My Top Tips For Traveling With a Chronic Illness

When it comes to traveling, one of the most important things you can do is listen to your body. Traveling with a chronic illness can be difficult because you never know how your body will react. Here are my top tips for traveling with a chronic illness: 

Bring All Your Medications

It is crucial to bring all your medication with you. This includes prescriptions, supplements, over-the-counter medications, and medications you only take once in a while. When packing, make sure your medications are in their original packaging. Chronic illnesses can be unpredictable, so it is important to be prepared ahead of time. If you plan on traveling by plane, make sure you pack all your essential medications in your carry-on. The last thing you want is for your luggage to get lost and for you to be without important medications. If you are traveling with medications such as opiates, be sure to check the laws for that particular country concerning specific drugs. It is always good to be over-prepared so having a prescription from your doctor can be helpful too.

Travel With People Who Understand

When living with a chronic illness, you never know when you might flare. Since traveling can be hard on your body, you will want to have a companion with you who understands your illness. It is important to have a traveling companion who is willing to advocate for you if anything goes wrong. Before your trip, research the accessibility of your destination. You will want to check with your airline, hotel, or cruise line to see if they allow certain medical devices such as wheelchairs, batteries, oxygen machines, etc. Plan your trip based on how you are feeling, it is always good to add in rest days to avoid putting your body in overdrive. 

Pack The Essentials

Packing is one of the most important steps to make sure you are prepared before going on a trip. No matter where you are traveling you should have good sunscreen on hand. My new favorite sunscreen is Supergoop! I love that Supergoop is reef-safe, cruelty-free, and even has a clear serum for everyday makeup. Another essential to bring when planning a trip is a Medical ID Bracelet. I love the sleek look of Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Bracelet. Medical identification is important for times when you can’t speak up for yourself. If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness, have a food or drug allergy, or are on certain medications, having medical identification can be important in case of an emergency. Another important packing item is to have a first aid kit on hand based on your own medical needs.

Travel Insurance

Having travel insurance is important for anyone but it is especially important if you have a chronic condition. The first thing you will want to check for when looking for travel insurance is whether or not they cover pre-existing conditions. Look into what medical services your health insurance will cover and what they do not cover. Travel insurance is important if you need unexpected medical treatment or medical evacuation. Travel insurance can be a life-saving choice when planning your next trip and it may even be what gets you back home.

Have Fun!

The most important tip I have is to have fun! Planning a trip while living with a chronic illness can be overwhelming but it is possible. If you are reading this blog post, it means you are taking all the proper precautions to make sure you are prepared. While traveling, try not to overwhelm yourself with what can go wrong and focus on how you feel in the moment. 

If you looking for more chronic illness content, check out one of my two latest blogs about Sjogren’s Syndrome and Diagnosing Lupus.