To Travel with a Wheelchair or not? see area 3 and area text #4 - Reasons to make you happy ! See text #2 update June 23,2008 - Personal - http://maxpages.com/happymspage/Travel_with_a

Problems you didn't know will happen:
1. Control of bladder and bowels will be one of your greatest challenges.Wear protection.
2. Poor muscular control will show up almost when you least expect it.I have strong arms but some how they loose control suddenly and I drop what I happen to have in my hands at that moment.I dropped or had spillage accidents four times on my last cruise in Dec 2007
3. Turning over in bed is very hard and you will probably need a bed railing to grab.
4. Tremors will happen and its best to be in a private room by your self as there are terrible and could last over an hour.
5. Crying and laughing control is not easy some days.People who don't know much about MS don't realize this sort of thing is almost normal for us.
6. Depression is rampent with all wheelchair users at some times in their lives .In fact you never really are totally free of them.Try a bit more lift you up spirits a borage capsule will do this and there are no calories.
7. Your posture in the chair will keep you working from just falling or sliding out so get a seat belt.
8. Your need for a wheelchair may come on very suddenly or it may be a very gradual process. The sudden supprise is what knocks you for a row. Many MSer have experienced this sudden surprise in less than a month.I did as I was glad we had a ramp built before I needed it. They were totally unprepaired for it. They need a wheelchair quickly but be careful in your selection haste make for bad selection of a wheelchair.You need guidence in selection.You will at the same time need a ramp at home,wider doors and other adjustment for you using a wide wheelchair.But homes are not corrected in a day. Be patient.We now have about 25% of the newer homes have what is called universal construction,which means its a better home for a wheelchair user.
9. Don't let your wheelchair and you become hermits and stay too much at home.It has a tendency to happen depression is common. There percentgage of real travelers is very low who need a wheelchair Its about 5 % that become serious travelers. Don't let the wheelchair blues take its toll on your life.

10. The cushion is actually more important tan the wheelchair itself .Buy the best even if expensive you will be happier with it than saving a few dollars. Don't expect insurance and Medicare to cover you 100% as they are usually cheapscates.

UPDATE Aug.2,2003 If you should run into a problem while traveling with your
wheelchair here is the US government's toll free line to complain about your treatment from
any common carriers.www.airconsumer.ost.gov/hotline or phone them from home
or airport at 1-800-778-4838 You might be surprised how quick the action is
when you call.

Using a borrowed wheelchair is the pits.I couldn't bear them when I was first disabled
and using a cane .Once I got to a mall or some other large store I would use theirs
There are several disavantages with "theirs" Frequently the upstulstry is in bad shape.
You really don't know when they were last cleaned. They rarely fit my body and
there never naturally was a nice gel cushion which would last you nearly all day,and still be comfortable if you stopped for a movie.

It's a rough world for an MSer who is without the real smooth operating equipment.
But with the ease of movement that can be yours travel is a breeze and one you will arrive
well rested because your body isn't struggleing to move a few feet.It's not just a few feet in many cases.If your body gets tired easily you need all the help you can get.
In a place like a airport I don't really enjoy their wheelchairs or the pushers.
First of all they never feel the same as your own chair which is designed for you and has the great cushion .The pusher may be good company and know his or her way about the airport.To me this is really their only value.They will push you in your own chair too.
In an airport which is strange to you they are helpful.But in my native Orlando FL
airport I know it as good as they do.
Then once you arrive at your destination having your own sweet ultra light weight chair is a joy to roll into your hotel,get in and out of a taxi cab,the light weight and ease of wheels being removed is a thing which will make your transportation helpers or drivers also happy.
The joy of being comfortable it what you know is the height of comfort and the ease
of roll is what many never know because they insist on having a old heavy weight which
is a chore to them and a chore to any who might help you.they are hard to transport
in a car,taxi,bus or what ever your conveyance.
We have no choice in our disability but to be as comfortable and happy with great equipment.a good color is now possible with todays' sgreat ultra light weight chairs also
they are an extension of your person.RET

August,9,2007 Even if you are using your wheelchair 95% of the time My doctor
encouriges me to get on the braces and get out the crutches and get yourself
vertical to the floor and do a few slow and maybe even dangerous steps.
When the body not seated things inside you get a chance to get proper blood
supply.
Update 1/13/2008 When we took our last cruise to Hawaii the seas getting there were rough.
Many fellow passengers were a bit jelious of my scooter as i had control going places while the ship even with stabalizers rolled and a few unlucky passengers did actuall fall down.

