Traveling. Believe it or not, this was one of my biggest thoughts in the first few months after my MS diagnosis. I know, I know… there are tons of other things I could have, and probably should have, had on my priority list when I was fresh on this chronic illness journey.
Being able to get out, travel, and see the world, however, has always been a big passion of mine. When I first thought of the trips we’d planned for future years, my stomach dropped. With so much unknown, and so much uncertainty clouding my perspective, it felt almost impossible.
At first, there was no way I was getting out to see the world. Hell, it was hard just trying to get out of bed in the morning to go sit on the couch at first. As time moved on, and my strength returned, I took more chances. Eventually, I was running errands and getting out of the house for routine reasons.
Camping, which is a big hobby of mine when the weather is nice, seemed out of my reach at first. Somehow, I managed to go twice in the year after I was diagnosed. Once I managed that, I was more comfortable with planning longer trips. I managed to make it a few states away while balancing a full school & work schedule a couple times in 2018 and 2019.
Then, we all know what happened. The pandemic put a stop to all of that for a while…I’d started to build up some coping mechanisms and learn some tricks for traveling, though. Last year, I got the opportunity to put all of that to the test, and find even more ways to comfortably enjoy some time away.
Plan, Plan, Plan
So, all of this is going to depend A LOT on where you’re planning to travel. Planning for a three day camping trip is a lot different than planning to fly 12+ hours to Hawaii for a week long getaway. For this post, I’m going to focus on those longer trips.’
Having a good plan always lessens my anxiety when a trip is coming up. The whole point of traveling, at least for me, is to enjoy a break from the day-to-day routine and relax. By having a set plan on what I’m going to do and see, I don’t have to worry about the mundane, little things. I get to just be in the moment and enjoy my surroundings.
Another perk of planning is that I’m not running into surprises along the way, like a too-steep incline at the end of a trail we hike, or a tour that has no shade when I know it’ll be too hot for me out in the sun all day. Either of those situations could impact my symptoms, and make the rest of the trip less enjoyable.
Last thing I want is to be cooped up inside recuperating in a beautiful, foreign place.
It also helps me to physically see that plan. For this, I just use the ‘sheets’ portion of my Google drive. I have a packing one that I made to track how many days I’m gone, what I plan to do, and what I’ll need for that day. I also have one that tracks what we plan to eat – this might seem excessive, but hear me out. What is one thing I definitely don’t want to worry about on vacation? Dropping whatever I’m doing to go grocery shopping. Having a list prepared, I just stop at the store on the way to our accommodations, and unless it’s an emergency, my trip isn’t getting interrupted with everyday tasks.
All of that takes a little time at the beginning, but I’ve used the same spreadsheets since 2016 when I was planning my honeymoon. With a little tweaking, this is a one-and-done type of task that can make trips a little more manageable forever.
…but be ready to change those plans
As anyone with a chronic illness knows, being flexible is key. The awareness we need of our capacity and limitations doesn’t stay at home just because we want to get away. The way we feel isn’t going to suddenly be a non-issue while traveling. Pacing yourself is one of the best ways to ensure you really enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
If you’re on a trip, it can be really hard to say ‘no’ to a fun excursion you had planned. I get it, I’ve been there. You do the research, find the most exciting things to do on a trip, book a ticket, and look forward to it for days/weeks/months. Suddenly the day arrives, and you wake up and (insert random body part here) isn’t quite cooperating the way you need it to. Maybe you wake up feeling hungover due to fatigue, and not from a fun night out. Now, you don’t know if you can manage to go where you’d been planning, and it feels like chronic illness has won again.
I’ve learned that pacing myself and listening to my body leads to a much more enjoyable time, even if that means canceling a dinner or tour I had planned. If it’s going to come down to either enjoying a single excursion, or the rest of the time I have left traveling, I’m always going to choose to take care of myself and enjoy it as long as I can.
Pack Accordingly
This is a lot easier if you use one of those spreadsheets I mentioned earlier. On those, I have categories like clothes, toiletries, and entertainment. The first category is medications and vitamins. I get these out of the way first, and pack extra, too. Some of my trips go exactly the way I plan, and others, not so much. I always pack a couple extra Rebif injections, along with more vitamins than I should need. If you’re ever stuck because of a storm or because of flight cancellations, having extra meds and all the supplements you need will make life a little easier.
The other categories are pretty self-explanatory, and help me enjoy my time away. I plan my clothes & toiletries lists based on my daily schedule spreadsheet. I also check the weather, and make sure I’ll be comfortable in what I’m taking, no matter the temperature.
