1. < Just Want to Talk

LET'S SEE THE WORLD!

Posted by grandmaR @grandmar, Apr 11, 2018

Hi All!
I am starting this discussion because we would like to start to travel a little more often.
Mobility is a big problem along with pain.
When I look at the beautiful pictures of places like Italy and Greece, I worry about my ability to get around.
So, I am wondering if anyone still travels given your limitations.
All suggestions welcome!!!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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Jackie, Alumna Mentor | @travelgirl | Apr 11, 2018

@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway can get planned around your limitations.

You need to seek out a very experienced Medical Travel Consultant. Many people are unaware that there are agents who specialize in Medical Tourism.
A Medical Tourism Specalist is trained to help people with medical conditions seek out destinations that are conducive to their medical needs.

These specialists are different from regular travel consultants. They not only know the logistics of a getting people to the destination. They help you with flights, hotel accomidations, and sighseeing options. They know the different modes of transporation that work best for people with mobility issues. They provide detailed research into a travel destination, to help make your trip enjoyable and worry free.

These agents also have list of hospitals and local Drs in the areas. Giving you the opportunity to contact local Dr's in that destination ahead of your travels.

Travel Destinations around the world have medical tourism Dr's who work with tourists. They ensure a worry free travel experience. For example, let's say you need Dialysis, this can be prearranged in advance.

So Yes, you can still travel with medical limitations. Providing your Doctors give you the A-Ok to travel the world. 🙂

REPLY
3 replies
Parus | @parus | Apr 11, 2018

Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities of the past.

REPLY
3 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Apr 11, 2018
In reply to @parus "Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities..." + (show)
@parus

Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities of the past.

Jump to this post

At this point I am not ready to give up the dream. We've done some travelling but nothing like I'd still like to do.
Now, that could be the mind speaking and I am not sure the mind and body have caught up with each other.
ronnie

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Apr 11, 2018
In reply to @travelgirl "@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway..." + (show)
@travelgirl

@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway can get planned around your limitations.

You need to seek out a very experienced Medical Travel Consultant. Many people are unaware that there are agents who specialize in Medical Tourism.
A Medical Tourism Specalist is trained to help people with medical conditions seek out destinations that are conducive to their medical needs.

These specialists are different from regular travel consultants. They not only know the logistics of a getting people to the destination. They help you with flights, hotel accomidations, and sighseeing options. They know the different modes of transporation that work best for people with mobility issues. They provide detailed research into a travel destination, to help make your trip enjoyable and worry free.

These agents also have list of hospitals and local Drs in the areas. Giving you the opportunity to contact local Dr's in that destination ahead of your travels.

Travel Destinations around the world have medical tourism Dr's who work with tourists. They ensure a worry free travel experience. For example, let's say you need Dialysis, this can be prearranged in advance.

So Yes, you can still travel with medical limitations. Providing your Doctors give you the A-Ok to travel the world. 🙂

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for the information. I never knew such a person existed. I guess I would just have to Google that??? Or, do you know if the actual airlines help? I do know they have representatives who deal with disabled passengers.
ronnie

REPLY
Jackie, Alumna Mentor | @travelgirl | Apr 11, 2018
In reply to @travelgirl "@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway..." + (show)
@travelgirl

@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway can get planned around your limitations.

You need to seek out a very experienced Medical Travel Consultant. Many people are unaware that there are agents who specialize in Medical Tourism.
A Medical Tourism Specalist is trained to help people with medical conditions seek out destinations that are conducive to their medical needs.

These specialists are different from regular travel consultants. They not only know the logistics of a getting people to the destination. They help you with flights, hotel accomidations, and sighseeing options. They know the different modes of transporation that work best for people with mobility issues. They provide detailed research into a travel destination, to help make your trip enjoyable and worry free.

These agents also have list of hospitals and local Drs in the areas. Giving you the opportunity to contact local Dr's in that destination ahead of your travels.

Travel Destinations around the world have medical tourism Dr's who work with tourists. They ensure a worry free travel experience. For example, let's say you need Dialysis, this can be prearranged in advance.

So Yes, you can still travel with medical limitations. Providing your Doctors give you the A-Ok to travel the world. 🙂

Jump to this post

@grandmar There are a just a small few out there. Airlines can assist you with flights only. Not all airlines or planes can accomadate disabled passengers. It depends on the disability. You will still need a medical travel specialist to help you with land accomdations such as transfers, hotel and sightseeing.

REPLY
2011panc | @2011panc | Apr 11, 2018

@grandmar I travel almost as much as I like. There are a few things I have missed because I just could not get everything worked out or did not have a companion to go with me. Sometimes I cannot do something because there are just too many things too close together. Some of the things I feel I need include: a companion, well-coordinated flights and rides, easily available healthy food, short travel times with recovery times built in, and information on medical services available.

For an example I will use the month of May. I need to return to Mayo, Rochester, MN (a 10 hour trip) for follow-up on my kidney status. The testing is arduous for me so I request to have my lab tests drawn the day before my physician appointments. I like to schedule my trip so that we can drive down in two 5 hour segments, stopping midway to visit with our oldest. Then I can sometimes get a day of rest, get labs and other testing done on Tuesday and meet with physicians on Wednesday. If there are any additional tests or consultations they want to add on we still have a couple days left in the week.

There is a crafting weekend on the outskirts of Minneapolis, MN the weekend of May 19th which I have opted out of because the following weekend, May 26-27, we are going to a wedding in New York. We will fly out on the 24th, I will have a day to rest and a day to putter around a bit followed by the day of the wedding and finishing up with a BBQ reception the day after the wedding. We will fly home the 29th and I will be wiped out and happy.

