Anyone cruise who has fibromyalgia?

[needabreakcanada]

I am a cruise newbie. Hoping to book a cruise for 2013 on the adventure of the sea.

 

If anyone has cruised who has fibromyalgia I would appreciate hearing from them if it affected them overly on the cruise.

 

My husband is very worried for me that it might not be that enjoyable for me.

 

Also, just in case I have a flare up while sailing - do they have wheelchairs available on board?

 

Thanks.

[CincinnatiGal]

I am a cruise newbie. Hoping to book a cruise for 2013 on the adventure of the sea.

 

If anyone has cruised who has fibromyalgia I would appreciate hearing from them if it affected them overly on the cruise.

 

My husband is very worried for me that it might not be that enjoyable for me.

 

Also, just in case I have a flare up while sailing - do they have wheelchairs available on board?

 

Thanks.

 

I have this as well. I just take medicine at the beginning of each day and it helps me get going. When i get overtired or overtaxed it bothers me. I also notice I am affected by heat and humidity that makes this disease flare up. As for wheelchairs I think it would be best to call Royal Caribbean guest services to find out what is on your exact ship before you travel.

 

Taking a cruise is worth it to just allow your mind to have some freedom and to let you have some quality couple time too!

[Icruzthere4Iam]

My father has it and he has been on three cruises with me. He knows to just pace himself and if he has a flare up or needs to he has no problem taking a nap during the day or going to bed early. He has absolutely loved his time onboard and I would say the fibro has not negatively impacted his experience. Good luck, Jim

[needabreakcanada]

thanks for the replies - hubby was really worried it would be bad for my fibromyalgia. I am on medication daily, had a bad flare up in January that I am still working my way out of - but that is rare for me (fingers crossed).

 

Before the flare up I was able to exercise 3 times a week including 15 minutes each time on the treadmill.

 

Working my way back up to all that!

 

I will call royal to find out about wheelchair just in case. For the first time in my life, last year in disney, I experienced my first wheelchair. To tell the truth it was well worth it. I am able to do most things - just too much walking kills me.

 

Thanks again!

[AlanAllyn]

Dear Newbie,

 

Relax, Cruises were meant for Fibromyalgia patients. I've had fibro for almost 50 years, and cruising is without a doubt the easiest vacation formula for me. You pack once and the ship carries you and your belongings from attraction to attraction. There are not huge distances between onboard locations, and there are many elevators. If you are not up to your original plans, you can drop out at any time and go back to your cabin, leaving the rest of your party to continue until you feel ready to catch up.

 

I travel with all my regular meds plus any occasional emergency meds, heating pad, braces & cane, whether I need them or not upon embarkation. Toss them in the bottom of the closet just on case, & feel safe for the rest of the cruise. Try not to overdo, but if you do, you can always find a lounge to recoup for a bit. Ships usually have wheelchairs for emergencies, but if you use one regularly bring your own or rent one to make sure you will have access to one when you need it. Also carry your dr's phone number for emergency calls. I've had a cough syrup prescription called into a pharmacy in Alaska & antibiotics ordered via fax in Asia. The one time I needed the ship's dr, after a fall, I felt that they listened very carefully to what I felt I needed when ordering xrays. Get trip insurance that covers med expenses, cancellation & even medical evacuation. Unfortunately, we've had to make claims twice - once having to cancel before we left home.

 

When planning excursions keep your limitations in mind. Try not to over schedule yourself. Keep hydrated, I usually carry a water bottle, and keep refilling it. I accompany my husband on snorkeling trips or to climb waterfalls, but I watch and take pictures, I don't participate. Drivers and boat staff on excursions have always been most helpful, assisting me on & off boats/trucks/buses/steep stairways. Don't be afraid to ask for a few minutes warning to start back to the bus early so you don't have to rush.

