{"id":379,"date":"2023-11-26T07:26:03","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T08:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/?p=379"},"modified":"2024-07-08T20:13:48","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T20:13:48","slug":"top-tips-for-travelling-with-chronic-illness-disability-from-a-girl-who-loves-to-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/2023\/11\/26\/top-tips-for-travelling-with-chronic-illness-disability-from-a-girl-who-loves-to-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for Travelling with Chronic Illness &amp; Disability (From a Girl Who Loves to Travel)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><audio controls><\/audio><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability &#8211; Why I Do It Anyway<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Travelling is one of my biggest passions in life, and I&#8217;d like to share my top tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability in this post. Whilst we all travel for various reasons and find pleasure in different things, being chronically ill can be a literal pain (beyond the neck).<\/p>\n<p>The everyday lives of people fascinate me, simply because it isn&#8217;t the same normal as back home. I enjoy the stimulation from environments and languages that I&#8217;m unfamiliar with. I love to take relaxing strolls along the streets, and also delight in the beauty of open landscapes and nature.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, travelling reminds me that possibilities are as endless as the stars in a clear desert night sky. It also reminds me that life still bears much beauty, despite all the suffering that exists. These are easy to forget, especially when you&#8217;re stuck in a pain-filled and mundane routine.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that these tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability will help with your own holiday planning. It will include practical resources and suggestions that hopefully eases your mind, so that your trip is as smooth and enjoyable as is possible. Have a lovely holiday, whether it&#8217;s a staycation, or on to distant lands!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201cI hope that these tips for #travelling with #chronicillness &amp; #disability will help with your own #holiday #planning. It will include practical resources &amp; suggestions that hopefully eases your mind.\u201d<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9CI%20hope%20that%20these%20tips%20for%20%23travelling%20with%20%23chronicillness%20%26%20%23disability%20will%20help%20with%20your%20own%20%23holiday%20%23planning.%20It%20will%20include%20practical%20resources%20%26%20suggestions%20that%20hopefully%20eases%20your%20mind.%E2%80%9D&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>*Disclaimer: This article is meant for educational purposes and is based on the author&#8217;s personal experiences. It is <strong>not<\/strong> to be substituted for medical advice. Please consult your own doctor before changing or adding <strong>any<\/strong> new treatment protocols. This post also contains affiliate links. It will cost you nothing to click on them. I will get a small referral fee from purchases you make, which helps with the maintenance of this blog (approx. $100\/month). Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Article first published on: 17 April 2017\n<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"pinTxtCTA\">Pin to Your Tips for Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability Boards:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pinBox\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" data-pin-description=\"Why I love to travel, despite chronic illness and disability. Find out why I still travel despite chronic pain and fatigue, and why I find these life experiences worth it.\" src=\"https:\/\/e4edn27usvk.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/why-love-travel-despite-chronic-illness-disability-683x1024.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Why I love to travel, despite chronic illness and disability [Background: A map flatlay, with sunglasses, earphones, mobile phone, boarding passes, passports and a camera surrounding the corners.]\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-40728\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/08\/11\/no-one-way-to-live-your-life\/\">There\u2019s No One Way to Live Your Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2017\/12\/13\/chronic-illness-happiness-pain\/\">Life with Chronic Illness: Happiness &amp; Pain Can Co-exist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2022\/06\/13\/loss-of-identity-self-worth\/\">Loss of Identity with Chronic Illness &#038; The Plot Twist: Sharpened Self-Worth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2017\/08\/23\/keeping-up-despite-pain\/\">Keeping Up with the World: Why it\u2019s Important Despite Pain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2016\/12\/14\/capable-person-meaning\/\">Are You a Capable Person? What Does That Even Mean?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>1. It&#8217;s All About the Prep Work When You Travel with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Even on a regular day at home, people with chronic illnesses and disabilities spend a lot of time preparing to&#8230;prepare. This may come in the form of meal preps, pacing around an event or just a night out with friends. On a bad day, that might look like how many trips you can afford to make to the toilet, or how many dishes you can wash, as your joints hurt so bad.