Working Around Lyme for Our Honeymoon

It has been so good for me to keep busy over this past year, and I have become pretty good at making adjustments to normal life that still allow me to do things. Well, when we were planning our honeymoon, Bryan really wanted to go on a cruise. A cruise to any type of tropical location was out of the question because of sun sensitivity due to all the antibiotics I'm taking, (I literally get hundreds of little blisters on areas that are exposed over a long period of time, even with sunscreen...found this out the hard way.) So we decided to take an Alaskan cruise on Holland America Line. More about this later.

It was the best decision to do the cruise, and we made memories that we will have forever. The cruise was relaxing, with lots to do if we wanted to do things, and lots of R&R if we didn't. I needed some serious rest after the craziness of planning a wedding! We got room service for breakfast almost every morning, and enjoyed a few formal dinners in the dining room. One of the best parts for me was that I could be outside as much as I wanted to, because when we were outside I wanted to be bundled up (to keep warm,) so everything was covered, thus no problems with sun exposure. We ported in Juneau, Skagway & Ketchikan, Alaska; Vancouver & Victoria, B.C.; cruised in Glacier Bay National Park; and finally ported in San Diego. We were both too tired to really do anything in San Diego other than fly home, but it was a wonderful trip!

After a lot of debate, we decided to rent a wheelchair for the duration of the trip (www.carevacations.com, 877-478-7827) so that I would be able to enjoy the trip and see as much as possible, and also so that Bryan would be more in charge of the tempo of the trip...and well, not waiting for me everywhere we went. The decision to rent a wheelchair was also one of the best we could have made. I think it's one of the most effective ways to beat lyme fatigue (until I get better.) A wheelchair allows me to keep going for much, much longer than I would be able to if I was walking. I have had such a hard time with this over the past year. I don't like the idea of using a wheelchair for anything, and frankly, I know I don't look sick. I worry about what people think when they see a young, healthy-looking person sitting in a rented wheelchair.

Bryan says I worry too much. He has had a much easier time embracing the wheelchair option than I have, but I have to admit that it was the best thing for us to do. We made the arrangements several weeks before our cruise, and for about $75, it was in our stateroom waiting for us when we got on the ship. The $75 covered the 11-day cruise, and they came to pick it up on the last day. We brought a backpack (Bryan calls it my diaper bag...complete with all my meds, water & snacks to take them with,) and I bundled up each day with the wool plaid blankets provided by the ship. I would sit down in the chair in the hall outside our room, and then we'd be off. I did get tired a few times even with the help of the wheelchair, but we got to see everything we wanted to. Almost everything was wheelchair accessible, and the few things that weren't were prioritized...at Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, B.C., for example, we decided to brave the 5 flights of stairs in order to SLOWLY view the place. I had actually been there when I was 17, and loved it so much that I insisted Bryan see it...so we did it. It was worth it.

Holland America Line was wonderful, and we actually got an added bonus. We hadn't planned to book with HAL, but because it was so late in the season, we went with them because they had the LAST Alaskan cruise scheduled of all the lines we could find. It worked out perfectly with our wedding plans & schedule, too. Well, we didn't know that HAL actually caters to older clientele, so that Bryan and I were among the youngest on the ship, by about 30 years. One night in the dining room, the staff came out to sing to us and bring us a little cake that said, "Happy Anniversary." They also sang us an anniversary song, and then afterward explained that they don't usually get honeymooners...it was really funny. This actually worked to our advantage, because as slow and awkward as we were, we didn't feel out of place or in the way at all. The staff was wonderful and we didn't have any problems navigating the ship with the wheelchair either. If you are currently dealing with the disability associated with Lyme, I would highly recommend this option as a wonderful vacation possibility. We had a great time!

Wedded Bliss!

September 18, 2009 was a gorgeous day in Portland, Oregon, and it was a wonderful day for Bryan and I. I was feeling pretty good and probably going on adrenaline when I got up at 5:45 am to start getting ready for our big day. I was excited with some butterflies in my stomach. Bryan called to see how I was feeling and tell me he loved me. Half an hour later we were getting last minute things in order before our marriage ceremony. I did fine all the way through all of that...I'm sure the adrenaline helped.

After our marriage ceremony, we met each of our guests, most of whom offered us hugs along with their congratulations. That's where I ran into some problems. By the time I was in the Bride's room prepping for pictures, I felt almost too weak to stand up. I have such a hard time doing anything that requires me to lift my arms...it wears me out fast. Luckily, my wonderful friends wrangled up a wheelchair for me to use for the two hours we were taking formal photographs. While I didn't want any pictures of it, we did have it behind the scenes for me to sit down and rest, and also allowed me to save my energy for the rest of the day ahead. I've had a hard time with using wheelchairs and scooters, but I am a practical person, and I know that for right now, there are moments where they are a necessity.

To save my strength and energy further, instead of changing out of my gown for our luncheon, (at an ITALIAN restaurant, no less...) I opted to remain in the white ball gown and take my chances. Some very kind servers helped me to creatively cover myself with an off-white tablecloth so that I could enjoy the lasagna I had ordered for lunch. Don't worry, no major catastrophes, and the lasagna was great!

After the luncheon and before the photos prior to our reception, we grabbed a quick nap on the couch at the church. I have learned to trust my body and to listen to it. When I have trouble listening, luckily I am surrounded by people who will help me out by telling me what to do. Bryan is one of those people, and there were a couple others this day that "forced" me to take a nap. It was good for me. I've found that frequent naps allow me to be more productive.

Another thing that helps me is to avoid standing for long periods of time. We decided that during our reception I would sit while we were greeting guests, and instead of mingling, we would invite people to come and mingle with us where we were. We found a taller chair that was the appropriate height, and Bryan stood beside me all night. It worked beautifully. Other than cutting the cake, our first dance, and dancing with my dad, I was able to sit the whole time.

As a result of all the little things we did throughout the day to conserve my strength, I even felt good enough to dance with Bryan and our friends for a bit (who could resist dancing when "Dancing Queen" is playing??) towards the end of the evening.

At the hotel, I was obviously so exhausted that Bryan had to carry me into the room....wait. I guess that's really more a rite of passage, huh? All joking aside, to us it had been a perfect day. For a few short moments on a beautiful, early-fall day in September, we got to forget all about Lyme disease and have the perfect life! Now begins the real journey, and I am so happy to have Bryan by my side.