Busy Busy Busy

The last few days have been crazy. It seems like the holiday season is crazy, and only getting crazier each year. The funny part is that Martin and I are going away this year, so we're not really getting tons of gifts and it's still crazy busy.

Where are we going you ask? Well, we don't know yet. Haha!! We always, as a rule, travel last minute since I tend to get sick last minute. So we wait until a few days before, and since there is no shortage of places we can go, and due to the wonderful world of the Internet, booking often can be done within 20 minutes. We are planning to leave next Sunday the 21st and be back in a week, on the 28th. Oh...the bliss. A beach, some salt water, some sun....I am in heaven.

This leads me (travel that is) to some interesting points with respect to travelling with a CF patient. I think of it now, and I write about it now, since every time I mention a vacation, Martin has that terrified look on his face. Why? Well, to date, we have never had a non eventful holiday when it comes to my CF. Not because I get sick, that has never been a problem, (in fact I usually do well in the sun and surf) but as a result of things only a person who travels with a pharmacy can understand.

Yes, the fact is that I travel with a pharmacy. It's something I'm used to at home, it's not something that I think about, how much medication I am actually on. But when I am travelling, it gets to the point that I have to REALLY want to go somewhere to go through the hassle. Let me elaborate, as to paint a picture for you.

Our travels start with my packing for the trip. A normal person packs a few essentials for a week of fun in the sun, may be some sunscreen and a bikini. My packing starts with my meds. And oh how much fun that is. I start with pills, they are the easiest. I take 8 different kinds, about 12 a day, about 32 when you count enzymes. Then inhaled meds, like puffers, which there are 4 of. Then the nebulized meds, many tiny little viles and some larger ones of liquid that I breathe in with the help of a nebulizer and masks, 2 times a day. Then my 'refrigerated' meds, that I have to keep in a small cooler since they need to be cold. Those I leave in the fridge until the last minute. Then my insulin (2 kinds) and my pens, diabetic testing supplies, extra needles, and an extra pen for my carry on. Lastly I pack my supplements and herbal drugs that help me with the side effects of my regular drugs. Ahh, see what I mean!! Once that is all squared away, and I am sure that I am not missing anything, I get to the big stuff. I pack 2 masks for my nebulizer and some extra tubing (just in case) since I know I cannot get this stuff if need-be in many places in the world. Then of course I pack my nebulizer which is a pretty small machine, but still pretty heavy, so I need to check my bag, and the percussor, slightly larger and more heavy. Of course I am always stressed that I forget something, or that I did not count right, so I pack extras, and then extras for the extras. It gets silly really.

After the packing is over, I feel like I need a vacation more than ever!! Next is the actual booking. I make sure that I can get oxygen on the flight, as it helps me to stay saturated and makes the flight that much more pleasant. Now I do not desaturate on land, and in fact I don't think I really desaturate to an unsafe level in the air, but I know that this ads a little bit of security for me. Once that is done, I make sure that I have all the proper documentation from my doctors regarding what crazy things I need to take with my on the plane, like diabetic needles and insulin. I also get a note from my clinic regarding ways to contact OHIP if I am in desperate medical attention over seas. Now I have never felt this was necessary, but it is something I cannot risk. For me an extra day with an infection might mean life or death, so having the proper contacts and documentation is crucial.

So, now we are ready to go. We call the airport limo, we get ourselves to the airport and all seems fine. I usually don't have too much issues with the flight itself. Though by the time that we get to where we are going, I am usually quite tired, and in need of a mask to get my breathing back after the flight. After about a day of recuperating from the flight, I am ready to go. Packing for the return home, is much nicer!!

And then, my favourite thing, electricity issues!! Always power issues, since both my nebulizer and the percussor take quite a bit of power to run, and thus we always run into electricity issues. It seems like no matter how hard we prepare and research and prepare some more, there are always issues. They send me into a panic of, "what are we going to do" since I can last about a day or two before not having my inhalations will result in my being sent away to the hospital, not to mention that I feel winded and tight chested within 6 hours of doing a mask. Scary stuff. And of course nothing any one wants to deal with on a vacation.

So there is my rant, my vent, my disdain with travelling with a chronic illness. It's not all stress and confusion of course. Once everything is sorted out and planned ahead, we enjoy the beach, and the water, and candle lit dinners by the sea. So my complaint comes with a dash of sarcasm and a pinch of disbelief, since in hind sight we always laugh at the people in line with the luggage twice the size of ours!! What do they have in there?

Below is a picture of Martin in the sand on our last vacation last year. It took me a long long time to get him all covered up!! Now that's a great shot!! haha!!

As for an update on Beth, and our little growing baby; Everything seems great thus far! As you can see, our little one no longer has a tail...what a relief!! And it's looking more and more like a little person every day. I think about her or him every day of my life now, and continue to be in disbelief about how lucky we are to have this experience, and this chance to be parents.