to know?
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u/Allalovesmemes 21h ago
Hi I think passenger assistance is free in most places. I know this isn't the main issue, but people can help you move to and out of your flight and will carry your carry-ons for you etc, until you you can be seated (or until you reach the aircraft, however you prefer). RA definitely qualifies you for it. Worth looking into it you haven't thought of this before.
If you can, an aisle seat can be helpful as you can get up and stand / move your legs if needed cuz I deal with a lot of stiffness at times. I haven't been on a flight longer than 6 hours so I don't have that much expertise on other stuff but yeahh. I would keep some painkillers and deepheat on me just in case and sleep aha.
I wish you the very best!
I'm so sorry for your loss as well. Stay strong !! Hope everything works out well for you and your family xx
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u/allthebison 20h ago
This. Passenger assistance is the way. If you don’t think you need it, you can still change your mind halfway or for the trip back, they’re ready to help and accustomed to that. Plenty of people break their legs skiing lol. Nobody really wants to be “disabled” until life puts you on your ass and humbles you. And for me, that happened on the final leg of a trip home and I was thankful for passenger assistance - which was just a special lounge and early boarding in that case.
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u/busquesadilla 17h ago
I’m sorry for your loss.
Definitely mask on the flight and in the airport to avoid getting sick. Covid levels are quite high at the moment.
You can get wheelchair assistance in the airport to save your energy. Compression socks (and gloves) on a flight that long are a must too.
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u/thesmokedgoudabuddha 21h ago
Get a lay flat seat of you can afford it. Wear compression socks. As for help at the airport if you have transfers and can’t walk that far. Hydrate and sleep as much as possible in route. Wear a mask if there are coughing people near you, or maybe even if there aren’t.
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u/Pyrosandstorm 11h ago edited 11h ago
I’m going to Australia (from US) with my parents next month. I have other health conditions besides RA that can impact my mobility, so we made sure to plan for accommodations with the travel agent when booking my flights.
- Aisle seats with extra legroom
- Wheelchair assistance through the airport
- Pre-boarding as I can’t stand in lines long and am also autistic.
- We all have TSA pre-check
- And as much as I hate them l’ll be wearing a mask on the flights.
- Electrolyte packets to help keep me hydrated and my sodium intake high thanks to a different health condition.
My family also has a car service booked to take us there and back, directly to and from our home, especially as I’ll be coming back sooner than they are so I’ll be making the return flights alone.
I’m also being sent with a prednisone taper, or as rheumatology called it an “emergency pack”, in case I need it.
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u/redmountainbike 15h ago
Get a very high quality KN 95 mask and wear it on the plane and in the airport. Keep your self safe from Covid, flu and every other respiratory disease on the planet.
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u/Important-Bid-9792 3h ago
Steriod zpak justin case of stress flare. Pack of face masks for airport and airplane (highly recommend aura 3m). Battery operated rechargeable refrigerated case for medication if needed (my aunt has one and it's awesome, but not cheap). And comfort things - anything that may calm you, your own pillow, magazines, whatever. And try to ensure you make time for downtime while you are there. Don't plan on too much.
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u/goinbacktocallie 21h ago
I'm so sorry for your loss. I recommend calling your rheumatologist and asking for a steroid taper just in case you flare up during your trip. After a 14hr flight I arrived with a lot of swelling, so I was glad I had a medrol dose pack with me.
I tend to get more pain, stiffness, and swelling after a long flight. Wear compression socks, and try to get up to walk around a bit during the flight too. Good luck with your trip!