Jan.8,2001--- My email is telling me that many wheelchair user
are finding travel by Amtrack trains a good way. You can
navigate the aisles and they will if you tell them in advance
put you nearer to the restroom.While the air line will also put you
in the bulkhead if told in advance.The entrance is harder to
navigate.
When we were returning from Australia,there was a woman traveling
by herself in a wheelchair.She didn't have the option I had at that
time of getting to walk a short distance with out my wheelchair.
When the Quantis Air assisted her to the rest room they had a curtain
they put up to cut off eye sight with both the first class and us
in the coach.They had an aisle chair which she used as her's would
not go in what I thought was wide aisle.She told me latter that
it was a struggle to transfer into the restroom from the aisle chair.
Thatis the real trick. Not getting to the door, but transfer.
It may only be two feet but for some it's almost like ten.She had the
assistance of two flight attendants also.
Later when we both had a chance to talk I told her she was daring.
But she being young didn't want to put her life on hold as it would
probably always on hold.I had to admire her spirit. But since that
time I have met other very disabled passengers.All have taught me
many good lessons in courage.

Jan; 7,2001. You wheelers have made our "Wheelchairs Users Only"
one of the most popular pages we have thanks. Now another site
you will enjoy. www.patientcenters.com
then once you get there click on Life on Wheels They have
some info about travel with a wheelchair RET

c.9,2000------- One of the hardest things we have encounted in
travel with a wheelchair but not with a scooter is carrying any
thing as you move.With the scooter you can drive with one hand,
and hold on to some small case with the other. Also the back
of the seat in either case(Wheelchair or Scooter can have a
bag of some size.But the bag has to be removed when you leave the
scooter or wheelchair at the end of the jetway and go into the plane.
This adds to your carry ons.But the airlines have never said anything
to me yet. On sone of the larger planes you are allow to store
your wheelchair,folded in the area between first class and coach.
Make sure you change your batteries at least once evey two years.
RET.

Up date:10-16-2000---- It has amazed me some of the results of a
survey I started involving folks with SPMS and PPMS who are
regular wheelchair user are doing better than many expect them
to do. Many are going places.They have all encouraged me to
not fear the future I know I face with a wheelchair as
a full time device to get about in. It will be me in one
soon.I use one about 80% of the time now.
But these folks get about, one even finished a trip to
New Zealand and Australia, an other was in France and several
other European countries Just this past summer.

This web site might help if you are going to take a cruise.
www.smallshipcruise.com/allwheelboats.html
also look at Holland America, they usually have good wheelchair
accomadation.They just announced that two of their ships
would have a system which handles wheelchairs to tender.
Tendering if you have never been to sea is when a smaller boat
comes along side when the waters of the port are too shallow
to allow the big ship to dock . The little boat takes the
passengers ashore. Getting on one of these tender boats is
always difficult.There are stairs to go down and any wave
action makes it difficult for all let alone any one in a
wheelchair or using crutches. I know I fell several times.
Here is another web site you travelers might find useful
www.wheelerworks.org
There are more questions answered at; www.seflin.org/wheels
Try also www.disabilityproducts.com/travel
and www.wheelchairs.org

Traveling with MS can be easy if you plan in advance. Your comfort
is what you should think of first , and last.
The joy of travel is assured when you scout out the locations we
will visit by asking questions and making phone calls.Many places you
are going to will have web sites to clue you into describe accessiblity.
Thinks to consider are as follows:
1.What assistive devices do I need. most of us if we are honest with
ourselves ,we need a wheelchair for at least part of the trip. That means
if you are like me you walk a bit , but not too far and not too long a
time.You will extend your stamana if you do pamper yourself.
Most airline are very cooperative with wheelchair user.They have to be.
But separate your cushion with you after they put your chair down below.
Borrowed wheelchairs such as in museums will save your legs, but they
usually don't fit me and they come with no cushion.