<\/p>\n<p>Travelling is obviously a bigger endeavour, but not impossible with some preparation. Like this woman, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlasobscura.com\/articles\/accessible-travel-adventure-with-kory-macy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Macy, who travels in a wheelchair, and even tried skydiving<\/a>! Here are some important things I try to get in order before embarking on any trip.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201c Even on a regular day at home, people with #chronicillnesses &amp; #disabilities spend a lot of time preparing to..prepare. #Traveling is obviously a bigger endeavour, but not impossible with some #preparation.\u201d #ChronicPain<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9C%20Even%20on%20a%20regular%20day%20at%20home%2C%20people%20with%20%23chronicillnesses%20%26%20%23disabilities%20spend%20a%20lot%20of%20time%20preparing%20to..prepare.%20%23Traveling%20is%20obviously%20a%20bigger%20endeavour%2C%20but%20not%20impossible%20with%20some%20%23preparation.%E2%80%9D%20%23ChronicPain&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Get Your Doctor to Write a Summary of Your Medical Conditions &#038; Issue a Patient Medication List (1PML)<\/h3>\n<p>Before I embark on a trip, I always ask my rheumatologist for an updated letter that summarises all my medical conditions and prescribed medications (also called a <a href=\"https:\/\/corp.nhg.com.sg\/PML\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1PML\/Patient Medication List<\/a> where I&#8217;m from). I have a clear folder that I keep with me at all times, and this very important letter goes in here. I also keep a digital copy, but it&#8217;s good to have a hard copy as gadgets can fail, or you can lose either copy.<\/p>\n<p>These letters are crucial for when you need to see a doctor overseas, or require emergency medical attention where time is of essence. It also helps to speed things up at the airport security bottleneck choke point, especially if you&#8217;re carrying needles, opioids, or other medications that are less commonly used in other countries.<\/p>\n<h3>Bring All Your Essential Medication Supplies&#8230;and More<\/h3>\n<p>This might be stating the obvious, but I ensure that I have enough medication supplies whilst on vacation. More than enough, in fact &#8211; I bring about half the necessary amount as a buffer. In case of a delay or mishap (or if you choose to extend your holiday!), this will not only save you time and stress, but maybe even your life.<\/p>\n<p>This is even more crucial if you are going to a rural area, or a country where you don&#8217;t speak the language. Even if you manage to find a hospital, they may not have the rare drugs that you need. <strong>Every country also favours different brands of medications, and the formulations might differ.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7606210\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">According to Merchant, L. et al. (2020)<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Patients and consumers who fill prescriptions abroad, either when travelling or when shopping at foreign internet pharmacies, need to use caution because drugs in other countries may have identical or highly similar brand names for products with different active ingredients.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Some of us may be sensitive or allergic to the ingredients in other formulations, or they may interact a little differently as compared to your usual brand of medications. <strong>This applies to OTC (over-the-counter) medications too.<\/strong> I remember being in the U.S. for a heart surgery, and not being able to purchase plain old paracetamol at any chemist. Similar types of medications all contained NSAIDs, which would interact with my warfarin medication.<\/p>\n<p>I also split my medications up into different bags, in case one goes missing. On top of my prescribed medications, I also carry my own over-the-counter mini pharmacy. As someone with chronic illnesses, I am prone to infections, and random ailments pop up all the time. So I bring along sachets, pills, potions and lotions for food poisoning, UTIs, colds and other minor or generic health problems. Witch or amateur pharmacist &#8211; that&#8217;s for you to decide \ud83d\ude09 Bonus: Your travel companions will thank you for that magical formulation if they come down with a bug, too.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201c Every country also favours different brands of #medications, and the formulations might differ.. Some of us may be sensitive or allergic to the ingredients..or they may interact a little differently.\u201d #ChronicallyIll #TravelTips<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9C%20Every%20country%20also%20favours%20different%20brands%20of%20%23medications%2C%20and%20the%20formulations%20might%20differ..%20Some%20of%20us%20may%20be%20sensitive%20or%20allergic%20to%20the%20ingredients..or%20they%20may%20interact%20a%20little%20differently.%E2%80%9D%20%23ChronicallyIll%20%23TravelTips&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Keep Your Medical Information with You at All Times<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There are a few important medical cards which I keep in my wallet at all times, even when I&#8217;m not travelling overseas. There is one that states that I&#8217;m on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK470313\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">warfarin<\/a> (a blood thinning medication), and another that states that I have <a href=\"https:\/\/emedicine.medscape.com\/article\/1731232-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">autoantibodies<\/a> in my blood. I also have a medical card that states that I have an <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/treatments\/22224-annuloplasty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">annuloplasty band<\/a> for a mitral valve repair, so that medical professionals are aware that I have had a heart surgery before.