 

Cruising was made for a fibro couch potato like me. Keep a book in your bag and drop into a lounge whenever energy flags or pain kicks in. You won't hold the rest of your party back, because they can continue on with their plans, knowing you are comfortable. Room service is a wonderful way to recoup without exerting yourself, although I have never had a problem in the food courts. Someone was always available to offer assistance if I used a cane or visible brace. Dining room staff has always been wonderful in assisting me with dietary requests. If not visibly in need of help, I was never refused when I asked for assistance. A lovely part of cruising is that the "hotel staff" is the same all week. They get to know you may need help & will watch out for you.

 

Have no fear, pace yourself and come prepared & you'll have a wonderful time. If you have further questions, drop me a note at alan.allyn@yahoo.com.

Have fun, Allyn

[MtnBikerFallDown]

As Allyn stated, wheelchairs on board are for emergencies, and often in VERY short supply. If you have needed one in the past, I'd take one. Because you sure do not want to need it and not be able to get it!

 

Since you have a while until you plan to cruise, keep an eye on Freecycle (if your area has one) for wheelchairs. You wouldn't believe how many they have posted on there for free! I've even seen the cool, folding ones on there!

 

Cruising is just ideal for anyone who tires easily or has chronic pain. On the ship, you are never far away from a place to sit down and relax. Or, if you are feeling great, they have plenty of places to walk and exercise.

 

I think a cruise just may be what the doctor ordered! So, go for it! :D

[silvercrikhix]

I definitely agree with the above posters. Our first cruise was last March. It was pretty much the same as at home. Rest when you need to and don't overdue it. Of course, at least for me, I was wiped out afterward for several days. That happens at home to. The excitement, packing and actual cruise are fabulous, but after it's over things all catch up. You will enjoy the cruise completely, as you don't have to do any cooking, cleaning, etc.....So it's all about fun, fun and more fun. Enjoy!!!! :D

[tlawson1128]

I have mixed connective tissue disease which includes fibromyalgia and a few others. I look forward to our cruises because it allows me the opportunity to just rest. I can sleep whenever I want, sit and relax with a book whenever I want, play whenever I want and feel like it, etc. Personally, I think for those of us with autoimmune disorders who have to watch the stress level, cruises are just what the doctor ordered.

 

We've tried to take at least one cruise a year and I've never had any flares while on them. I can, however, look at my boarding cruise photo and the photos from a few days into the cruise and definitely see a difference between the tired and hurting me and the refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated me.

 

I think you will definitely be glad you went on the cruise.

 

Terry from Georgia

[Dreamfinders]

I have fibro and like others have said I think cruises are great vacations. I feel better in the sun and warm weather. When I am on a cruise I always feel better. I think it's the combination of sun, warmth and being waited on!! Really it helps to not have to worry about cleaning and cooking. Yes there are times I just don't feel well and I take it real easy. I don't do any excursions that are too hard, although I must admit I went against my better judgment and did the ruins on our last cruise. I had to leave and go back to the waiting area. My husband came with me and our (adult) children continued. I can honestly say that this was the only time I didn't feel well on a cruise, and we have done many. My advice would be to pace yourself, don't do any excursions that you think might bother you (unlike me! LOL!!), relax and ENJOY! As another person said, the great thing is that you unpack one time and everything is on the ship. You can go back to your cabin at any time and rest for awhile if you need to. I hope you enjoy yourself as much as I do. Really cruises are wonderful vacations!

[needabreakcanada]

Thanks for all the great advice and heartfelt honesty about your own situations.

 

I called Royal to find out about the wheelchair situation and they suggested I call the numbers they gave me to find out about rentals.

 

Like I said - I don't need a wheelchair - until I need one. For all of those with Fibro I know you totally get this.

 

I can walk without assisstance all the time.

 

The wheelchair would allow me to go on longer excursions if there are any. I can walk around a mall easily enough if there are places to sit. But ask me to walk a mall two days in a row and forget it.

 

So to optimize my trip options I think I will look into the rental, but first I have to see the excursions to see if I think there are some that would require the wheelchair usage.

 

How much walking is there around a ship like adventure of the sea on a daily basis?

