You make the coast of Ireland sound so beautiful! I’ve never been to Ireland, though I’ve got some Irish blood in me. It’s gotten high on my bucket list lately–I’d love to get some recommendations from you about what I must see, and how to travel through the countryside without inducing any major flares.

I do so hope that you’re able to travel soon! I agree totally–NOW is always a great time to travel, to get out, to live. I won’t lie to you: when you travel it’s going to be hard. It’s probably going to hurt. But I recommend traveling anyhow–to me at least, it’s totally worth it.

Please let me know if I can help you as you plan your next trip. I’m always happy to answer reader questions as best I can.

Wishing you a happy and pain-minimal New Year!

Your piece about setting holiday boundaries with family is very important. I have a lovely extended family but because they only see me on good days, buoyed up with pills and rest they have no idea how bad my chronic Lymes gets. Every year since my son was little we have rented a huge house together on the Atlantic. But the last time I did it, three years ago, was hideous. I felt so exhausted and full of pain and a terrible burden to them. I also am the only one who can’t drive. By the end of the week I had only seen the sea twice, and one of those times was left standing for ages as my two brothers went for a long walk together and I couldn’t get back into the car, or sit down.

I found the whole experience utterly humiliating and terribly lonely. I realised how narrow my horizons have had to become and how for healthy people my world is utterly unknowable. So I’ve never gone back.

But I’m getting brave again. My dream is to leave the shores of Ireland, somehow, even though I can’t fly. And I’m considering the family holiday again but only if I am very clear beforehand about what I can and can’t do. I will need to rest most of the day, but would love every evening to go to the seashore with someone to support me, just for five minutes. And one evening I would love to go again to Brandon Head and watch the dolphins play in the sunset. The rest of the time I will read and rest. And I can’t be on the huge clean up rotas, clearing up a dinner for 10 people singlehandedly. Last year I would just go back to my room and weep with pain. It’s up to me to change all of this. I want to prepare and clean up after my own meals however anti-social this seems.

I think the hardest thing to accept, being the eldest of five, is that I am no longer big strong sister. I’m slightly scary, wonky sister who looks well but does very little. And I have my own self-perceptions to battle. To not let my own internal Prebyterian culture call me ‘lazy, useless, drama-queen’. In fact the opposite is true. I’ve been feeling a little worse than usual this week but yesterday pushed myself to walk around the block as movement had become so painful that I thought lazing around after Christmas had seized my joints more than normal. I felt so frozen and sore again last night I took my temperature. It was102F. Far from being lazy I had pushed through a week of that to cook, clean, and perform my duties for my family. I think most healthy people with a temp of 102 would be immovable in bed.

Thank you so much for the free association I’ve done here. It helps to let it all out. I’m generally positive and manage my care very well. So much so that very few people understand the pre-planning and pre-emptive rest that is taken before any outing. But today I was just a bit blue. Longing to fly away as I used to; round Europe and up into the Arctic, but almost scared to dream again. But being 50 has galvinazed me. If not now, when?:]

Have a great evening!

Karin

Just wanted to say thank you for blogging about this! I just found your blog via Traveler Voice and added it straight to my links page:

http://www.withsparkles.com/travel-links/

I really appreciate that somebody is talking about the difficulties of travel with chronic pain and disabilities and I’ll definitely be following your blog.

Thanks so much for commenting! I’ve checked out your blog, but haven’t had time yet to read much. I loved some of the pix!

I am sorry to hear about your pain. I know what you mean about feeling like you’re 87 rather than 27–I got sick when I was 28. It’s very tough to be young and in chronic pain–our society really doesn’t know what to do with us.

Yes, let’s talk about guest blogging! And I’d be happy to chat with you about publishing books. Maybe sometime we could meet in person, even.

Take care, and hope you’re having a pain-minimal week,
Liz

Wondering if you’d be willing to talk to me (a newspaper reporter) about how airlines, particularly Delta, deal with people with disabilities or illnesses. I’m doing a story for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, MN, for Sept. 4. I work 3-12 (Central time). If possible, give me a call, 612-673-7252, or send me an e-mail: pat.pheifer (at) startribune (dot) com

I found your blog after reading comments on the Delta blog about how they’ve made changes to accommodate disabled travelers.

Hope to hear from you soon!

P.

I live in Berkeley and I too am living with chronic and debilitating pain. At 27, I often struggle with physically and emotionally feeling like an 87 year old in an otherwise healthy and extremely youthful and energized spirit and body. My mother (on the East Coast) shared your blog with me. I maintain (somewhat irregularly, lately) a blog about my journey with pain. You can find it at http://imapainiac.tumblr.com/

I’d love to talk with you about guest blogging, and/or about successfully publishing a book. I love the blog!

be well, shelly

Thanks for reading! One of my best friends and frequent traveling companions has Crohn’s too. That’s a rough go.
I’m so excited to see your blog, and look forward to following it and linking it up here. Would you be interested in guest posting here on TWP–maybe doing a post-trade (I could post on your blog, and you on mine)?

Happy travels, and I hope you’re having a pain-free and flare-free day!

–Liz

A mutual friend told me about your website; I have a daughter with special needs, and I myself have Crohn’s, but you have to keep living, right? I just started writing, my blog is http://www.specialneedstravelmom.com and I also write for http://www.travelingmom.com. Thanks for your honesty and great information, I look forward to reading more from you!

Karin

I came across your blog today and think it is a great inspirational resource! I have been in multiple car accidents that have left me with persisting mild back pain for the past few years. While traveling it has sometimes become unbearable from carry heavy bags and running around everywhere- but I never let that stop me from experiencing and finding joy in new places. I’m interning at AFAR and learning all I can about travel. I hope to start an inspiring blog like you and was wondering if you have any tips for a young writer with too many ideas?

Also I’d like to keep your contact info on file at AFAR and I was wondering if you have a direct email address or phone number I could keep? I would greatly appreciate it!

Keep up the good work!

Allison