<\/p>\n<p>On top of these medical cards, I also keep my medical information in the &#8216;Health&#8217; app on my phone up-to-date. This information can be accessed by anyone, even without a password. Here&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-sg\/guide\/iphone\/iph08022b192\/ios\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to set up your medical ID on your iPhone<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samsung.com\/latin_en\/support\/mobile-devices\/how-to-use-galaxy-device-in-an-emergency-to-contact-emergency-contacts-and-view-important-medical-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Samsung<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/android\/answer\/9319337?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Android phone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Some people also wear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/making-the-most-of-your-medical-bracelet-1298508\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">medical bracelets<\/a> so that it is immediately apparent that they have a medical condition. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Gfr5Ki\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">purchase and customise such accessories online such as from Amazon<\/a>, and they should, at the very least, alert emergency responders of your main chronic illness condition(s) or medications that you&#8217;re on that could be potentially life-threatening.<\/p>\n<p>Such medical information is crucial, especially if you&#8217;re unconscious or unable to communicate, or if a blood transfusion or emergency surgery is needed. With the additional antibodies in my blood and medications that I take, my body can still react negatively, even if I receive universal donor O negative blood which is supposedly neutral.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2016\/04\/08\/thromboembolism-antiphospholipid-syndrome\/\">An Experience from Hell: Thromboembolism From Antiphospholipid Syndrome<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/04\/15\/death-broken-heart\/\">My Second Brush with Death: A Broken Heart (Literally)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/10\/04\/heart-rhythm-disorder\/\">What\u2019s it Like to Live with a Heart Rhythm Disorder?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2021\/07\/14\/body-gone-rogue-invisible-illness\/\">12 Visible Evidence of a Body Gone Rogue (Is Invisible Illness Truly Invisible?)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/04\/07\/dengue-fever-lupus\/\">\u201cBut That\u2019s Normal for Me\u201d (Why I Mistook Dengue Fever for a Lupus Flare)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Keep Your Packing &#038; Medication Lists Online<\/h3>\n<p>Packing is often repetitive and boring, yet forgetting to bring an important item can cause major stress when you&#8217;re travelling with chronic illness and disability. I have a packing list which I refer to for every trip. This not only includes medications, but also items needed for different seasons and environments.<\/p>\n<p>For example, sunblock for sunny places or the beach. This is very important especially for those of us with Lupus. Even if you aren&#8217;t overly photosensitive, <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/0961203314530488?journalCode=lupa\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the sun can still trigger a Lupus flare<\/a> (Barbhaiya, M., &#038; Costenbader, K. H., 2014). Other items may include <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QTb5m7\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">hand warmers and\/or foot warmers<\/a> for cold destinations, or even your own food supplies or kitchen accessories, especially for those who have food allergies or sensitivities.<\/p>\n<p>I also have my medication routine written down on my phone. It is confusing even when I&#8217;m warded at my local hospital, as I take about 20 pills prescribed by various doctors, at different times every single day. Whenever I visit the A&#038;E \/ ER or visit a new doctor, I just show this list to them. This makes the process a bit easier for both you and the doctor, especially when you&#8217;re in severe pain and have difficulty communicating clearly.<\/p>\n<p>I keep all these checklists on the &#8220;Notes&#8221; app of my iPhone. I also add a hashtag #travel and #medications, and pin them for easier referencing. Putting them on the cloud also means that you can share and sync these lists with loved ones and medical personnel digitally as well.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"pinkBtn\" href=\"https:\/\/eepurl.com\/bVyAbn\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Download your free travel checklist template here!<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>2. Communication is Key During a Medical Emergency Whilst Travelling<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>Mark Down All the Hospital Locations<\/h3>\n<p>This is common sense, but be aware of where the closest hospital locations are whilst travelling with a chronic illness and disability. You can <a class=\"contentLink\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\/products\/maps\/google-maps-offline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">save the Google map offline<\/a>, but I also take screenshots and put them in an album on my mobile phone for quick and easy access.<\/p>\n<p>Do save or print these maps out in the local language as well if you can. It saves everyone &#8211; from your travel companions to hotel staff to drivers &#8211; from trying to figure out where exactly it is you need to rush off urgently to.