[read52]

Cruising is the best way to vacation for anyone that has an illness. My husband had viral encephelitis 6 years ago which left him with neuological problems and seizures. If he overexerts himself, he has a problem. But we cruising, you unpack once, no driving, food is always available and if needed a doctor. If he gets tired, we take a nap. We pace ourselves in ports. So I would try a cruise.

[read52]

You can also go to the spa and have a massage if that helps you. A little expensive but worth it for some people. They also have acupucture which helps my husband.

[kleo30]

Thank you for this informative post.

 

We'll be taking our first cruise in November. Part of the reason we booked this itinerary is for the 5 sea days so I can relax. We're not planning any scheduled excursions, just going to browse shops and hit beaches.

 

I'd love to para-sail, but I am worried about how that will affect me. Over doing it, drastic weather changes (we're leaving NJ in November) and heat and humidity all trigger flares for me.

 

I am hopeful that going into the cruise during the time of the year when I feel the best is going to be helpful. We had originally scheduled the cruise for April, and for other reasons had to reschedule, and now I'm glad we did. This time of year from the holidays until warm and dry weather, which can be May or June where I live, are very, very difficult for me. So I'm happy to not be going into the cruise while feeling my worst.

 

I try really hard to stay active, but really do listen to my body because a crash just isn't fun. I'm so looking forward to this vacation. It has GOT to be much easier on my body than our typical camping in a tent, sleeping on an air mattress vacation :)

 

Dear Newbie,

 

Relax, Cruises were meant for Fibromyalgia patients. I've had fibro for almost 50 years, and cruising is without a doubt the easiest vacation formula for me. You pack once and the ship carries you and your belongings from attraction to attraction. There are not huge distances between onboard locations, and there are many elevators. If you are not up to your original plans, you can drop out at any time and go back to your cabin, leaving the rest of your party to continue until you feel ready to catch up.

 

I travel with all my regular meds plus any occasional emergency meds, heating pad, braces & cane, whether I need them or not upon embarkation. Toss them in the bottom of the closet just on case, & feel safe for the rest of the cruise. Try not to overdo, but if you do, you can always find a lounge to recoup for a bit. Ships usually have wheelchairs for emergencies, but if you use one regularly bring your own or rent one to make sure you will have access to one when you need it. Also carry your dr's phone number for emergency calls. I've had a cough syrup prescription called into a pharmacy in Alaska & antibiotics ordered via fax in Asia. The one time I needed the ship's dr, after a fall, I felt that they listened very carefully to what I felt I needed when ordering xrays. Get trip insurance that covers med expenses, cancellation & even medical evacuation. Unfortunately, we've had to make claims twice - once having to cancel before we left home.

 

When planning excursions keep your limitations in mind. Try not to over schedule yourself. Keep hydrated, I usually carry a water bottle, and keep refilling it. I accompany my husband on snorkeling trips or to climb waterfalls, but I watch and take pictures, I don't participate. Drivers and boat staff on excursions have always been most helpful, assisting me on & off boats/trucks/buses/steep stairways. Don't be afraid to ask for a few minutes warning to start back to the bus early so you don't have to rush.

 

Cruising was made for a fibro couch potato like me. Keep a book in your bag and drop into a lounge whenever energy flags or pain kicks in. You won't hold the rest of your party back, because they can continue on with their plans, knowing you are comfortable. Room service is a wonderful way to recoup without exerting yourself, although I have never had a problem in the food courts. Someone was always available to offer assistance if I used a cane or visible brace. Dining room staff has always been wonderful in assisting me with dietary requests. If not visibly in need of help, I was never refused when I asked for assistance. A lovely part of cruising is that the "hotel staff" is the same all week. They get to know you may need help & will watch out for you.

 

Have no fear, pace yourself and come prepared & you'll have a wonderful time. If you have further questions, drop me a note at alan.allyn@yahoo.com.

