Long Distance Driving

We did this once (to colorado) and it was harder on my back than it was on my prolapse. We did not stop to sleep- drove straight, took driving in shifts and were in the car about 40something hours.
I'd say stop every half hour but that isn't practical. Every two hours may be enough- if you stop for a little while-15 min or long enough to stretch out.

The next time we traveled we rented a RV and I just got in the bed in the back when I was not driving. Much better :)

Safe travels to you.

We have a rule that says, "Change drivers after 100km". Just getting out and walking around to the other side of the car, and having a bit of a stretch is usually the trick. I usually feel after I have driven my 100km as if I need a walk for 1/2km, and want DH to pick me up 1/2 km up the track, but I haven't convinced him yet of the merit of it. I'll work on that.

I find my biggest challenge driving long distances is sitting in one place for so long, on a seat that is not horizontal. My driver's seat in my car is fine. It has a firm foam wedges, trimmed to fit the contour of the seat, under my car seat cover. It is my husband's vehicle, our long distance vbehicle, a Toyota 4WD that has slopey seats, that I hate. I have a tightly folded/rolled blanket that changes sides with me, whether I am passenger or driver.

Of course my little D-shaped lumbar pillow goes with me everywhere. If I am not using it to fill the gap behind me in chairs I don't choose, I am sitting on it cross-legged on the ground/floor. My blowup neck c-cushion lives inside its zipped cover, in case I want to take a nap while passenger.

L

Hope it is a worthwhile trip, Oceanblue. I am sure you will work it out. Stick to your guns. You have as much right to comfort as hmmm does.

Louise

Hi Oceanblue,
One word: hot water bottle. You can adjust it accordingly and it fits nicely between the lumbar curve and the car seat. I would be interested to hear if you find this helpful with pop? Other women have found that they want to adjust the water level as the driving goes along, making it fuller or emptier for long road trips. By doing this, and adjusting the lower seat, you won't get stuck in one position for too long.
Safe travels!

WHOA! how'd you do that? awesome!!!

Windows is so boring. No special characters in Word that fit the bill, not even in Wingdings.

Hot water bottle. Wonderful idea. I guess warm water would be a good place to start, cos it would feel nice. I wonder if a bit of air would be just as useful? It would be harder, but not impossible to blow it up a bit, by separating the sides and pushing it down a bit before sealing the lid. A HWB would also be long and narrow, so it would fill the scoop in the back of the seat.

I have one of those plastic, circular cushions which is inflatable to any level. They are used with only little air for balancing exercises after ankle injuries, but are also good for relieving pressure on sit bones while sitting on a hard chair.

...and I cannot carry a tune anyway ;)
But as far as the hot water bottle goes - yes, it is great to have the option of putting hot water in it, but the value actually lies in the fact that it is completely malleable. Talk about custom fit...air, water, whatever...the hottie has become my best friend while driving for hours upon hours a day. I am very interested to hear from others if it is helpful for pop?

Hmmm. Thanks for the tip, I may try this for my long commute to work! By the time I get to work through traffic, my POP and all it's related this and thats are aleady affecting me from the drive. I haven't conquered that slope in the car yet, even though I've tried using pillows as anti-dote to level the seat. My dad said he thinks he saw a car wash with something that was like foam rubber to fix that type of seat. I hope I can find it.

The seat's still a daily prob for me, plus, when I try to level the seat like that so I'm not sitting on a seat that very much slopes down into my butt area from my high up thighs, I end up sitting soooo high in the car that it's silly. The visor, even in the up position is in my way, and I'm practically hitting the ceiling with my head. Another good laugh over a bothersome condition!! : ) "Officer, I CAN'T get out of the car, my head is stuck somewhere in my car's ceiling. You see, I have this thing called POP....." lol

I've been wanting musical notes forever...how do I do it on my MAC? (Am only as literate as necessary for the moment.) THANK YOU!! (Even if you can't help me.)YD

So happy to hear it might be helpful, Oceanblue. And good on you for making covers! Do let us know how your trip goes

Whom but the midwife amongst us would've come up with that? :D

Have a great trip, Oceanblue. ♥

Hope the rest of your journey goes well. Ah, Quebec!

Yes, you have confirmed me Oceanblue.

My hubs been wanting the big trip in the caravan and I've been stalling, singing the praises of tropical resorts. Been a stalemate. You've decided me to stick by my guns.

Thanks for being the adventurer, sore but wise

I think it is OK, as long as the trip is personally worthwhile for you. I don't really think long periods in a car are very good for anybody, but with the right seating aids and the right attitude, I will do it again, but I couldn't hack being an interstate truckie, doing it month in, month out!

Seeing the South Australian outback up close, with all its vastness, is the only way possible to see it. Likewise other parts of outback Australia. Six hours a day driving or being passenger, and sleeping in a tiny tent on an air mattress for three weeks is pretty extreme, but I did return none the worse for wear, POP-wise or any other way.

Glad you are home again safely, Oceanblue.

Louise

oh man Oceanblue- hope that you feel recovered soon- I hate feeling sapped. The last trip we took, we rented an RV. It was amazing and well worth the money for us. We are so many people, buying plane tickets gets expensive.
I would like to do a train trip. Has anyone tried that? We would get a sleeper car I think.
I just want my kids to experience trains!

Trains are magic. And trains in the States are very well-organised magic! We did a wonderful trip from NYC to Quebec, among other US train trips, a few years ago. Very memorable, comfortable, and picturesque. USA and Canada people, you are so lucky to have such a comprehensive, and vast network available to you.

DH and I also travelled from Perth Western Australia, to Adelaide, South Australia, on the Indian Pacific sleeper, with our vehicle on one of the vehicle wagons. It is the best way to travel the Nullabor. We drove back, which took a slightly different route, as the highway is a long way from the railway line. The train windows are a rhythmic, slowly passing parade.

Louise