Air travel and new normal

cavediver
cavediver Member Posts: 607
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Tuesday I will be flying back to Mexico for several weeks. My husband will be coming also so the airport TSA encounter could be interesting. He has s/s clamps in his chest from 7 bypasses, and I will be wearing my prosthesis, and taking my lymphedema pump and all its wires and hoses in carry on baggage. I can hardly wait for this adventure! And, then, I will be attempting to find the new normal for me as I will not be cave diving as I have done for 19 years. But I will spend time in the jungle, walking on the beach, and seeing many of my friends for the first time since this all started almost a year ago. I will let you know how air travel went........internet connection is not always available where I go...but I will check in when I can. Keep warm and safe everyone!
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Comments

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #2
    Have a relaxing respite for
    Have a relaxing respite for all of us! I am so jealous. A beach would be lovely right now.
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #3
    Oh cavediver,
    I am so happy for you. Have a fun, safe trip!!!! Let us know about your TSA encounter. Should be interesting. Your new normal will be fun. I know you love the beach as much as I do, so just to walk or sit there will be fun. Not as adventureous, but you can enjoy a drink or two while sitting on the beach. And to see your old friends....how exciting! Make sure to take lots of pictures and post them upon your return. I will miss you.

    xoxo,
    Jean
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
    Jean 0609 said:

    Oh cavediver,
    I am so happy for you. Have a fun, safe trip!!!! Let us know about your TSA encounter. Should be interesting. Your new normal will be fun. I know you love the beach as much as I do, so just to walk or sit there will be fun. Not as adventureous, but you can enjoy a drink or two while sitting on the beach. And to see your old friends....how exciting! Make sure to take lots of pictures and post them upon your return. I will miss you.

    xoxo,
    Jean

    have a wonderful time , you
    have a wonderful time , you deserve it. can you do snorkeling? rest relax enjoy! enjoy! enjoy! and post of your adventures when you can, so we can live vicariously through you .
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #5
    There is an old Vaudeville
    There is an old Vaudeville era joke about a man who buys a suit from a tailor. The suit does not fit at all--pants are too short, jacket is too long,collar is askew, etc etc. The tailor, not willing to make alterations, but wanting to make a sale, instructs the man on how to stoop, bend, limp and hold his jacket and pants at such an angle that the suit will hang correctly. As the man shuffles down the sidewalk holding himself and his suit, a married couple passes him. "Oh my, what a pitiful old soul. Did you see how he can scarcely walk?" asks the wife. "Yes, I did." said her husband..."sad, but OMG, did you notice the beautiful, well-fitting suit he was wearing?!!!"

    I don't know why picturing you and your hubby maneuvering your way through TSA reminded me of this old joke, but it sure did! LOL

    Getting there may not be half the fun, but I can picture you relaxing, laughing, exploring, having a grand, and well deserved time with friends once you are there! Enjoy!!!! Enjoy!!!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #6
    chenheart said:

    There is an old Vaudeville
    There is an old Vaudeville era joke about a man who buys a suit from a tailor. The suit does not fit at all--pants are too short, jacket is too long,collar is askew, etc etc. The tailor, not willing to make alterations, but wanting to make a sale, instructs the man on how to stoop, bend, limp and hold his jacket and pants at such an angle that the suit will hang correctly. As the man shuffles down the sidewalk holding himself and his suit, a married couple passes him. "Oh my, what a pitiful old soul. Did you see how he can scarcely walk?" asks the wife. "Yes, I did." said her husband..."sad, but OMG, did you notice the beautiful, well-fitting suit he was wearing?!!!"

    I don't know why picturing you and your hubby maneuvering your way through TSA reminded me of this old joke, but it sure did! LOL

    Getting there may not be half the fun, but I can picture you relaxing, laughing, exploring, having a grand, and well deserved time with friends once you are there! Enjoy!!!! Enjoy!!!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Need help carrying your
    Need help carrying your suitcases?


    Sounds like a much deserved and a great trip.


    We will all be thinking of you while you are cave diving and laying on the beach.


    Have fun,


    Jan
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #7
    Thanks for your good wishes
    Thanks for your good wishes all....and the joke Chen. I was thinking maybe as I went through TSA xray or grope my prosthesis, the joke is "omg, did you see what a nice compression sleeve she had on":-) I am packing my best sense of humor for this experience.
    I promise to post when I can with update on TSA event and will also promise to sip margaritas on the beach and cervesas in the jungle for all of you! Love you much....
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #8
    cavediver said:

    Thanks for your good wishes
    Thanks for your good wishes all....and the joke Chen. I was thinking maybe as I went through TSA xray or grope my prosthesis, the joke is "omg, did you see what a nice compression sleeve she had on":-) I am packing my best sense of humor for this experience.
    I promise to post when I can with update on TSA event and will also promise to sip margaritas on the beach and cervesas in the jungle for all of you! Love you much....

    Have a really good time in
    Have a really good time in Mexico!


