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A holiday can provide you with a much needed change of scenery, an opportunity to make new friends and an escape from your usual routine. This can also give rise to anxieties and worries about how this change will affect your health.
Whether you are taking your holiday with your parents/ carers, partner/ friends or on your own you will need to have a good think about what you want from your holiday and you will need to plan your trip carefully.
What sort of holiday?
Do you want to get away from it all and hide away in the hills, or would a relaxation course in yoga or meditation do it for you? Maybe a foreign escape to the sun or a cooler climate is the answer.
Action for M.E. has a list of some companies and holiday cottages that consider themselves to be suitable for people with M.E. called Action for M.E. information sheet: Holiday and respite care (free for members and £1 for non-members) available from our Wells office 01749 670799. Deciding what sort of holiday can be tricky, have a look at the ideas below:
Different people find different environments and activities relaxing, so it's a good idea to work out what your own needs are. Is it somewhere quiet, somewhere where you can take your playstation or is it some where with internet access? Make sure you check out your accommodation can meet these needs.
For some people finding a place to stay that offers them some form of retreat, maybe spiritual or educational, can be the ideal get away. Check out the type of accommodation though as some may only offer shared rooms. It's important to investigate the type of course on offer and how intensive it is. Will you have enough time to rest and pace your activities? A course can be a great way to meet new friends.
If your symptoms are severe then you will require full time care whilst you are on holiday. Accommodation offering nursing care is listed in the holiday and respite care information sheet. This can be a great opportunity for you have to a break from your usual carers and to give them a well-earned break too.
If you're up to it and finance allows why not go abroad? For some people relaxing in the sunshine might just be the tonic. However other people find that sun aggravates their symptoms, in which case a colder climate might be more suitable.
If you are flying to your destination, you might want to let the airport know you have mobility difficulties. Being driven around the airport will save your energy for the rest of the trip. Carry any medication in your hand luggage just in case you need it during the flight.
Planning
It's really easy to take for granted your 'M.E. kit' that you've built up around you at home, even such things as decaffeinated drinks or healthy snacks. Make a note of your essentials so that you don't forget to take them away with you. Often it can be difficult to find such items if you are in a remote location or overseas.
Getting to your holiday can be exhausting, especially if your M.E. has prevented you travelling any distance for a while. Make sure you factor in time to recover from the journey. Plan what you will need to have with you when you are travelling e.g. medication, relaxation CDs, food and drink, pillows, eye mask.
Being away from it all could lull you into a false sense of wellness. Make sure you plan your time when you are away in the same way you would at home. By pacing your time you should ensure that you don't push yourself too far and prevent spending the final part of your holiday recovering in bed.
If you are claiming/ receiving welfare benefits, it may be useful to discuss your holiday absence with your adviser, particularly if you are going abroad, to ensure that you continue to comply with regulations.
Accommodation
Depending on your budget, your preferred location or your travelling companions, the type of accommodation you chose will have a major impact on the quality of your holiday. Make sure you choose wisely!
Hotels can often be the most expensive type of accommodation but the benefits for you might include not having to clean up! Think about what sort of room you want e.g. room service, a window that opens or a view from your bed, and check with the hotel before you book.
Whilst this can be a cheaper option, check the house rules to make sure you can stay in if you are not up to going out. A B & B is unlikely to have the same range of facilities as a hotel, but a small home may just provide you with more peace and quiet. Make sure you ask the owner about all the facilities so you don't get any surprises when you arrive.
This can offer a more flexible and private holiday, although you will need to cook for yourself or eat out if you are up to it. If you are going away with a group of people, either family or friends, a self-catering holiday home may give you spare rooms to get some rest in throughout the day.
Insurance
If you are travelling overseas you will need to take out holiday and car insurance (where appropriate). Bear in mind that your M.E. is an existing medical condition and as such may not be covered by the traditional holiday insurance package. Check with your insurer that you will be covered if you are taken ill and need care or treatment to get you safely home.
For a range of information and advice check out our useful links page.
Whatever you decide have a fantastic break, you never know it might help you see your illness with a different perspective!
Information produced April 2004
