AIRPLANES, RLS, and other TRAVEL TIPS.



The Bag of Tricks Approach, as outlined in the RLS Rebel Program, has four parts. First, you gather all your tricks. But in the second step, you realize there are different tricks that are appropriate for different situations. Travel is a unique situation. The tricks you use for airplane trips might be very different than the ones you'd use for car travel. So, you have to "Pack Your Bags" appropriately.

For information on the B.O.T.A. (bag of tricks approach) click on this picture:

For information on Step 2 of the B.O.T.A. "Pack Your Bags", click on this picture:



Since air travel seems to be the most frightening activity for RLSers, the following tips will focus on airplane travel. Most importantly, be sure to.....

PLAN AHEAD.

COUNT on having RLS attacks show up.

BE PREVENTATIVE.....but also, be prepared.

After reading the following tips, if you have questions, or want to think through some other tricks with me, just write. I'd be happy to help.
Drop me a line!


In March of 1999, I made an emergency 20 hour plane trip to Singapore. This was PRE-BOTA, but I still had a bag of tricks with me. For details of that experience, see my Singapore page.

From that early experience, and from the tips of many other RLSers, I developed the following list of travel tricks.

1. TAKE A MUG: I take a big mug with tea bags already in it. I use a thermal Nissan mug, with two Tension Tamer Tea bags (Celestial Seasonings) and my sweetener already in it. When I sense an RLS attack coming on, I pull out the mug and ask the flight attendant to fill it with hot water. Then I sip, and relax.

Sometimes, I have the mug filled just as I'm boarding the plane. One problem is that the hot water faucets on the plane won't take a tall mug under them, so they never really fill the mug. I've learned to stop at a restaurant or snack bar near the boarding gate, and have THEM fill it to the brim. You're already through security at that point, so there's no problem taking it on board. For long flights, just take extra bags and sweetener, for refills, later in the flight.

2. MUSIC, MOVIES, DISTRACTIONS: I try to take along a portable CD player with my earphones and favorite music. Other options are to rent a portable DVD player at the airport (just saw this in San Diego), and watch your own private movie on the trip. But be aware that certain types of movies can aggravate RLS. For me, slapstick themes, or ones where they get deeper and deeper into trouble, drive my RLS crazy. If you rent the DVD player, I guess you return the player and movie at the next stop, or on your return trip. When my RLS started up, on a recent trip, I pulled out my video camera and watched the tape of the whole vacation. Never had a problem, once I got involved in the video. I ususally try to have some kind of paper work, or busy work to keep distracted.

3. CLOTHING: Wear whatever helps you, the most. For me, it means very thin baggy slacks, shoes that can be kicked off, and no jackets or confining things on top. I've got one pair of baggy slacks that I only wear for car or plane travel. Weird, but they always seem to keep me comfortable, and not aggravate things.

4. RESERVE AN AISLE SEAT: If you can't get an aisle seat when you make your reservation, try asking for it at the gate. Be sure to remind them that RLS is covered under the "Air Carriers Access Act", which means they have to provide you with the same services offered to other disabled passengers. (This does NOT mean they have to give you an aisle seat. See the article in the May issue of Nightwalkers.) Most airlines reserve the front bulk head seats for last minute assignment to the disabled. Some of us would rather have a regular row seat, so we can put our feet under the seat in front of us, rather than having the bulkhead wall. It's also a good idea to ask at the gate, as soon as you get there, for the Exit row...which usually has more leg room.

And one more seating trick.......if you are travelling as a couple, reserve the aisle and window seat. If the plane isn't full, there's a good chance no one will want the middle seat. This will give you more leg room. If someone DOES come for that seat, they are usually thrilled to take the aisle or window, if you want to move over to sit by your travelling partner.

5. BE LAST TO BOARD: I wait until they call the last group of people to board, and then I'm the last person in THAT group. If your seat is assigned already, there's no rush to get to it (unless you need to find overhead room for your carry on luggage....and you MIGHT be able to give that to a flight attendant and have them put it above your seat). If you're the last to board, you'll be distracted with the quick take off, and less likely to have RLS while sitting around getting claustrophobic as people crowd in around you.

6. TAKE FOOD: Pizza really smells, and irritates nearby hungry passengers...but hey, it's allowed. Better bet is a sandwich and drink. There's no problem bringing them on board. They'll keep you busy and distracted.

7. RLS DISTRACTION TREATS: Besides your regular meals and snacks, remember to have those special RLS foods which help to keep you distracted, i.e. suckers, raisins, peanuts, popcorn.

8. PUSH-CUSH: There's a gimmick that might be worth a try. It's called a Push-Cush, or leg exerciser. It's a two chamber pillow that helps you keep your feet moving. It's made to prevent blood clots and improve circulation, but we suspect it could help with RLS. I bought one and have had some success with it, but I'm not sure it's necessary to really have one. Once I understood how it worked, and what muscles and rhythm was involved, I've found I can simulate the motions, without the pillow. This has worked for me many times in cars and planes and at theaters. As long as your legs are marching and the thigh muscles are working and you are concentrating on keeping the motions going....you'll probably be RLS free. Worst is, it'll start up the minute you stop. So...don't stop! :)

The Push Cush deflates absolutely flat, so it would be easy to always have along. If interested, try this URL (Do NOT try to retype this! Just double click on it and it'll come up. If you insist on typing it, just do the first part, with the "http://www.magellans.com" and then search for "push cush".

9. BEWARE, THE BEVERAGE CART!!!: Anticipate the dreaded service cart!!! There's no worse time on a flight, than when the food service cart is coming down the aisle, and you foresee the impending roadblock to your ability to stand and walk. Know this and plan for it! When they get within several rows of you, go for a walk. Only sit down at the last minute. By then, you'll be busy ordering and accepting your drink/food, and it'll pass the time. Otherwise, by the time they get to you, you'll be ready to run, but won't be able to. Also, it's a good idea to get YOUR tea, or whatever you use to calm yourself, inside of you in time for it to be working, when the car appears.

10. BRUSHING: Brushing has saved me on many flights. It's a brisk fast massage. Click "here" for more information on it, and scroll down to Trick #6.

11. BUSY WORK: Take appropriate and effective busy work. This can be reading material, knitting, video games, or paper work. Make sure it's the type that distracts you well. I find that magazines will actually aggravate my RLS, so I try to stay clear of them.

12. RUBBER BAND TRICK: Try the" Rubber Band Trick"



I really think having a plan of action ready, anticipating problems, and making some advanced adjustments, will go far in reducing the panic and the horrible experiences RLSers remember from past travels and dread about future travels.

Good luck on your travels. When you get back, drop me a line and let me know how you did, so I can share the best tips with others. I originally wrote up all these tips for a lady who emailed me to say she was heading to Spain, and was petrified of the RLS on the flight. She wrote back that the little bit of RLS that appeared, was easily handled. May it be so easy, for you.

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