To holiday (vacation) or not to holiday.

Trubrit
Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Because of my unpredictable bowels, I've held off on any trips until last week, when I hopped a plane and headed to my friend in Oregon. 

I wanted to go to England (home), but I don't think 12 hours on a plane would have been a good idea. 

To rub salt in my homesick wounds, my Oncologist flew to England on Saturday. It should have been me. 

A holiday is a great way to de-stress, but how many of us can take off without worries dogging us all the way? 

How many of you take a holiday? And if you can't, where is the first place you'd choose to go? 

Comments

  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #2
    Unpredictability

    I am now six years out of treatment for colon cancer - 3A.  Unpredictable bowels, for sure, travel, for sure.  I use immodium and prescription medication to slow down the bowel when I want to travel.  I also have learned what works and what doesn't.  But most of all, I figure, what is the worst that can happen??  An accident, just bring with you what you need.

     

    I travel routinely, all over the world. Take your trip to England and enjoy.  I was a little concerned when I went to Africa for the first time - a very long trip.  It was amazing and very liberating to know I could manage this.

     

    Enjoy.

  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #3
    pamness said:

    Unpredictability

    I am now six years out of treatment for colon cancer - 3A.  Unpredictable bowels, for sure, travel, for sure.  I use immodium and prescription medication to slow down the bowel when I want to travel.  I also have learned what works and what doesn't.  But most of all, I figure, what is the worst that can happen??  An accident, just bring with you what you need.

     

    I travel routinely, all over the world. Take your trip to England and enjoy.  I was a little concerned when I went to Africa for the first time - a very long trip.  It was amazing and very liberating to know I could manage this.

     

    Enjoy.

    Hi, Sue

    First, I am so proud of you for staying upbeat and living life!

    No more vacations for me right now, as my financial situation is a nightmare, BUT......for faraway places, I have always wanted to visit Scotland. More locally, my favorite place is Grand Teton National Park. Jackson, Wy. has grown up into an expensive tourist magnet, but the beautiful scenery remains forever.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

  • db8ne1
    db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
    #4
    Go for it!

    Sue,

    So glad to hear you took some time to travel and to see your friend in Oregon. I hope you had a fabulous time!

    We’ve been on much the same timeline with DX – except I had chemoradiation prior to surgery and FOLFOX after. In September, I was feeling so horrible from the side effects of FOLFOX (I got them ALL) so I threw caution to the wind: I booked a first ever 7 day cruise to the Caribbean for mid February 2014. I still had 2 surgeries to go scheduled for the end of November: 1) wrist surgery (to repair severed thumb tendon from 2 broken wrists on July 4th…) and 2). Major hernia repair surgery – and I still wasn’t back to “normal” – (Will we EVER be???). I’m also DX’d with Renal Cell Carcinoma (CT coming up in a month and probable surgery for that soon). Anyway, I’m sure it was likely foolish to book the trip - as I had no idea if I’d feel up to it, but I’m pretty stubborn (I wouldn’t even consider trip insurance). Anyway, I needed to get away, I needed some WARM weather (I’m in the COLD mid-west), and I needed something to look forward to. The cruise was absolutely delightful. There were a few rough patches – but well worth it!

    So, I say: Go! And Enjoy! (And take extra clothes… :-)

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #5
    Travel

    My bowels too are unpredictable.  We just drove 1,300 miles and it takes a lot of prep work for me to drive that far.  I've got to make sure that I'm cleaned out really good before travelling (usually can drive 9 hours at a time) but I've learned that I'm not able to eat anything until travel is complete as it could start my bowels up.  It usually takes me about 10 days after travel is complete to get me back to my new normal but at least I'm able to travel that way.  Hope that you can go - it would be wonderful for you to get to go where you would like.

    Kim

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    #6
    Just go for it

    Watch what you eat a few days before, take Immodiam and work with your doc.  Take is slow and enjoy.

    Do not put off having fun!

  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #7
    So glad you got away for a little bit!

    My brother has the same problem. I believe you were the one who told me that Depends become your best friend. Once he has the chance to take a break from his chemo, I'm bringing him down south to see my granddaughter. He deserves a chance to get away (and my dad, of course, too).