When I’ve finally reached the packing stage of my preparations, I can easily print the spreadsheet out and check things off as I go. I rarely worry about forgetting things these days, which is not how I used to roll at all.
On That Note, Check Your Carry On
The biggest thing to note here – if you’re going to be flying, your carry-on is going to be the only thing you know for a fact you’ll have not only during the flight, but when you get off the plane. There’s more stories every day about lost luggage plaguing travelers. I mentioned above the first thing I pack are my medications and supplements. All of these go in my carry on. I’ve never been asked about them. Just in case, I don’t take my supplements out of their bottles, and make sure their labels are good. I also keep a copy of my Rebif prescription on me in case they’re curious what my injections are.
I also pack a couple outfits, along with my toothbrush and some SPF in my carry on. If I were to ever be among those whose luggage was mysteriously lost, I’d know I had a few things to make my life easier until they can be replaced.
The last thing in my carry on are electronics and something to keep me occupied on the flight. I think these are self-explanatory. The only thing I can think of that’s worse than my luggage being lost, is opening it upon arrival to find a cracked laptop or camera. Not exactly the way I want to start a vacation.
Choose your Transportation & Airport Wisely
This is key for me, and something I didn’t think about a whole lot before we started flying. Full disclosure, the first time I was ever on an airplane was in 2021…growing up in the Midwest, road trips were the norm. Even 10, 12, 16 hour road trips. I went to the West Coast as a kid, and made the whole trip in a Chevy Suburban. It took us a couple days, but we made it.
Flying is something else entirely. One of the first things I look at are the layovers. Trying to run through an airport to make a 40 minute connection? Not feasible for me. I make sure my layovers are a couple hours minimum. Do I like sitting in an airport, waiting for the next flight? Not really. But, it sure beats the stress on my body of rushing. It definitely beats waiting even longer to try and get on a later flight because I couldn’t make the first one.
If your mobility is a concern, most airports can meet you at the gate with a golf cart, and get you to your next gate easily. This is something you need to request in advance, usually when you board your first flight.
Don’t hesitate to ask for this if you need it – this accommodation is there for a reason.
Another reason the airport is key is how difficult things can be in an unfamiliar one. Before I leave, I take a look at the maps of the area I’ll be in. I make sure to identify the closest restroom, and the easiest path for me to get from one gate to another. Nothing like the unknown to trigger my anxiety, but this is easy to avoid with a quick google search.
I also always make sure I’ve got my rental car or hotel shuttle booked well in advance. If I needed something like a ramp for a wheelchair or walker, this is something I’d look into before booking any services, too. Again, this kind of all goes back to planning. I can’t stress enough how much it makes traveling with a chronic illness easier.
Oh, Where You Stay Matters, Too
Do you like staying in an all-inclusive resort for all the amenities it provides, or are you more of a private condo type of traveler? Whichever the case may be, making sure your accommodations have everything you need is key.
When I’m looking,I make sure it’s easily accessible from street level. Whether this means ramps instead of stairs, or elevators in a three plus story building, this helps my fatigue tremendously.
For me, how comfortable the place is makes a huge difference in how much I enjoy my trip. Before I travel, I make sure the hotel or condo has good reviews, especially about the beds. I think staying somewhere beautiful, but not getting any rest, ends in not enjoying myself. That kind of defeats the purpose, don’t you?
Another thing I look at is the general area the hotel or condo is located in. This has a little to do with my issue with knowing nothing about where I’m going, and keeping my anxiety down. This also has a practical reason behind it.
Of course, I want to be in the prettiest area possible when I’m traveling. However, if that picture perfect location is in the middle of nowhere, I’m trading off the convenience of getting a quick meal or easy access to the tours. It also comes with the fact that if it’s necessary, medical care is a long way away. I might be waiting or traveling longer than is preferable. Not ideal when you’re in need of care.
Slow Down and Relax
Easier said than done in daily life, am I right? I really look forward to traveling, and am grateful I’ve found some things that help me do it while living with chronic illnesses. I see vacation as a time to really slow down, relax, and rejuvenate myself. Following all the tips above help me do that, especially planning and pacing myself.
Realizing that some days, I don’t need to do anything was important. Just enjoying what’s around me is another way I slow down and enjoy my travels more. Staying focused on the moment, and soaking in the experiences is what it’s all about, right?
So, that’s what I’ve found that helps me the most to stay healthy & thriving while traveling. I feel like it’s so good for my soul…I hope that with these tips, it can be for yours, too.
Let me know below what helps you live your best life while traveling! As always, you can see more of what I’m up to on my Instagram or Pinterest. You can also contact me via email, too at bri@stumblepup.com
Until next time,
