Off to Lisbon on Thursday with a friend. My first flight since my accident and I'm feeling really anxious. It's something I have to do, and it's not something I want to do right now. Feel the fear and all means I'm going to be on that Air Portugal flight, but there are so many uncertainties. It's blindingly obvious now, but one way to cope is to limit the variables. Go to a new city , but go there by train. Make sure you speak the language. Fly and go to a familiar place. I have been to Portugal, to Lisbon in fact, but all I remember is that cuttlefish are very salty. This is the first time for ages that I've wished I had legs. Everything would be so much easier. I wouldn't have to plan or be organised, I could just go. Be spontaneous and free.
So, the flight first. I've told the airline I'm a wheelchair user ("immobile") and they seem OK with that. I've said I want to take my chair up to the door of the plane and that I want a window seat. I had thought an aisle seat would be easier, because then I wouldn't have to flounder about trying to transfer over armrests. However, Apparelyzed ("Spinal Cord Injury Peer Support") have these useful tips and suggest a window seat. So that's booked (the bulkhead has already gone to the traveller that likes to stretch out). What about insurance? Should I get a specialised policy, "especially created for people who are disabled and those with pre-existing medical conditions"? Or just a simple Amex one? On cost alone, the Amex wins hands down at half the price for the same trip. And it's recommended by a wheelchair using friend who does a lot of travelling. I'll speak to Amex tomorrow and see what they say. They do cover existing medical conditions...
So, insurance semi-sorted. I've been to the doctor. Sitting in the surgery, reading its red dot-matrix display I realise I have done the right thing: "If you are going abroad, make an appointment to see your GP". Ah, well done. Until I read the next bit: "at least eight weeks before you travel". Oh. Spontaneity doesn't rule here then. I'm going in three days. Doctor is very cool about it all (we're incredibly lucky in that we've got a brilliant GP. So brilliant he came round to our house a few days after I'd returned home just to check in, find out what I might need. Amazing). I say I'm worried about DVT "colloquially known as economy class syndrome", having had a clot in hospital. He says that I'm in fact less likely to have a clot since I've already had one, but that medical support stockings might help. I get measured up tomorrow for my glamorous pair. He also writes a letter declaring me "fit to fly" and 'needs self-intermittent catheters' (in case someone thinks all the liquid will be used for terrorist purposes, apparently, bizarrely), for a 'nominal' fee of £16. Excessive precaution perhaps but better to be safe than...
I've talked to the Salisbury Spinal Unit, and they're sending me some information. I've contacted the hotel to get door widths and bathroom door widths. I've spoken to my home insurance company to check that my wheelchair is covered for damage outside the home and abroad. It is. I heard a horror story when I was in the hospital from someone who arrived at their glorious (Mexican) holiday destination to find their chair had been broken in transit. Airline offer temporary replacement for length of holiday. Cushion dies. All fine until last day when pressure sore develops. By the time he's back home, pressure sore major problem and he comes straight from the plane to the Spinal Unit where he lies on bed rest for four months. And the airline refused to re-imburse him for his wheelchair.
God, what a nightmare. I want to travel. I used to travel everywhere, completely spontaneously, just showing up in countries with no idea of where to stay or what to do. Now I seem to have to plan everything down to the last miniscule degree. It's ridiculous and incredibly disheartening, I suppose it's my first time and it will get better. But it doesn't feel that great right now. And I don't even speak Portuguese.
