What to do about holidays this year????

**DanielleP924** · 12-12-2009, 09:11 PM

Okay, I need some more advice here. We always drive back to Indiana where my husband's family lives, and where we used to live, for the holidays. It's 600 miles from where we live in Wisconsin, which makes it a very long drive. Sometimes we drive it all in one day. Last year we did and it took us 12 hours with all the stops we made. Sometimes we take 2 days and stop part way at either my sister's in Chicago or at a hotel in Rockford, IL. We finish the drive on the second day. And this is without any bad weather, which is always a possibility at this time of the year.

Issue: I'm in a huge amount of pain. I'm used to traveling and driving with my normal level of back pain, but this year, I have the ruptured disk and the pain is exponentially worse than usual. I haven't driven in a couple of months because the pain is so bad and I'm taking pain meds round-the-clock. My husband and son can do all the driving, that's not a problem, but I'm just not sure I should make the trip this year. I think I'll be more miserable and not even enjoy being with family.

It's very stressful to me to have to deal with packing and boarding the dogs. Since I can't drive at the moment, I have to depend on others to help me out. I just don't know what I should do. What happens if the pain gets even worse and I end up having to go to a hospital out of town for pain management????

Personally, I think my best bet is to stay home this year. Send the gifts with my husband and son and just rest and prepare for my trip to Mayo, which would be a couple of days after we would get back from our trip to Indiana. I think it will be way too much to travel to Indiana for a week and a half and then have to come home and have to travel to Rochester for a week. There would only be a couple of days between the 2 trips.

I guess maybe I answered my own dilemma. What would you guys do in my place????? Any advice would be wonderful. Thanks again!

DanielleP924

**Dave** · 12-12-2009, 09:36 PM

If it were I, I'd stay home. My family would understand. What do your family members think?

**DanielleP924** · 12-12-2009, 09:55 PM

thanks dave for your advice. I'm thinking the same thing. The family will understand my not traveling this year. I just hate missing out on seeing everyone.

I had to do the majority of my gift buying online because I hurt way too much to go out shopping in person.

It sucks that I have to wait until january to get anything done for the pain. It's going to be a lonely holiday. My next door neighbor has no family at all and we are good friends and will likely hang out together.

Thanks again. I totally appreciate your thoughts.

-DanielleP924

**Dave** · 12-12-2009, 10:05 PM

Question for ya. Do you take pain meds at all? I can't remember reading if you did or not. Pain really does bad things to us when we do not want it to.

Here is a positive way to look at the situation, you will be helping a good friend have a nice holiday by not being alone. This could be a blessing in disguise.

**KBear** · 12-13-2009, 12:01 AM

I agree, I would definitely stay home. I'm sure the family will understand and maybe you could use skype or something to 'see' and talk with them on Christmas. My pain is always so much worse when on a road trip. I go to my sisters in Austin, about 3.5 hours with stops, from me, and I end up eating pain pills like candy and still hurt. Then, I hurt worse for several days after each trip.

**Justin** · 12-13-2009, 09:32 AM

Hi Danielle,

I would stay home as well. Your trip to Indiana is a big trip without a herniated disc in your spine. Kathy brings up a great suggestion about using Skype to connect with your family from afar. I would lay low this year and enjoy the Holiday with your next door neighbor--you will thank yourself when you travel to the Mayo Clinic.

Happy Holidays!

**DanielleP924** · 12-13-2009, 02:39 PM

Dave, I do take pain meds; more than I like, but I am no martyr. If it hurts, why not do something about it???

**DanielleP924** · 12-13-2009, 02:41 PM

I really appreciate your honest thoughts on this matter. I've decided that I am not going to go. I am in way too much pain right now to make such a long trip. It always makes my back worse anyway and now with the ruptured disk...it would just make it insanely worse. So, I will hang out with my neighbor and we'll turn on the fireplace and watch some movies with our dogs.

Thanks again!

**Cindylou** · 12-14-2009, 12:15 AM

Well, you have your answer again, so I'm just affirming the decision you made. Definitely stay home. It's just not worth it. There will be other Christmas's, and this will be an excellent opportunity to enjoy the company of your neighbor.

**DanielleP924** · 12-14-2009, 06:05 AM

As usual, I find you all to be very wise and so helpful. I told my family that I'm not traveling with them this year and that they will have to go without me. Just don't forget to bring my presents back!

This really bites! I'm so sick of this pain. I woke up at 4am with excrutiatingly horrible pain. That's usually about when the pain meds I took at bedtime the night before have warn off. Isn't there some sort of pain medication that will help me sleep and last for 8 hours????? If so, I have yet to find it.

DanielleP924