Camping with mobility restrictions...

Invasion

Hey

I'm going camping with my youth group in about 2 months, I suffer quite badly with ME and chronic pain amongst other things, and tend to use trekking poles/anything I can to support myself inside, and use one of my wheelchairs when out of the house, have both a manual and an electric. I can only sit up semi-unsupported (without pillows) for about an hour without extreme pain, more if I'm supported with pillows etc. Last year, on the same trip I ended up having the emergency doctor called out after the whole thing took it's toll and I became pretty ill. This year, I'm trying to find as many ways as possible to make it as easy as possible, bearing in mind that it is camping, and I will probably still end the 5 days feeling awful and spending the next couple of weeks in bed :P To my mind it's worth it for a little fun and normality!

I've a 4 man pop up tent, which I'll be sleeping in on my own, it's got enough room for me to sit/stand to get dressed, which was a huge problem last year as I was in a 2 man tent, what with all the extra things I need there was very little room for me! Have somewhere to charge my elec chair, and being in a group, the leaders will be doing all the cooking etc. Basically, any tips at all to try and conserve as much energy as possible, and end the week in as little pain as possible, hopefully avoiding the doctor all week and any other camping/holiday trips, seeing as it's coming up to that time of year anyway

TIA! Rachel

Savvy_Sue

Any chance of taking a nap in the afternoon? I find I just don't get enough sleep when camping, because of all the ambient noise ... ie people who DON'T need their beauty sleep staying up till the early hours!

sheeps68

Do you have a proper camp bed. That helped me a lot over a blow up bed. Another plus was a nice reclineing camping arm chair. A good set of ear plugs and eye mask help with ensuring decent rest.
Most of all enjoy it. My health may not be good but I do enjoy camping.

Savvy_Sue

If you go for a camp bed, make sure you put blankets under your sleeping bag, to insulate you from the howling draft blowing beneath it.

My preference would be for a fold out foam block mattress, if you've got space in the car.

Invasion

I will most definitely be sleeping in the afternoon, earplugs, eyemask at the ready! I have a chair bed, which is a foam block mattress, I lie on it out in the garden, but never thought about taking it! Will see if we might have space, plan on enjoying it very much! thanks to both of you

joolsybools

Does massage help your pain? Maybe take some nice oil and ask for a volunteer? (Maybe best to ask the adults though!)

sheeps68

Just another thought. Try to get a pitch close to facilities as you dont want to have to waste your energy trudging across a camp site to use facilities and respond to nature. Most camp sites will do this for you if you ask in advance.

foreign_correspondent

I second earplugs!!! I also find I sleep far better in a tradition rectangular sleeping bag then the 'mummy' style ones as I feel too consricted!

A tent you can stand up in is great, I also always take plenty of baby wipes with me - great for freshening up when you dont want a shower, removing make up, and maintaining good personal hygeine lol! (sorry if TMI!!!)

Take a few things to make life easier for you, a refillable drinking water bottle, maybe some little snacks, a book to read, so that if you want to go and have a rest in your tent you can spend a few hours there and be comfortable.

Invasion

Unfortunately my muscles are normally to inflammed and I have to be v careful about massage, TENS is useful though

We should have a pitch close to loos and shower, as it was meant to have gone in with all our deposits. baby wipes, thankyou! Can't shower standing up and won't be taking my shower chair w/ me, so lots of baby wipes! Been stocking up on sample boxes of cheerios that keep arriving with the tesco order to take w/ me. Will be taking some audio books on my iPod, can't read much with the brain frogs

foreign_correspondent

you can also buy some flushable wipes, which are great as you dont have to dispose of them in a bin... lidl do them, as do asda. The kids bum wipe things (kandoo!?) are flushable too.

Well done on going camping with the youth group btw - I have worked with young people with cfs/me and know how socially islolated people can become sometimes. You sound very pro-active and positive.

Horace

Just wanted to say that I hope you have a lovely time camping - a camp bed is definitely a must as that will keep you off the ground at least. Also take a toilet roll with you - it sounds mad but some places don't even provide them:eek:

Don't let your disability put you off camping - loads of folks go, I know loads of folks in wheelchairs who camp regularly, they're all as mad as a box of frogs but great too - when they get really drunk they start filling up their false limbs with beer and even auction off their wheelchair wheels (nabd.org.uk - these are bikers with a disability and they manage to go camping).

Hope you have a fab time.