Have fun, Allyn

[mirgloin]

When you book a stateroom, you may want to look at a deck plan of the ship and see how far your stateroom is from elevators, and how far the closest elevator is from things you want to do. On larger ships, things are generally more spread out. Walking from the dining room to the theater often means going from one end of the ship to the other. If you prefer one activity (eating) over another (watching shows) you can try to get a stateroom closer to the elevators at that end of the ship.

If you do need to go from one end of the ship to the other, the pool deck (11 on Adventure) or the deck with the Royal Promenade (5) or the Casino (4) are likely to have places to stop for a rest if you need it (and often things--and people--to watch while you're stopped). On a "stateroom deck" there are loooong corridors without many places to stop and be out of the flow of traffic.

You may find that you are walking more at first as you explore the ship (there's lots to see) but once you have figured out where things are, you can proceed at a more relaxed pace and maybe use the shortcuts you've found.

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing cruise.

 

m.

[madelinerose]

Hi needabreakcanada. ;)

 

I assume you're getting massage therapy on a regular basis at home, so you can continue to do so in the spa on board. Also, acupuncture has immensely helped two friends with fibromyalgia.

 

Wishing you the best first cruise!

[needabreakcanada]

Well actually I have physio therapy twice a week with acupuncture added in. I get a massage only once a month - I find that extremely painful and helpful (if that makes sense).

 

My major problem right now is after my last flareup I have a constant charley horse in my right butt cheek. Several tight muscles (and I thought I didn't have any in there anymore!).

 

Very interesting getting acupuncture there for sure!

 

I have a good friend that cruises all the time and will be going on the cruise with us and her husband as well. It will be for our 30th wedding anniversary (but not the same month as it would be hurricane season).

 

She is aware of my situation and this is a big reason we have asked them to go with us. She should know all the tricks for booking that would work best for me.

 

It is my hope that by going with someone else things will go smoothly, also it gives my husband someone to do stuff with if I have some down time.

 

Right now we are figuring out finances - I look at it this way if it is the difference between not going at all and going - I will book an inside room if I have too!

[read52]

Well actually I have physio therapy twice a week with acupuncture added in. I get a massage only once a month - I find that extremely painful and helpful (if that makes sense).

 

My major problem right now is after my last flareup I have a constant charley horse in my right butt cheek. Several tight muscles (and I thought I didn't have any in there anymore!).

 

Very interesting getting acupuncture there for sure!

 

I have a good friend that cruises all the time and will be going on the cruise with us and her husband as well. It will be for our 30th wedding anniversary (but not the same month as it would be hurricane season).

 

She is aware of my situation and this is a big reason we have asked them to go with us. She should know all the tricks for booking that would work best for me.

 

It is my hope that by going with someone else things will go smoothly, also it gives my husband someone to do stuff with if I have some down time.

 

Right now we are figuring out finances - I look at it this way if it is the difference between not going at all and going - I will book an inside room if I have too!

 

 

Acupuncture is about $150 but they have specials especially on port days.

My husband has nerve damage so acupunture relieves some of the pain.

[MtnBikerFallDown]

I'm not sure how much it costs to rent a wheelchair, but the Walgreens sale circular in the newspaper today had a transport wheelchair (the light ones made for travel) for $99. That's a really good deal! So, depending on how much it costs to rent, it might be cheaper to buy!

 

Just thought I'd drop that info on here for ya!

[DebJ14]

Thanks for all the great advice and heartfelt honesty about your own situations.

 

I called Royal to find out about the wheelchair situation and they suggested I call the numbers they gave me to find out about rentals.

 

Like I said - I don't need a wheelchair - until I need one. For all of those with Fibro I know you totally get this.

 

I can walk without assisstance all the time.

 

The wheelchair would allow me to go on longer excursions if there are any. I can walk around a mall easily enough if there are places to sit. But ask me to walk a mall two days in a row and forget it.

 

So to optimize my trip options I think I will look into the rental, but first I have to see the excursions to see if I think there are some that would require the wheelchair usage.

 

How much walking is there around a ship like adventure of the sea on a daily basis?

