COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Reading Rosie post about a coach prompt this lenghty thesis, lol. Once started couldn't stop. Please just ignore it if it doesn't apply to you, it is very relavant to me. Any other tips about traveling are encouraged. I don't want to give up traveling.
When I travel I have incorporated as system of packing ahead of time (short or long trips doesn't matter- just more clothes in the bag on a long trip). I learned to do this after traveling a lot last year and being absolutely worn out before I got to the car to go.
FIRST THING I DO IS WRITE A LIST THEN I CHECK IT OFF ALONG THE WAY.
Then a bag or suitcase is placed and sitting open on the living room floor several days ahead of time. Over the next few days my bag is packed and settiing by the exit door no later then the night before departure (usually sooner). It includes an extra set of toiletries, makeup (if I take any) and medication (I have a plastic bag that includes all of these things so I just throw it in). The clothes/stuff I'm taking with me, including battery chargers (laptop, O2 concentrator, scooter, camera, phone, ect). are packed. Everything gets a full charge and is ready to go. I have put each of the chargers in a zipup bag so their cords aren't everywhere. They live in the bags now so I just throw in the bags. My bag is usually very heavy due to the dang battery chargers.
I set the clothes I'm going to wear in the bathroom and do all my getting ready to go there.
I gave my purses away and now use pockets only. I hang my coat on the exit door with my emergency inhaler (usually carry one in my pant pocket also), oximeter, phone, money/credit cards, kleenez and whatever else I might want. Passport if needed, O2 permission letter from doctor if flying, airline, train, bus tickets all goes in the coat pocket. An extra carry bag for misc and laptop. The O2 concentrator is sitting there by the exit door along with my scooter and it's stuff.
The dog brings on another challenge with carry bag, proof of vacinations (if necessary), food, leashes ect. She either goes to doggie care or with me. If she goes to doggy care I usually take her over the night before.
The goal is on departure day all I have to do is go to the bathroom and get ready to go. Walk to the door put on my coat. Have my daughter or cab driver get my bags and go. I find even after all that preparation something happens that causes SOB episode/s somewhere, lol.
It doesn't look like it but it is a HUGE JOB. When I break it down like that I can see why we are to exhausted when we try to do it all the day we go even for an overnighter. I find breaking it down over several days makes it so much easier. I've tried just packing an extra bag just ready to go but that never worked, kept getting into it, the wrong things were always there and something important left behind. COPD has turned me into a trip organizer.
When I travel I have incorporated as system of packing ahead of time (short or long trips doesn't matter- just more clothes in the bag on a long trip). I learned to do this after traveling a lot last year and being absolutely worn out before I got to the car to go.
FIRST THING I DO IS WRITE A LIST THEN I CHECK IT OFF ALONG THE WAY.
Then a bag or suitcase is placed and sitting open on the living room floor several days ahead of time. Over the next few days my bag is packed and settiing by the exit door no later then the night before departure (usually sooner). It includes an extra set of toiletries, makeup (if I take any) and medication (I have a plastic bag that includes all of these things so I just throw it in). The clothes/stuff I'm taking with me, including battery chargers (laptop, O2 concentrator, scooter, camera, phone, ect). are packed. Everything gets a full charge and is ready to go. I have put each of the chargers in a zipup bag so their cords aren't everywhere. They live in the bags now so I just throw in the bags. My bag is usually very heavy due to the dang battery chargers.
I set the clothes I'm going to wear in the bathroom and do all my getting ready to go there.
I gave my purses away and now use pockets only. I hang my coat on the exit door with my emergency inhaler (usually carry one in my pant pocket also), oximeter, phone, money/credit cards, kleenez and whatever else I might want. Passport if needed, O2 permission letter from doctor if flying, airline, train, bus tickets all goes in the coat pocket. An extra carry bag for misc and laptop. The O2 concentrator is sitting there by the exit door along with my scooter and it's stuff.
The dog brings on another challenge with carry bag, proof of vacinations (if necessary), food, leashes ect. She either goes to doggie care or with me. If she goes to doggy care I usually take her over the night before.
The goal is on departure day all I have to do is go to the bathroom and get ready to go. Walk to the door put on my coat. Have my daughter or cab driver get my bags and go. I find even after all that preparation something happens that causes SOB episode/s somewhere, lol.
It doesn't look like it but it is a HUGE JOB. When I break it down like that I can see why we are to exhausted when we try to do it all the day we go even for an overnighter. I find breaking it down over several days makes it so much easier. I've tried just packing an extra bag just ready to go but that never worked, kept getting into it, the wrong things were always there and something important left behind. COPD has turned me into a trip organizer.
(but it does sound like a good plan :):)
By the time I would do all the organizing and prep that you do I would have to take a weeks vacation to rest up for the initial travel.
Keep rolling dear.See all the sites for me and send postcards.