Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group 10+ days in a Car going from SC to WA

We will be returning home to the PNW At the end of April...(me doing the Happy dance). We are driving because we have 2 french bull dogs, and they don't fly well (30+ % loss rate in flight, due to flat nose).

Right now we have 14 days scheduled with visits. Driving down was really tuff (only 7 days...honestly I was crippled for weeks after), but that was pre NSD. I will be dilegent about NSD on the road as well, meaning I will be making things and being super careful.

Does anyone have any advise for comfort while being car bound or some ideas for easy food to pack daily, we will have a cooler?

Thanks in advance for your ideas and help with this.

How about having someone knock you out!! Trying to be a little bit funny here.

I just don't think there is anyway I could do that long a card ride. I will be thinking of you.

One of our daughters bought us a small (ice chest size) refrigerator that plugs into the lighter and keeps everything cold. I don't know where she got it but it is a blessing.

Be thinking of you.
Possi

I'm with Possi, have someone knock you out! I just did a 3 day drive to and from Wichita last August and it was horrible. My husband would listen to me though and just wanted to drive as long as possible each day. I would have stopped by 5:00 each day and gotten a room, been able to walk around, eat at a decent time, take a nice bath and relax. That would have been a lot better for me. Be sure you hit the rest stops even just to get out and walk around a bit. Bend over or do some stretching. We did bring a cooler with food and drinks and that helped with our cost but then my husband didn't make as many stop's as I wanted him to. Try stretches in the car as well. Lay your seat back a little and keep changing your positions. Hope that helps some.
So you are coming up here to WA? Be careful, we had some snow and the passes might still be bad and we are expecting another snow storm next week. Safe travels.

ice and/or heat.
for travel i have those old fashioned ice bags that can be filled with ice. the rest of the time i use the gel ice packs.
i bought a heated car seat but haven't had the courage to try it yet, as ice works so well for me traveling to and from work, hate to fix what isn't broken. but others have had good luck with heated car seats.

pillows: neck pillow, lumbar air pillow. something to prop feet up with.


muscle relaxants, pain relievers, anti-inflammatories.

i personally can't do it. when we've had to go long distances, my husband drives and i fly there and he picks me up at the airport.

when we moved back in 2003, it was a 10 hour trip, i did it with ice packs and lots and lots of stops so it took many more hours and then got triggerpoint injections shortly after to help me recover. but that was when i was doing better.

as for food:

tuna in packets, chicken in packets, dried seaweed, dried fruit, dried veggie chips, nuts, yogurt, cheese, natural jerky, applesauce and other fruits in the single serving containers, kale chips, almond butter.....

Peanut M and M's!!! :o)
Possi

I'd always go with a short course of steroids to cover me over that kind of trip. But even then would still make sure that I didn't sit for more than an hour at a time - stopping and getting out and stretching or walking a bit every hour. If you have the dogs thats a great excuse to stop.

For the foods - cold deli meats, cheese portions, fruit, individual serve containers of tuna, salad veges, nuts, dried fruit. Also yoghurt (if I can get plain stuff without the thickeners in). I don't know what its like where you are, but I actually usually don't have too much problem eating no-starch when I am travelling, though I'm really low starch rather than strictly no (i.e. I don't test veges or fruit but just avoid the obviously starchy ones). i find I can usually get a decent sort of salad for lunch, or put together a lunch from some of the things I have mentioned above. For evening meals I just ask for the meat and veges and avoid potatoes, pasta meals, etc. Its actually easier for me as I am used to gluten free and having to avoid wheat based stuff.

Wonderful ideas everyone, Thanks for the help...many minds working together come up with more possibilities and I really appreciate the input.

just finished a 6 day pred taper, only for the second time, and it worked so well, i like cemc's response. so long as not used too often, slowly learning how valuable it can be for emergencies, at least that's what my rheumy believes, and now i think i do as well.