How is PMR affected by long haul flights?

Let's hope by February of next year your PMR will be long gone, if not, however, 

stress for me is the number one problem which creates tension in my body.  My second problem is fatigue.  We need to find a way to deal with stress appropriately

which  reduces fatigue somewhat.   Thought of travelling to NZ by ship?  it's quite

relaxing  and reduces the flying time.   NZ is very beautiful, hope you get to

enjoy it.  

My wife and I decided we would take an 18 day cruise from Hawaii to Australia because we like cruising and my wife can not sleep on planes. I developed PMR during the trip just after leaving Tahiti, I then started experiencing GCA vision loss 14 days later in OZ. We will make the trip again next year but this time we will take the 14 hour air flight. Why put up with the possibility of picking up something on the ship that might ruin you trip. Have you read the stories about some of the problems on cruise ships. I would rather suffer for 14 hrs and take a chance with 300 people that 18 days with 3000.

the other problem was travel insurance. Make sure that one tour company charters the whole trip. We had a cruise ship provider and then a tour provider. Handling the insurance problems this caused took 6 months. We had to submit to Medicare, my supplementary insurance, the cruise provider and then the tour provider. The multiple submissions required many hours of phone calls and multiple form submissions.

Furthermore, make sure that you have enough pred. Talk to your Dr. About what type of dose you should take if you relapse. My physician will not allow a taper one month before a trip. He also says that if a relapse occurs, I should not take more tham xxxmg of pred. He states that I should not have any problems traveling.

I was diagnosed 11 years ago with pmr and gca. I was put on 20  g which was too low for gca. The day after I flew from Sweden to Minneapolis with a transfer in Amsterdam. It must have been about 10-11 hours flights. I think I tried to spread out the dosis due to the 8 hour time difference so I think I took an extra dose of 1/3 x 20 that is appr 7  mg  extra in my case. I didn't have any pain before starting with pred and didn't therefore feel any difference. When I got to Minneapolis I took the regular dose following the new time rhytm. Also on the way back - it was a flight starting from the West coast and therefore appr 2-3 hours longer, I did the same -maybe 8 mg extra to be able to follow the time rhytm when coming back. For me this worked well. The flight in itself was no problem for me. Good luck

Ragnar

My wife and I cruised for two weeks in March and had a very pleasurable trip. The precautions we took were not to use the stairs as we usually do. I could not drink or vigeriously exercise as we usually do. I stayed out of the swimming pool because waves caused balance problems.  I saved most of my strength for dancing and shows. You have to pick where you spend your energy. Listen to your body.

Finally, I take my pred in the morning after my stretching routine in the gym. I also take two asprin in the evening just before bed. It takes away any muscle aches and pain. Talk to you Dr. Before taking asprin.

Maybe I should add that I have been free from pred since December 2008 so you don't think I still have pmr and g a

I guess it was too early when I wrote my answer. When I flew back from the USA I lost 10 hours so I had to reduce the dosis. I probably took the morning dosis in the USA and then a reduced morning dosis when reaching Sweden. Now I think I have got it right.

yes i go to usa and im worse but never knew i had pmr untill 4 weeks ago so i now no why i feel loke i do ,