    It's been a tough few months for him. 4 hospitalizations in 4 months. He has 2 major surgeries and none of them were to remove cancer. He has fluid removed from atound the heart and clots removed from the lungs. I think we have his INR under control with a new drug. I hope it works out. 

    If you can, you should go back home. Don't put off till tomorrow what we can do today.

    Lin

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #8
    wolfen said:

    Hi, Sue

    First, I am so proud of you for staying upbeat and living life!

    No more vacations for me right now, as my financial situation is a nightmare, BUT......for faraway places, I have always wanted to visit Scotland. More locally, my favorite place is Grand Teton National Park. Jackson, Wy. has grown up into an expensive tourist magnet, but the beautiful scenery remains forever.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

    Scotland is marvelous!

    You would love it. Start putting dollar bills in a jar. I made a trip home on dollar bills one year. 

    Edingburg is beautiful, but the islands are great. I'd suggest the Isle of Skye. 

    I've been to Jackson, WY. Way back in the 80's. Lovely!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #9
    England my England

    I was hoping England in September, but now with my new CEA results, I'll have to wait and see what comes of the following tests. 

    Can't wait to walk the green fields and lush woods. So very different from my desert home. 

    I'll be sure to take all advice and run with it. I never even thought of consulting with my Doctors. 

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #10
    Glad you went to Oregon, Sue!

    It might not be home, but it is a beautiful place in its own way (and if you ever make it to WA, stop by for a visit!).

    I have found travel to be tricky as well, but we have made several trips since I got sick, including two to Hawaii which involved 6 hour flights.  I have to stock up on pain meds and Lomotil (immodium never worked for me, but this rx drug is quite effective), and I am limited in how much I can experience, but I'm still happy to be doing something.  If I don't get away every now and again, I will go right out of my mind.

    We are hoping to go to England in the next year or two, if we can afford it and my health allows for it.  We went about 10 years ago, and it was wonderful!  My favorite places were York (walking the city wall was amazing) and Cornwall.  We went to Tintagel on a sunny day and it was simply breathtaking.  Here's one of my shots from that day...

    image

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #11
    annalexandria said:

    Glad you went to Oregon, Sue!

    It might not be home, but it is a beautiful place in its own way (and if you ever make it to WA, stop by for a visit!).

    I have found travel to be tricky as well, but we have made several trips since I got sick, including two to Hawaii which involved 6 hour flights.  I have to stock up on pain meds and Lomotil (immodium never worked for me, but this rx drug is quite effective), and I am limited in how much I can experience, but I'm still happy to be doing something.  If I don't get away every now and again, I will go right out of my mind.

    We are hoping to go to England in the next year or two, if we can afford it and my health allows for it.  We went about 10 years ago, and it was wonderful!  My favorite places were York (walking the city wall was amazing) and Cornwall.  We went to Tintagel on a sunny day and it was simply breathtaking.  Here's one of my shots from that day...

    image

    Oh so beautiful!

    That really is a stunning shot. I love the coast. 

    My friend and I actually drove up to her daughter's house in Seattle (Kenmore) while I was visiting. I got to ride the Seattle Duck and go up the Space Needle. You'll have to PM me and tell me where in WA you are. 

    We'll see what comes of my next test, and then maybe I'll just go ahead and book my trip home. 

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #12
    Trubrit said:

    Oh so beautiful!

    That really is a stunning shot. I love the coast. 

    My friend and I actually drove up to her daughter's house in Seattle (Kenmore) while I was visiting. I got to ride the Seattle Duck and go up the Space Needle. You'll have to PM me and tell me where in WA you are. 

    We'll see what comes of my next test, and then maybe I'll just go ahead and book my trip home. 

    It's never a perfect...

    ...time to travel: not enough time, money, health. So just go for it.

    My wife won 2 airplane tickets before I got sick and we had to use them up by the end of March. We went to the Dominican Republic on a budget. I have colostomy so I was concerned about the 13 hour flight, but it was ok. First time in a long time I immersed myself in the water and it was great. I almost completely felt normal and forgot I was sick. Change of environment is good for the mind, because you start thinking differently than at home.

    My suggestion is to get an aisle seat, so you can get to the bathroom easy.

    Just Go!!!

    Laz

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