2.If you normally get by with a cane , just remember a vacation usually
allows for very little rest and you have to be going daily.
I fin that crutches were a necessity even before I started useing them
daily as now. I like the folding or telescoping one sold by Fetterman.

3. If you have a scooter they are nice but, in a foreign land
charging of the batteries may be a problem. I this country or Canada it
isn't. Even if you don't take a wheelchair , get one in the airports.
When you go through costome in a new country, have a wheelchair for sure.
The pushers you get at the airports know their way about and you will
get done sooner.

4.Airports and hotels in Europe will usually be accessible. But even some
of the better ones in South America aren't even one Hyatt we were at in
Mexico.

5.If you are on one of the ABC drugs most hotels will have ice. But we
stayed in a 2 star hotel in London, and while it had a few steps just
to get in, we did get the ground floor and they nicely stored my
wheelchair in the office. But we weren't on a tour and we were trying to
save money and our hotel while nice was half the price of the 4 or 5 star
hotels. The nothern countries are very assesible but the southern nations,
like Italy isn't. The Sistine chapel was and some of the newer builds also.
It must be remembered that the northern countries of Europe, have many
MS people in proportion to general population.
6. The old Castles and cathedrals in UK and to some degree on the continent
are full of steps. If you can walk a short distance with your crutches then
good. But If you are totally in a wheelchair you will miss a few things.
I liked the 25 inch telescoping crutches as they fit nicely on the back of the
wheelchair.
7. Eastern and central Europe is very limited to assessibility, especially
the former communist countries. But Berlin has done the most rebuilding.

8. Australia and New Zealand are very modern, even in Alice Springs. There
was only one place I couldn't do the steps at the glow worm place. Japan
is the beat of the far eastern countries for accessibility.

9. We found the best way to travel in many cities, like London or Paris
is by cab. The London cab is wide enough to allow for a party of three and still
have your wheelchair folded. The red buses( double deck in London and other
british cities are great if you are using crutches , but forget the second
deck.Th subways or tubes are also a great way to get about. many of the main stations
have elevators, and escalators.But if you get off at a smaller station
you may face stairs.

10. If you haven't traveled in in wheelchair have a "shake down tour" some
where in the USA. foreign travel is fun but there are bumps along the way.
I have met several seriously disabled people traveling in wheelchairs
bu them selves, but they have much experience.

11. there are specialized travel groups for just people in wheelchairs,
but they are very expensive.The tours we went on didn't especially
cater to wheelchair people. but the bus drive was always very nice to me
getting my wheelchair in and out of the bus.But I did tip him good at the
end.
12 One of the weardest experiences where they were out to do their best
to accomadate me was on a airplain in Australia. In the out back, where
the other passengers were going up a set of stairs to enter the plane,
they hoisted me with a hydrolic up to the door. it was the same hoist
they used to get the food in the plane. it really was a thrill.
The first time we went to London, a hotel across the street fro the
Victoria and Albert Museum had 8 steps to get into the hotel. I wasn't
doing good enough to get out of the wheelchair. But eventually
the doorman after seeing I couldn't said I could enter on grade through
the kitchen, and I did so for the next 6 days.

Another memorbile timeI was personally taken into theRikes Museum in
Amsterdam via the freight elevator.
The woman at the KLM counter at the airport jumped out from behind the desk
she was at and personally escorted me and pust my chair through costoms.
Once in Atlanta one of the excutives for AirTrans lines personally took
me and wheelchair to the place where I would get a special van to our hotel.
It warms your heart to see such kindness.
Have a nice trip, It really is easy if you plan, but be prepaired for surprizes.
One seasoned travel agent told me she had done a percular palce 20 times
but didn't realize a certain hotel was inaccessible.
Happy wheeling. Don't take tire with air. You could have trouble.

Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner

FL.

Eileen(Lobosgirl) and Richard (RET1000) both at aol.com

Visitors: 06335

Page Updated Sat Jun 6, 2009 12:15pm EDT