 

Rent the wheelchair and hope you don't need it. It will be at your cabin waiting for you. I also request embarkation and debarkation assistance not knowing if I will need it. Jan 2009 needed a wheelchair to get on. January 2010 I was able to walk on, but had to wheelchair it off. I have a bad back and sometimes can't walk when it flares up. I can be fine one minute and on the floor unable to stand the next minute. I also like having it for the ports with the really long piers. Sometimes I can walk them, other times DH has to push, but at least I know I can always get off the ship.

[needabreakcanada]

Anyone know how much a wheelchair rental is for 1 week?

[Cruisegirl6]

I have fibromyalgia for years and for years I been cruising. I also have anoloking spondolosis along with other health problems....

 

my good friend also has fibro and takes cruises

 

Would you believe that we feel better she and myself on cruises!!! The first day we same, the next day we are simply less pain! The day before we get back to port we feel it full blast again...now in ports in the caribbean we still better go figure.

 

Now my dad has been saying that our minds are off of it but trust me I take land vacations so does my girlfriend and we both never get any better on land vacations, j ust maybe like us you will have less pains at sea. I tell you if I could afford to live on a ship I would because half the pains go after first day sailing!

[Cruisegirl6]

About acupuncture I have done that in the past when my insurance paid for it, but medicare not pay so its been years, it took few treatments for me to feel results but its only TEMPORARY just as one with herniated discs in their neck (like myself too lol) get physical therapy it helps once it ends pain gets back to where it was. Acupuncture will help and give relief but you have to do it a few times to feel any results...massages just help take the edge off and also temporary...nothing and I mean nothing stops this pain. :(

[Oscar_the_Grouch's_Sis]

oops double post

[Oscar_the_Grouch's_Sis]

Dear Newbie,

 

Relax, Cruises were meant for Fibromyalgia patients. I've had fibro for almost 50 years, and cruising is without a doubt the easiest vacation formula for me. You pack once and the ship carries you and your belongings from attraction to attraction. There are not huge distances between onboard locations, and there are many elevators. If you are not up to your original plans, you can drop out at any time and go back to your cabin, leaving the rest of your party to continue until you feel ready to catch up.

 

 

Exactly :D

 

I LOVE to travel ... but traveling does NOT love me anymore. (especially since I still insist on traveling solo) BUT I discovered the cruise vacation is perfect. As Alan mentioned, what could be better than having right there within reach - your room, food, activities etc etc all right there!! (I went on one to Alaska last May and loved it so much I am going again in Sept.)

 

I am not going to lie and say it is always easy. It isn't. Life with FMS is very difficult. You know that!(Do you hate those drug commercials as much as I do? The ones where it looks like FMS is nothing more than a sore neck or stiff back :rolleyes:) But when you travel and start having a good time, the endorphins will kick in.(You can crash when you get back LOL) ... Without fail, I always have a really BIG flare right before I am due to leave and I always think "this time I really can't go" but it always works out ok.

 

I think you will have a good time. ... I too was wondering what would happen if I really could not make it back to my cabin one night. (I was upgraded to an Aft - so I am a little nervous. Last time I was right by an elevator. BTW, I walk with a cane.) I don't think it would be a bad idea to contact Special Needs and see what they do in those cases. If I have to, I will rent a scooter for the week just in case. I do know my Fibro gets worse every year :( But with that said, I am still EXCITED about my cruise!!! I will have a good time and so will you!! :D

[Cruisegirl6]

Of course you both will have a very good time! The trick is to push yourself, never give into our disabilities but do know when to stop when its necessary. I also laugh at those stupid commercials...and you ever hear all those side effects.. I just took a medication for another medical problem and I tell you I thought I was going to die...I got nauseas, dizzy, felt like I didn't have my mind it was so scary thankfully for friends online to keep my head going and busy I was able to fight it. What I am trying to say drugs may help with some problems but cause bigger other problems, but a cruise is so much needed....you need to live and you need to have a good time and enjoy your cruise!