    Hugs, Kylez
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #9
    Kylez said:

    Have a really good time in
    Have a really good time in Mexico!


    Hugs, Kylez

    I know you will have fun,
    I know you will have fun, but, have a lot of fun!
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #10
    susie09 said:

    I know you will have fun,
    I know you will have fun, but, have a lot of fun!

    You might want to get a
    You might want to get a letter from your doctor about the lymphodema pump, to help speed you through the TSA search. Same with your husband.

    Joyce
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #11
    Have a WONDERFUL time!
    Take lots of pictures...let us know when you return safely!

    As far as the TSA....well, I had no trouble whatsoever in L.A.....breezed thru, as did my daughter....

    On her trip home, she had a wild experience. She is blond and green eyed...doesn't look particularly menacing, but was very nervous (part of her disability makes her on edge with any new experience). So, in Amsterdam, they sent her thru the scanner twice (hummm...not sure why...maybe the underwire bra, or maybe they hadn't done enough scans for the day...who knows) and then patted her down. She took it fairly well, but MAN! does she have stories to tell! (She still didn't get upset...I had warned her ahead of time that it might be tough...).

    Hans had his 'privates' squeezed more than usual. (In L.A.) He has a pacemaker, so can't pass the scanner...always has had a pat-down.

    ..interesting to see what happens when we leave from Amsterdam...lol...but I will take it with a sense of humor...if my breasts are 'patted' a bit more than routine, I'll ask for a written report that I can then give to my oncologist that can suffice as my yearly breast exam...ROFLMAO!!!

    Dutch hugs, Kathi
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    #12
    Ahhh!
    Mexico, the jungle, the beach, friends... sounds wonderful. Brings a smile to my face!
    Have a wonderful time. Thinking traveling may be your new adventure instead of caves. LOL
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #13
    susie09 said:

    I know you will have fun,
    I know you will have fun, but, have a lot of fun!

    Have a good time
    Wishing you easy flight and good time in Mexico.
    I have not been on airplane since my mastectomy due to lymphedema and fatigue. As far as I understand you need keep moving during your flight and perfuming stretches and arm and hand gymnastics.
    Have a wonderful time
    New Flower
  • cookie97
    cookie97 Member Posts: 200
    #14
    PinkPearl said:

    Ahhh!
    Mexico, the jungle, the beach, friends... sounds wonderful. Brings a smile to my face!
    Have a wonderful time. Thinking traveling may be your new adventure instead of caves. LOL

    Ahhh
    Warm weather!!!! I'm soooo jealous. Have a really good time and I can't wait to hear the stories about the flight. I think I'm begining to laugh already.

    Edie
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #15
    Have a wonderful trip!
    You sure do deserve it. Spend a lot of time sitting on the beach listening to the ocean for me.
    I would suggest that you take the motor part of your lymphedema pump out of the bag. That is what my husband has to do with his CPAP machine.

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #16
    Yeah,the
    only thing I can think of is to get up and walk around often while you are on the plane-I think I read somewhere that everyone should do this,especially on long trips(helps against blood clots..)
    Other than that,hope you and hubby have a wonderful time!!
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #17
    Cavediver,
    Have a wonderful
    Cavediver,
    Have a wonderful time and I hope the airport experience is not too stressful or the flight. You will no doubt find new interests to replace the cave diving. And just the opportunity to rest and relax will be marvelous. Enjoy, you deserve it.
    Stef
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #18
    cookie97 said:

    Ahhh
    Warm weather!!!! I'm soooo jealous. Have a really good time and I can't wait to hear the stories about the flight. I think I'm begining to laugh already.

    Edie

    Have a safe trip cavediver!
    Have a great trip and take lots of pictures to show us. We will miss you.


    Hugs, Angie
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #19
    Enjoy your trip cavediver!!!
    i hope you have a safe and wonderful trip cavediver,

    It's sounds dreamy cerveza on the beach and walks in
    the jungle! What an adventure, bring back some photos.

    Love,
    Ayse
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #20
    Have a safe journey. I
    Have a safe journey. I can't wait to hear the stories and see the pictures. Enjoy!!
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #21
    Wishes for safe travel and no problems with TSA
    Have a wonderful time in Mexico. The image of you sitting on the beach with a Margarita and walking through the jungle is delightful. It's making me smile and wish I oculd go too. Enjoy the beach for me (I am sun deprived and hating this cold, snowy weather).If the TSA gives you a hassle, just whip out your compression pump and offer to hand them your prosthesis,only if they wash their hands first (a good sense of humor does go a long way when dealing with airport security).
    Make sure to keep hydrated and walk around the plane during the flight to keep that blood flowing, clot free. On my last plane trip, the first since my surgery, I too could not enjoy the activity I most enjoy on that trip (bike riding) as a result of my Lymphedema however, walking the beach, visiting with friends/family and wearing my most colorful lymphedema sleeves with matching sunhats, made it fun Enjoy your new normal and safe journey.
    Hugs, K

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