I hope you can find a way to go, Judith. Such a lovely area. You certainly have a full plate for a healthy person, let alone someone suffering from AD as you do. Is sleeping in the car on the way a possibility for you? Let us hear if you get to go.

Good luck. Was just there about six weeks ago visiting my brother in Marblehead. We spent one day in Salem. Great exhibit at the art museum in Salem - a beautiful home from China that was disassembled there, transported to MA, and rebuilt on the grounds of the museum. Are the leaves still colorful there? Our fall colors are past-peak here.

Thanks, Alabama and Ridgewalker! I hope it will all work out...I feel like such a wimp for worrying, but on the other hand, it could be rough if I'm not well.
Alabama, good idea, napping on the way up! We'll see how that goes. :)
Ridgewalker, our leaves seem slow in changing, this year (Connecticut), but I'm pretty sure there will still be some color in MA. Wow, you got yours early...must be the higher elevation?
I'll look out for that Chinese house and the museum; it sounds interesting!
Judith xo

judith,

i will SLAP you. you are not a wimp for worrying! don't ever say that again. got it? okaygoodthanks. =)

that's a long day trip in the first place, 300 miles! that's about how long of a drive it is to see my fam in MI, and it's a tough drive on me these days - whereas i used to just hop in the car, slap in a CD and sing all the way there. now? i have to pray that i can be there when i hope to be, although usually the date gets pushed back ... and back ... and back, and now my family never believes that i'm coming home until they see either the whites of my eyes or my huge head of curls. hah.

back to my point, however: that's a l-o-n-g drive, let alone all the walking and site-seeing after it! so don't be down on yourself for being anxious about it - but, if you *can* help it at all, try not to be, because it only takes away from what energy you *do* have. it does to me, at least.

here's my advice, that you aren't asking for, for what it's worth:
a few days before the trip, start taking some extra cortef. kind of build up your system, you know? i know you said extra meds don't help, but they *might* if you try it this way? on top of that, drug yourself to sleep early for the same few days ... this way you're doing better on sleep. you'll have at least five hours in the car, so you might even want to consider taking something that will help you to sleep there, too. i've done this, with a xanax, and slept like a baby throughout the ride ... you just wake up, and boom(!) fun is at your door.

sorry, i know you didn't really want advice. you know me, i can never shut up. i just had those few thoughts, though, and if anything, they might help (wouldn't that be something?). nomatter what, though, i think you should throw caution to the wind, go on the trip, and have a great time ... you deserve it! and most importantly, tell us all about it when you get back.

xoxo, misa

ps: love this pic w/you in the yellow - you look great!

xo, misa

I think it will be worth the trip...I am going up from memphis the end of October. Salem is the best place in October. I believe the museum is the Peabody Essex . I travel all the time...(I'm off to Maui in a few hours) I just take lots of medicine with me and rest if I have too. I get sort of "off' days ...kind of dizzy..but I don't think it is the addisons. I was skttish about travelling when I was first diagnosed two years ago...but this month is a marathon for me..litterally, every week off with my husband. I'm a new empty -nester so I live the freedom. I keep my frame of mind to "why not"...rather than question if I should go. I exercise every morning and that helps me get off to a positive start and boost my immune system. I never leave the gym wishing I hadn't joined a class. I find group fitness is the most fun. I work out with ladies in their 70's and 80's with parkinsons, diabetes arthritis...and they are my inspiration. One doctor told me re: Addisons...just take your medicine and live a normal life...and that is exactly what I do. You can do it!

I agree with misababy - I always up my meds at least 3 days before a trip. That way you can feel better ahead of time. Let your friend know you can't walk as far as you could before. Let them know that you will need to take coffee breaks to sit for an hour or so and get your strength back. That is what my friend and my sister put up with when we travel. There coffee places everywhere...lol. And if you need to you can stay at the coffee place while your daughter and friend do more sight seeing than you do if need be. That is just part of having Addisson's. But make sure you meet your needs on this trip too. And have fun.

All of your supportive words, are making me think I WILL take the plunge! You all have good advice (the advice is fine, Misa! ;)) and I will up the meds a bit, before. Lynn, I was thinking the same thing, about making rest stops, and if need be, letting the gals do some prowling if I'm not up to it.
Nancy, you're fortunate to be traveling and living life to the fullest. I'm just not able to do that much, though sometimes I'm better than others. This particular season I've been extremely run-down, probably from allergies, and not enough sleep. Even food shopping and cooking are difficult for me, so that's why I'm hoping this one day won't be a sick day. Fingers crossed, and Yes, I have heard of that Peabody Museum...glad you're getting up there, as well!
All I can say is, I have such a warm feeling...you guys are the best! I'm addicted to facebook, and I love my friends there, but you know, they don't understand what Addison's is, and it's a bit more shallow.
Thanks Misa and Lynn, flattery will get you everywhere (goldish top) =D
Hugs to all!
Judith

hooray!

now you just have to take the trip, have a BLAST, and tell us all about it.

=)

xo, misa