traveling tips for those with chronic pain
Somehow I’ve managed to leave the country three times over the past few years, with another trip on the horizon in just a few weeks. For someone with POTS and a chronic migraine, this doesn’t really make sense, and it certainly looks different. But I have also found it to be so, so worth it. Here’s how I’ve survived.
stocking up on meds
If it’s a trip 1-2 weeks long, I’ll prepare for it by trying to hold back on taking abortive medications (mostly Tylenol) in the few weeks before the trip to allow me to use them more liberally while travelling without fear of rebound or the impact they’ll have on my organs. I’ve also slightly increased my one nightly preventative medication as a way of increasing my functioning (of which I don’t love the side effects if done long term but helps a ton temporarily).
snacks + water on hand at all times
Essential. Staying somewhere not far from a grocery store helps a lot with this! (and/or somewhere with the coldest most refreshing spring water you’ll ever drink on tap everywhere…ie; Lourdes 😉 )
stay in one place for days
I most definitely thrive best while traveling if I can go somewhere and stay planted for a while, with freedom to fill my days with as much as I have capacity for vs an itinerary packed with tours and day trips and outings that makes for a fast paced and regimented schedule. In my experience, this still allows for a lot of exploring and sometimes full days, but relieves the pressure to get everything in quickly. Flexible volunteering and hostels and housesits are great ways to do this without spending much.
air conditioning
This feels the most posh of them all & I wish it weren’t the case, but I’ve found that if going anywhere with high temps, it is so, so necessary for me to have a home base that includes air conditioning. Without this, any attempts to rest and recover from activity will leave me feeling more sick.
cook for yourself
I’ve found staying somewhere with (even a very tiny) kitchen to be so, so necessary when it comes to having the ability to cook my own meals and have control over what I’m eating. This also another way to make trips more affordable-major perk!
communicate
As humbling as it can be, being upfront about my needs to whoever I’ll be spending time with and/or traveling alongside while on a trip has to happen in order for a trip to go well. This helps ensure best sleep & food & activity options for my health and allows for plans to be coordinated when desires of others crashes with my needs (ie; I need to find a different dinner option and/or find a restful park to take a nap in while others adventure).
I’ll admit, this is one reason it can be a lot easier to travel solo. However, I have found some group trips to be doable if group leaders are supportive and OK with providing flexibility–so I also don’t believe they need to be written off.
choose somewhere meaningful
What I’ve concluded this far is this: if practicing all of the above, the challenges I face with my health are generally the same whether I’m in my own living room or halfway across the world. So if you’re going to feel crummy and in pain, why not do so somewhere new and beautiful and full of opportunities to learn new things? To come to know ways God has worked through different cultures than your own? In looking back at trips I’ve taken thus far, I’m not going to lie and say the memories of things I needed to miss and ways I needed to adapt my plans to take care of my health aren’t present- for some trips more than others. But the lessons I’ve learned and history I’ve discovered and beauty I’ve encountered and people I’ve encountered? This is what I remember most. This is what I treasure. And for now, this is why I’ll keep on adventuring.
note: my current health does not generally require frequent hospital visits or assistance with ADL,and there have also been seasons I didn’t have the knowledge and toolkit I have now for what helps/doesn’t help my pain–both of which feel like a privilege and would definitely make all of the above more challenging!
