United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

We would like to write an article in Outreach about the issues of the challenges and difficulties of travelling with a bpi. (air travel/driving, whatever)

Either post here or send in your story (nancy@ubpn.org) about any travel tips that you have found that has helped you, or any problem that you think needs to be explored.

UBPN Board of Directors

Ooookay, my 5 favorite/necessary items are:

1- A swooshie pillow or lumbar pillow at the small of my back.
2-A Cell phone
3-Taking a walk to stretch ever 1 &1/2-2 hrs.
4-wearing Depends...LOL... but it saves me every trip!
5-When flying, always ordering a wheel chair/escort, it by-pases long security lines gets you right thru...Always necesary to have Steward/Attendant double check before landing at every stop. Reservations are not always folowed thru altho' written on my ticket!! [Customer Services are Terrible everywhere]

HUGS all around wherever you are,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/69 & counting...

Im glad you are doing this now. We are leaving for Philly in April, we are driving and any of your tips out there would be greatly appreciated.

Cant wait to read the article. Have fun everyone traveling.

When Traveling with a small child
1. A new toy or two to keep child busy.
2. have stroller checked at gate and make sure it is ready for you at the gate when you arrive
3. if having surgery, a note form the Dr. that the splint if any cannot be removed !! (I had this problem in Houston one time)
4. Small easy to eat snacks, they always get hungry when it is inconvenient
5. Travel pillow to prop up the affected arm
6. For smaller children, even if potty trained, wearing a pull up or a change of clothes is a good idea. it is not always east to get them to a restroom when you have a ton of stuff to carry with you !!!
7. Okay don't shoot me, but a bottle of CHEWABLE DRAMAMINE. No my kids don't get motion sick but they get too worked up and too excitable in crowds.
Gayle mom of Brandon 9 1/2 ROBPI !!!!

My son is 8 months old and we have had to travel with him alot. Our first trip was 13 hours in the car so my first travel tip would be to fly!!!

Take a new toy to occupy them and an umbrella stroller was much easier to handle in the airport.

My experiences are traveling with small children...

-change of clothes is a must (even if your kids are getting older, you never know if something will get spilled on them) and a plastic bag to put dirty clothes in

-gum to chew for the airplane take off and landing

-headphones (one for you and one for them...ha, ha)

-your list of questions for the doctor because by the time you get through the travel process, you'll have forgotten all your questions

-tylenol/motrin for your child and/or you because they may be going through some new OT/PT exercises that make them sore (post-op), they may become sick during travels, or you may feel crummy from sitting for an extended period of time in the car, waiting room, and/or plane and may need some, too

-bring something to drink for your child and yourself and a sippy cup or bottle if your child uses one

-portable DVD player and favorite DVDs for the car trip and hotel stay

-cell phone AND charger

These are the things off the top of my head. We usually travel by car to doctor's appointments. Great idea for an article.

Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 5 years old

We just drove to Philly last month from Michigan with a 2 month old.

- Take plenty of cash for all the toll roads.

- Cell phone & charger ( I had so many people that wanted updates on my son)

- Extra clothes & diapers

- Stroller very important!!

- list of questions, I forgot all of mine once I got there

Also request a portable crib at the hotel, saved us a little space in the car.

Oh and take someone to help, my mom went with me, she was a great support, helped drive and remembered a lot of questions I forgot to ask.

They also make a removable pad that you can put in the carseat incase of a blowout - great idea since its not easy to clean a carseat at a rest area. I saw them advertised in the One Step Ahead catalog.

Last thing, don't forget snacks & drinks for in the car, they are not cheap at the rest areas.

for flying:

when we get on a plane post surgery I inform the attendant that we are post surgery and ask for the following:

pillow
blanket
barf bags
bottle of water

I also pack extra clothes and a bag for clothes (in case she vomits) and wipes

I load her up with pain meds before we fly so that she feels less pain from all the movement and vibration and so hopefuly she sleeps

when she was a baby I planned flights around naps

for landing and ear pain, have them suck on a bottle or chew gum..... you can also ask for two cups and place them over the ears.... when Maia was a baby I purchased special ear cups that you could pour hot water into and then she would have a warmed ear cup.

get a seat near the bathroom

always bring a stroller or ask for a wheelchair (if older and in a big cast/splint and it's heavy)

We had to run to Target the morning we were being discharged from the hospital +and purchase a booster seat after Olivia's surgery, since she didn't fit in the car seat with the big bulky cast...so this is something to look into before traveling!
Felicia

One of the main problems with travelling by car with LOBPI is the fact that I can't reach the people in the toll booths, or the drive up ATM. An E-Z pass is the best invention in the world to avoid the embarassment of not being able to reach the toll, and going inside relieves the frustration of ATM's- although the video will be pretty funny. Other than that an arm rest of some sort is always a good thing!
~Mel, 20, LOBPI