Even though I would dearly like to go to the craft weekend and reconnect with friends, I know that I do not have the stamina to do that and get to the wedding activities the following weekend.

Just know yourself and you an get things worked out. We may dare another trip to Hawaii or Brazil in a few years if I continue to improve. Time will tell. Maybe I will be the "old one" that everybody has to come visit. lol

I make sure I pack 2 filled weekly medication planners for trips expected to last up to 7 days. If the trip is planned for 10-14 days I will take 3 filled weekly planners. I have been lucky up to now with being able to get refills I need if I run out, but that is getting harder and harder with all the prescription abuse that is going on now. I have never allowed travelling to become an issue because I have always prepared for every probability. At this stage of my life I love my home and enjoy spending time in the comfort, beauty and functionality we have worked so hard to put together. Every day I can look out my huge picture windows and see the changing seasons, plants and birds that flock to our feeder.

I do not feel cheated that i have not traveled more or that it is difficult now. I have always looked forward to the next thing that will come into my life. I am one of the rare people that completed my lifetime goals before the age of 40, so everything now is coasting downhill.

REPLY
1 reply
grandmaR | @grandmar | Apr 11, 2018
In reply to @2011panc "@grandmar I travel almost as much as I like. There are a few things I have..." + (show)
@2011panc

@grandmar I travel almost as much as I like. There are a few things I have missed because I just could not get everything worked out or did not have a companion to go with me. Sometimes I cannot do something because there are just too many things too close together. Some of the things I feel I need include: a companion, well-coordinated flights and rides, easily available healthy food, short travel times with recovery times built in, and information on medical services available.

For an example I will use the month of May. I need to return to Mayo, Rochester, MN (a 10 hour trip) for follow-up on my kidney status. The testing is arduous for me so I request to have my lab tests drawn the day before my physician appointments. I like to schedule my trip so that we can drive down in two 5 hour segments, stopping midway to visit with our oldest. Then I can sometimes get a day of rest, get labs and other testing done on Tuesday and meet with physicians on Wednesday. If there are any additional tests or consultations they want to add on we still have a couple days left in the week.

There is a crafting weekend on the outskirts of Minneapolis, MN the weekend of May 19th which I have opted out of because the following weekend, May 26-27, we are going to a wedding in New York. We will fly out on the 24th, I will have a day to rest and a day to putter around a bit followed by the day of the wedding and finishing up with a BBQ reception the day after the wedding. We will fly home the 29th and I will be wiped out and happy.

Even though I would dearly like to go to the craft weekend and reconnect with friends, I know that I do not have the stamina to do that and get to the wedding activities the following weekend.

Just know yourself and you an get things worked out. We may dare another trip to Hawaii or Brazil in a few years if I continue to improve. Time will tell. Maybe I will be the "old one" that everybody has to come visit. lol

I make sure I pack 2 filled weekly medication planners for trips expected to last up to 7 days. If the trip is planned for 10-14 days I will take 3 filled weekly planners. I have been lucky up to now with being able to get refills I need if I run out, but that is getting harder and harder with all the prescription abuse that is going on now. I have never allowed travelling to become an issue because I have always prepared for every probability. At this stage of my life I love my home and enjoy spending time in the comfort, beauty and functionality we have worked so hard to put together. Every day I can look out my huge picture windows and see the changing seasons, plants and birds that flock to our feeder.

I do not feel cheated that i have not traveled more or that it is difficult now. I have always looked forward to the next thing that will come into my life. I am one of the rare people that completed my lifetime goals before the age of 40, so everything now is coasting downhill.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you have figured it out. My hubby doesn't want to go anywhere until I feel better. He thinks another surgery will help. Surgery is not guarantee.
ronnie

REPLY
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Apr 12, 2018
In reply to @parus "Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities..." + (show)
@parus

Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities of the past.

Jump to this post

Hi, @grandmar -- you mentioned Italy and Greece. Wondering what places are on your list of those you'd like to visit?

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Apr 12, 2018
In reply to @parus "Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities..." + (show)
@parus

Sad to say my days of travel are now in the past. Thankful for the opportunities of the past.

Jump to this post

Good Morning Lisa,
Actually, Italy and Greece are the two places I would like to go,
ronnie

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 12, 2018
In reply to @travelgirl "@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway..." + (show)
@travelgirl

@grandmar. Yes it is possible to still travel the world and see places. A vacation getaway can get planned around your limitations.

You need to seek out a very experienced Medical Travel Consultant. Many people are unaware that there are agents who specialize in Medical Tourism.
A Medical Tourism Specalist is trained to help people with medical conditions seek out destinations that are conducive to their medical needs.

These specialists are different from regular travel consultants. They not only know the logistics of a getting people to the destination. They help you with flights, hotel accomidations, and sighseeing options. They know the different modes of transporation that work best for people with mobility issues. They provide detailed research into a travel destination, to help make your trip enjoyable and worry free.

These agents also have list of hospitals and local Drs in the areas. Giving you the opportunity to contact local Dr's in that destination ahead of your travels.

Travel Destinations around the world have medical tourism Dr's who work with tourists. They ensure a worry free travel experience. For example, let's say you need Dialysis, this can be prearranged in advance.

So Yes, you can still travel with medical limitations. Providing your Doctors give you the A-Ok to travel the world. 🙂

Jump to this post

@grandmar

You might contact a travel agency and ask if they know of a medical travel specialist.

Let us hear from you again and happy travels!

Teresa

REPLY
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