Dear friends of COPD,:
I traveled by train in 2010 to Arizona. Now of course it was a long ride, and the mountains were beautiful. Now my Dr, had told me he saw a spot on my lungs. it was rather small, he asked me to quit smokiing and I did not. I had not seen my children my son, since 2005, and my daughter and her children since 2001.
So they made travel arrangements, I left took the train: (without telling my Dr.,) he said I had a spot on my lungs, and I did not want any interference with this visit. Don't misunderstand, I loved my Dr, he had saved my life in 2005,,he was a good Dr., he took his time, he would see you in his office for questions after exams. He was old school "Charts with a paper trail. He retired in 2016 and I truly miss him.. ok back to travel.
When we arrived in Mexico, I took a break to smoke a cigarette, I felt good, I had not smoked in hrs. but, my chest felt strange., and it was hard to breathe,,I said smoking of course. When I arrived my son said, "Ma your're way up in the mountains , about 7200 ft", I am so glad to see him, it was midnight, but suddenly I felt like it was 6:00 am, snow on the ground (I was in Flagstaff) I wanted to see my daughter and grand-babies, so down the mountains into the valley we arrived in Phoenix, arrived at my daughters, she was screaming who's at my door at 2:00 am. My son took over, she cursed, I was hiding in the Kitchen. he asked for water, she came in turned on the lights, MA!!! everyone is crying, the entire household was up. I tried to smoke a cigarette and it hurt.
The next week I was sick, very tired it hurt to climb stairs, I couldnt take the heat and had trouble breathing the "dry heat"I did not leave that train on the way home, I purchased a mans size 10 Sneakers. My feet were so swollen , when I arrived back in Chicago, I was walking on the back of the shoes in the snow. I went back to my apt, stayed in bed 2 weeks,, Got strength to return back to work. Moved iin 2011, Diagnoised on 2012,, Volunteer work in 2013.. Acceptance in 2014..
.. so now that cancer is in remission as of 7/2018, my COPD stats are up from 84% it took five years.. I want to go visit again next year. 2019: I need suggestions, from those who use oxygen and travel. Now the train is 36 hrs. I love the trains, scenery, meals, the people. I have never flown, and I am not ready for their crowds and lay overs, I stayed about 30 days. This time it will be different, the family has gotten larger, and I want to visit all of them..I am sure everything will be much better since I no longer smoke., and I am loosing inches.. This time I have a team of Drs, I need information on :
Traveling with a Portable battery operated machine.
1. Rental Cost.
2. Who is the best provider to offer Oxygen and accomodations: Plane or Train, (Train Sleeper?)
3, Cost to travel.with Oxygen..?
4, Have you heard of the Valley Syndrome,breathing complications, after traveling that requires hospitalization..Flying in High Altitudes. will damage the lungs..?
I welcome all suggestions, my grandchildren are planning for my visit,,they are ages 31- 26. All working, and i want to keep things as simple as I can.