Travel Tips

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
njbirk
Posts: 1806
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2001 10:09 pm

Travel Tips

Post by njbirk »

We would like to write an article in Outreach about the issues of the challenges and difficulties of travelling with a bpi. (air travel/driving, whatever)

Either post here or send in your story (nancy@ubpn.org) about any travel tips that you have found that has helped you, or any problem that you think needs to be explored.

UBPN Board of Directors
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Travel Tips

Post by Carolyn J »

Ooookay, my 5 favorite/necessary items are:

1- A swooshie pillow or lumbar pillow at the small of my back.
2-A Cell phone
3-Taking a walk to stretch ever 1 &1/2-2 hrs.
4-wearing Depends...LOL... but it saves me every trip!
5-When flying, always ordering a wheel chair/escort, it by-pases long security lines gets you right thru...Always necesary to have Steward/Attendant double check before landing at every stop. Reservations are not always folowed thru altho' written on my ticket!! [Customer Services are Terrible everywhere]

HUGS all around wherever you are,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/69 & counting...;)
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
mommieinneed
Posts: 181
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:19 pm

Re: Travel Tips

Post by mommieinneed »

Im glad you are doing this now. We are leaving for Philly in April, we are driving and any of your tips out there would be greatly appreciated.

Cant wait to read the article. Have fun everyone traveling.
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brandonsmom
Posts: 1401
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:43 pm

Re: Travel Tips

Post by brandonsmom »

When Traveling with a small child
1. A new toy or two to keep child busy.
2. have stroller checked at gate and make sure it is ready for you at the gate when you arrive
3. if having surgery, a note form the Dr. that the splint if any cannot be removed !! (I had this problem in Houston one time)
4. Small easy to eat snacks, they always get hungry when it is inconvenient
5. Travel pillow to prop up the affected arm
6. For smaller children, even if potty trained, wearing a pull up or a change of clothes is a good idea. it is not always east to get them to a restroom when you have a ton of stuff to carry with you !!!
7. Okay don't shoot me, but a bottle of CHEWABLE DRAMAMINE. No my kids don't get motion sick but they get too worked up and too excitable in crowds.
Gayle mom of Brandon 9 1/2 ROBPI !!!!
brookepoague
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:47 pm

Re: Travel Tips

Post by brookepoague »

My son is 8 months old and we have had to travel with him alot. Our first trip was 13 hours in the car so my first travel tip would be to fly!!!

Take a new toy to occupy them and an umbrella stroller was much easier to handle in the airport.
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Tanya in NY
Posts: 935
Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 10:51 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am Mom to Amber, injured at birth. I serve on the Board of Directors for UBPN, and am a labor/delivery nurse, too.
Location: NY State
Contact:

Re: Travel Tips

Post by Tanya in NY »

My experiences are traveling with small children...

-change of clothes is a must (even if your kids are getting older, you never know if something will get spilled on them) and a plastic bag to put dirty clothes in

-gum to chew for the airplane take off and landing

-headphones (one for you and one for them...ha, ha)

-your list of questions for the doctor because by the time you get through the travel process, you'll have forgotten all your questions

-tylenol/motrin for your child and/or you because they may be going through some new OT/PT exercises that make them sore (post-op), they may become sick during travels, or you may feel crummy from sitting for an extended period of time in the car, waiting room, and/or plane and may need some, too

-bring something to drink for your child and yourself and a sippy cup or bottle if your child uses one

-portable DVD player and favorite DVDs for the car trip and hotel stay

-cell phone AND charger

These are the things off the top of my head. We usually travel by car to doctor's appointments. Great idea for an article.

Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 5 years old
Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 13 years old
Kaiden'smom
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:52 pm

Re: Travel Tips

Post by Kaiden'smom »

We just drove to Philly last month from Michigan with a 2 month old.

- Take plenty of cash for all the toll roads.

- Cell phone & charger ( I had so many people that wanted updates on my son)

- Extra clothes & diapers

- Stroller very important!!

- list of questions, I forgot all of mine once I got there

Also request a portable crib at the hotel, saved us a little space in the car.

Oh and take someone to help, my mom went with me, she was a great support, helped drive and remembered a lot of questions I forgot to ask.

They also make a removable pad that you can put in the carseat incase of a blowout - great idea since its not easy to clean a carseat at a rest area. I saw them advertised in the One Step Ahead catalog.

Last thing, don't forget snacks & drinks for in the car, they are not cheap at the rest areas.
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F-Litz
Posts: 970
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 6:53 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, LTBPI at age 6.5, Sensory Issues, CP, Diaphragm Weakness, Aspberger's
Location: Ambler, PA

Re: Travel Tips

Post by F-Litz »

for flying:

when we get on a plane post surgery I inform the attendant that we are post surgery and ask for the following:

pillow
blanket
barf bags
bottle of water

I also pack extra clothes and a bag for clothes (in case she vomits) and wipes

I load her up with pain meds before we fly so that she feels less pain from all the movement and vibration and so hopefuly she sleeps

when she was a baby I planned flights around naps

for landing and ear pain, have them suck on a bottle or chew gum..... you can also ask for two cups and place them over the ears.... when Maia was a baby I purchased special ear cups that you could pour hot water into and then she would have a warmed ear cup.

get a seat near the bathroom

always bring a stroller or ask for a wheelchair (if older and in a big cast/splint and it's heavy)
felicia
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 11:27 pm

Re: Travel Tips

Post by felicia »

We had to run to Target the morning we were being discharged from the hospital +and purchase a booster seat after Olivia's surgery, since she didn't fit in the car seat with the big bulky cast...so this is something to look into before traveling!
Felicia
User avatar
karategirl1kyu
Posts: 363
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:59 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, had surgery when I was 9- they moved muscles and tendons from one side of my arm to the other side. I can lift my arm to about my eye level, can't straigten it all the way and can't completely supinate my wrist.
Location: Richmond, RI

Re: Travel Tips

Post by karategirl1kyu »

One of the main problems with travelling by car with LOBPI is the fact that I can't reach the people in the toll booths, or the drive up ATM. An E-Z pass is the best invention in the world to avoid the embarassment of not being able to reach the toll, and going inside relieves the frustration of ATM's- although the video will be pretty funny. Other than that an arm rest of some sort is always a good thing!
~Mel, 20, LOBPI
~Mel/23/LOBPI
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