New Beginnings: Navigating a Cross-Country Move with Long Covid
How it's going and how I got here :)
Inspired by my dear friend
in her out of state move a few years ago, I can now rejoice and say, I’VE MOVED!!! There’s a fantastic article here that interviews several Long Haulers who had to move due to environmental triggers. I highly recommend reading that. Now my decision to move was more to be closer to family, but as it seems, I think there were some environmental triggers that also contributed to the severity of my symptoms. While I’ve only been in my new home for a few months now, I already feel a lot better! My daily step count has doubled, I’ve been able to go on walks every day and I haven’t had devastating PEM from it, which is a miracle! (For those unfamiliar PEM stands for Post Exertional Malaise, which is the significant worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion.) Oh the joys of Long Covid! I must admit, there is a bit of trepidation admitting this, as I don’t want to jinx anything lol… but so far I am at peace and very happy about this large (and pricey) move.My nervous system seems to be at much greater ease, being closer to home and family where I can drink clean water, recognize the bugs, and enjoy amazing produce once again! I forgot what west coast produce is like! I must admit, I have had moments of either bravery or foolishness, I can’t decide, where I test eating foods that usually trigger me. Unfortunately, I do still have food sensitivities, especially with high histamine foods, which have caused multi-day histamine hangovers. Life without avocados and strawberries is rough, haha! One day!
Moving here was by far the strangest logistical move I’ve done yet. I searched for homes online, and with the help of an amazingly wonderful friend of mine, toured the house virtually before signing a lease. My dad was able to help me pickup the keys so I could gain access to the house before I arrived, and my mom was able to help drop off some necessities as I would be flying in and my belongings would arrive many weeks later. It was a strange feeling having my family and loved ones see my house before I ever stepped foot in it. LOL.
It was a BIG practice of letting go, and trusting in the universe, and in others to help me. Letting go has been one of the hardest practices I’ve experienced, being one who has always wanted to control things as best as I could, especially when it comes to my home. Asking, and accepting, help has also been a challenging thing for me to learn. But it feels so nice being able to ask my loved ones for support. I think they feel relieved being able to help as well, after four years of feeling like they couldn’t do much to help me.
Another new experience this move has brought me is communicating and establishing my Covid Safety Boundaries with my family and friends. Since everyone here has not seen me in person in over 4 years, this is new for everyone. I’ll be honest, I’m usually met with “Do I really have to?” or some sort of displeasing statement. The old people pleaser version of me would have caved, but I simply explain how important it is for me to protect my health and avoid risks of reinfection. I am also making sure to use nasal spray, an air purifier (if we’re in my home), as well as mask myself. I think I’ll also use my Far UV light when I need some extra indoor protection as well, just to be safe. There are instances though where my loved ones meet me and they’re already masked without me having to ask. THAT is my love language! One of my nieces brought me to tears one day by saying, “What do we need to do to protect you and make you feel safe so we can see you?” *Swoon* Honestly, what better feeling is there?
A dear friend, and long hauler, had asked me recently for tips on moving and asked what I did to get through this massive move without a big crash. So I figure it’s best to share what helped here, in case anyone else is considering this daunting move.
I limited my packing to 15-20 minutes a day, so not to overwhelm my system. Granted this meant I was packing for MONTHS before I moved, but this way it did not require a ton of energy.
I was lucky to have the space to put all boxes I packed in a room and out of my sight, so I don’t feel the pains of guilt for not packing whenever I had time.
I doubled down on prioritizing rest. This MOVE WAS STRESSFUL!! I started doing some Somatic Exercises to manage my stress (like this one) before bed, so I could get actual restful sleep. (Restful sleep, btw, has returned thanks to my Supplemental Oxygen Treatment! YASS!)
I PURGED all the things I didn’t need/want, and sold what I could on Facebook Marketplace, asking people to come pickup outside from me. This helped pay for my future washer and dryer installation in my new home! I made sure to pace myself here as well, listing only a few things at a time.
Packing was done intentionally, with the things I needed till the end packed last. I also made sure to mark those boxes with a big circle and the number 1 on it, so I could easily see those need to be unpacked first. Marking boxes with specific items inside (ie: Silverware) when I knew I’d be looking for that specific item, was also helpful.
I shipped my future self a box of things I knew I’d need (supplements, electrolytes, air purifier, extra masks, Bella’s favorite bed and blanket to make her feel safe, first aid type things in case of a crash, etc) so it would be at my door when I arrived. I also shipped my oxygen concentrator via 2 Day Air to myself, since I had the original packaging. This turned out to be less expensive than renting one while I waited for my belongings to arrive from the moving company.
Also anticipating my future self’s needs, I changed my delivery address on Instacart and built myself a shopping cart of groceries before I even left Nashville. This way, once I landed in my new home all I had to do was checkout and the groceries would deliver within a few hours!
Unpacking was done in the same manner as packing, 15-20 minutes a day…or less. TBH there are still boxes left to unpack and I’m giving myself grace and time to deal with them.
Logistics-wise, I hired a moving company to move my things for me, as well as shipped my car. Since I can only really drive short distances right now, I knew a cross-country drive was out of the equation. Bella and I flew across the country, as my belongings took the long way.
Bella did a great job traveling (with the help of some anxiety meds). I, on the other hand, could have used some anxiety meds. Haha! The airport was a daunting experience. Even WITH noise cancelling headphones, the noise of the airport and the airplane felt like an assault on my nervous system. I requested a wheelchair, for the first time, which was a really huge help in getting to the gate with ease. I am sure that move alone helped me avoid a crash. My Far-UV light was also key in helping manage my anxiety of possible reinfection, being around sooo many unmasked people. One of my two flights, only 2 other people were masked…and they decided to sit next to me, thankfully! Overall I did not see many masks, but I tried my best to just imagine myself in my own little bubble. Eventually we got to my new home at midnight, which was a surreal experience to show up to a house you’ve never been to and be like, we’ll I guess this is where we live now! Ha! Thankfully it’s a very peaceful neighborhood and the neighbors seem really kind. The view from my backyard is very healing and serene. I feel very fortunate to have had the help of my friend to help me find such a great home to land in. Bella seems to love it too, which is so great! She’s even making friends with the mail person, something she feared the most back in Nashville!
I have noticed the altitude has made it a bit more challenging to take deep breaths, specifically when the air is very cold. Something I hope my body adapts to.
ICYMI, I also was on the first episode of A Friend for the Long Haul Podcast, which launched the day I moved from Nashville. Every Monday I am truly so excited to hear more amazing people talk about their experience with Long Covid. Although I don’t know each guest personally, it feels like I’m hanging out with a friend. It’s truly a great listen, if you haven’t listened already. I highly recommend! Beth even did a solo podcast on traveling with Long Covid, and dropped some good gems of wisdom from her experiences.
If there’s anything in my journey back to the West Coast you’re curious about or that I didn’t touch on, feel free to ask.
As I settle into my new home, I'm reminded of the power of community, the importance of self-care, and the resilience required to navigate such significant life changes. This move, though fraught with challenges, has brought unexpected joys and a deeper understanding of what it means to adapt and thrive, even amidst the uncertainties of Long Covid. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Your support and curiosity means the world to me. Here's to new beginnings and new adventures! Till next time!
What a great read and journey!! Thank you for sharing!
You are so wonderful and I am thrilled that this move has been successful!!! Thank you for sharing!!!