Before being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Cynthia Toussaint traveled the world by plane, train and automobile to feed her wanderlust.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was something I\u2019d loved since I was a child,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
But when she developed symptoms of fibromyalgia more than two decades ago, travel became almost unbearable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of my fibromyalgia, travel represented pain, stress, fear, exhaustion and dread,\u201d Toussaint recalls. She stopped all unnecessary travel and avoided vacations and weekend getaways for nearly a decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly believed I\u2019d never be able to travel again,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Today, with a doctor\u2019s guidance and some modifications to her travel routine, Toussaint is back on the move.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many ways women with fibromyalgia pain can stay comfortable \u2013 or at least minimize symptoms \u2013 when they travel,\u201d says Howard Schubiner, M.D., a fibromyalgia researcher at Providence Hospital and clinical professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Mich.<\/p>\n
Here are 11 tips to help you beat fibromyalgia fatigue, pain and stress when you\u2019re traveling.<\/p>\n
1. Chill out.
Relaxation techniques can minimize fibromyalgia pain, Schubiner says.<\/p>\n
\u201cStress triggers symptoms,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt wears you out physically, adds to your fatigue and makes you tense, which aggravates already aching body parts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Create a playlist of relaxing music to listen to in the car, plane or train. That keeps your mind from thinking about your fibromyalgia symptoms and worrying they might flare up, Schubiner says.<\/p>\n
Focus on the music and let it soothe your mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you relax, you may be able to reduce some of the inflammation that causes pain,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
2. Dress the part.
Pack comfortable outfits to wear during your trip, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., best-selling author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery Penguin). That means workout clothes or anything else that’s cozy and soft.<\/p>\n
Stay away from tight or constricting clothes and anything with zippers or buttons that press against your skin when sitting for several hours.<\/p>\n
What about dinners out or special occasions?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine to bring a few things that might not be fibromyalgia-friendly for those times when you\u2019re feeling great,\u201d Teitelbaum says.<\/p>\n
3. Stay warm.
The temperature on planes and trains can drop unexpectedly.<\/p>\n
Feeling cold leads to shivering, which can exacerbate fibromyalgia pain.<\/p>\n
To stay comfortable, pack a small, lightweight blanket or expandable scarf. And wear layers to help you adjust to temperature changes.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget a pair of travel slippers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can slip off your shoes to be comfortable, [and] your feet will stay warm,\u201d Teitelbaum says.<\/p>\n
4. Travel light.
Bring clothes that match so you can lug around less, says professional organizer Lea Schneider, owner of Organize Right Now, LLC, and author of Growing Up Organized: A Mom-to-Mom Guide (CreateSpace).<\/p>\n
And shed excess weight from your bags using Schneider\u2019s top tips:<\/p>\n
* Transfer products into smaller containers.<\/p>\n
* Buy suitcases with wheels and padded handles that collapse for easy storage.<\/p>\n
* Replace your purse with a fanny pack, which is smaller so it forces you to carry around less stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever possible, check your bags instead of carrying them on a plane,\u201d Teitelbaum adds. You\u2019ll have more room for your feet below the seat in front of you and won\u2019t have to lift your luggage to put it up in an overhead bin.<\/p>\n
5. Sleep well.
Getting enough rest is crucial to managing symptoms. \u201cLack of sleep increases fibromyalgia fatigue,\u201d Teitelbaum says. And that will make it harder to enjoy your vacation.<\/p>\n
Plan ahead by finding out what kind of bed you\u2019ll be sleeping in.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re staying with friends or family, don\u2019t be shy about asking for the most comfortable bed available, Schubiner says.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re staying in a hotel or taking a cruise, consider spending more on a room with a high-quality bed. (Some hotels tout rooms with \u201cheavenly beds.\u201d)<\/p>\n
\u201cThose can be more soothing to sore joints than an economy mattress,\u201d Schubiner says.<\/p>\n
Also, packing your favorite pillow can be the key to a good night\u2019s sleep. It reduces your chances of waking up with an aching neck. And it \u201crelieves the stress of wondering if you\u2019ll be able to sleep,\u201d Schubiner says.<\/p>\n
When Toussaint travels now, she brings a small travel pillow in the car and on planes. It helps her catch a cat nap and arrive at her destination feeling refreshed.<\/p>\n
6. Keep moving.
Staying physically active will help you manage fibromyalgia pain and prevent stiffness, Teitelbaum says. But it can be hard to maintain an exercise routine when you\u2019re traveling.<\/p>\n
Look for a hotel with a complimentary workout facility and pool so you can exercise without cost or much effort.<\/p>\n
And pack a yoga mat to do some relaxation and stretching poses in your room. It\u2019s a simple way to stay active and ease symptoms that may flare up on the road, adds Teitelbaum.<\/p>\n
(For step-by-step instructions on 5 easy exercises designed for people with fibromyalgia, read Need Fibromyalgia Pain Relief? Try Yoga.)<\/p>\n
7. Listen to your body.
Even if the kids are begging to go on one more ride or your friends are dying to hit one more boutique, pay attention to your body\u2019s signals.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know when you\u2019ve had enough and need to take a break,\u201d Schubiner says. \u201cWhen you feel too tired or sore to continue on, stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
8. Schedule downtime.
Include frequent rest periods in your vacation schedule to keep fibromyalgia fatigue at bay.<\/p>\n
Before your trip, tell the people you\u2019re traveling with about your planned rest breaks. Let them know you may not be up to doing everything you have planned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you tell your travel mates what you\u2019ll need to manage stress and fatigue, you can take care of yourself without worrying that you\u2019re a burden,\u201d says Tina Tessina, Ph.D., a psychotherapist in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
You can also modify plans to stay involved, says Tessina. \u201cYou\u2019ll still feel like a part of the action if you sit on a nearby bench and watch the kids on a ride.\u201d<\/p>\n
9. Pack smart snacks.
Snacking on protein-packed foods \u2013 a handful of nuts, a cup of yogurt, or half a peanut-butter sandwich on whole-grain bread \u2013 will rev you up and help you get through a long day of travel.<\/p>\n
Protein is important to every cell in the body.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour body uses protein to build and repair tissue. It\u2019s also one of the biggest sources of energy in your body,\u201d says Evangeline Lausier, M.D., assistant clinical professor in medicine and director of clinical service at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C.<\/p>\n
Protein-rich snacks are a much better choice than sugary foods, which cause drastic spikes and then dips in your blood sugar that contribute to fibromyalgia fatigue. \u201cThose dips can leave you feeling extra sluggish,\u201d Lausier says.<\/p>\n
10. Break up drive time.
When traveling by car, schedule a stop every 1-2 hours to stretch stiff muscles and joints.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting out of the car for as little as five minutes promotes proper circulation to your joints and limbs to reduce stiffness,\u201d Schubiner says.<\/p>\n
Here are more tips for warding off fibromyalgia pain when you\u2019re in the car:<\/p>\n
* Share driving responsibilities to combat muscle fatigue.<\/p>\n
* Install wide-angle side and rear-view mirrors to avoid twisting around to see behind you.<\/p>\n
* Use a padded steering-wheel cover to soothe tired hands and aching wrists.<\/p>\n
* Charge your GPS for times when fibro fog is setting in and it\u2019s hard to navigate unfamiliar roads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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View post: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Is fibromyalgia turning you from a globetrotter into a reluctant homebody? Having this disorder doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re forced to give up vacations and weekend getaways. Packing right, making time to relax and listening to your body will help you limit fibromyalgia pain and put you on the road to a fabulous, flare-free trip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":399022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-399021","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-news"},"yoast_head":"\n