<\/p>\n<p>You can also do some research before you depart for your holiday, so you know where the better hospitals are, and if they have a medical team who speaks your language. Communication matters, especially during crises, as it leads to more accurate diagnoses and faster treatment.<\/p>\n<h3>Educate Your Travel Companions in Case of an Emergency<\/h3>\n<p>As mentioned above, don&#8217;t forget to carry your medical information on your own person whilst travelling with a chronic illness and disability. If you have a travel companion, ensure that they know where and how to access them quickly. Not everyone may be as tech-savvy as you are or even think to check for such information, because they&#8217;ve never been chronically ill or disabled before.<\/p>\n<p>They should also know where your doctors&#8217; letters and your medications are. If you need them to administer medication for you during an emergency, such as an epipen for an anaphylaxis reaction, then don&#8217;t forget to teach them how to do so. Walk them through it, because they will probably be panicking if it does happen, and they have no confidence or clue as to how to help you. I have epilepsy, so I ensure that my travel companions know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/epilepsy\/first-aid-for-seizures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what to do should I get a seizure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201cIf u need yr #travel companion to administer #medication for u during an #emergency..Walk them thru it, because they will probably be panicking if it does happen &amp; they hv no confidence or clue as to how to help u.\u201d #ChronicIllness<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9CIf%20u%20need%20yr%20%23travel%20companion%20to%20administer%20%23medication%20for%20u%20during%20an%20%23emergency..Walk%20them%20thru%20it%2C%20because%20they%20will%20probably%20be%20panicking%20if%20it%20does%20happen%20%26%20they%20hv%20no%20confidence%20or%20clue%20as%20to%20how%20to%20help%20u.%E2%80%9D%20%23ChronicIllness&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Keep Your Loved Ones Updated on Your Travel Plans Seamlessly<\/h3>\n<p>I also have a Google Calendar solely for the purpose of storing travel information, such as dates of where I&#8217;ll be, flight timings, and hotel contact details. When I&#8217;m travelling &#8211; especially if I&#8217;m alone or going to a remote destination &#8211; I <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/calendar\/answer\/37082?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">share this timeline of events<\/a> with my family and\/or friends.<\/p>\n<p>In case of an emergency, they will be able to contact the hotel where I&#8217;m at for more information, or to coordinate with them. In a worst case scenario, they may need to fly up to rescue me, and the information will help to speed things up.<\/p>\n<h3>Be Contactable at All Times<\/h3>\n<p>Some of us go off-grid or only use free wifi whilst travelling, but this isn&#8217;t ideal during an emergency situation, or should you be feeling unwell. These days, your telco should have affordable overseas data plans that use your existing mobile phone number. Back in the day, we had to purchase local SIM cards with loads of data (2GB was considered &#8216;loads&#8217; back then \ud83d\ude09 ), and ensure that our loved ones knew what the temporary number was. You can still do that as well as a backup plan!<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re travelling to a country where access to Google or other useful sites are blocked, such as China, then don&#8217;t forget to buy a <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.pcmag.com\/vpn\/138\/the-best-vpn-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VPN (Virtual Private Network) plan<\/a> for your device as well. Think of a VPN as a global location where your data transmits to and from, instead of a local network. Usually all you need to do after downloading the VPN app on your digital device is to open it, connect to a selected location server, and then you should be able to access your favourite search engines or websites again. Server locations will depend on which VPN company you purchase a plan from, but often have U.S. and U.K. servers. If you want a faster connection, usually the closest location to where you are will work best.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"pinTxtCTA\">Pin to Your Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability Boards:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pinBox\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" data-pin-description=\"Chronic Illness Travel Guide - Tips, Tricks and Hacks. What to do in an emergency. How to manage chronic pain. And how to enjoy yourself. Read the post or listen to the podcast here!\" src=\"https:\/\/e4edn27usvk.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/chronic-illness-travel-guide-tips-tricks-hacks-chronic-pain-683x1024.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chronic Illness Travel Guide - Tips, Tricks and Hacks. What to do in an emergency. How to manage chronic pain. And how to enjoy yourself. Read the post!\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-40950\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/08\/08\/sgh-hospital-emergency\/\">What it Feels Like to be Refused Treatment by a Hospital\u2019s A&#038;E<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/12\/12\/better-friend-chronic-illness\/\">7 Ways to Be a Better Friend to Someone with a Chronic Illness (and 3 Things You Should Never Do)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2016\/01\/19\/tonic-clonic-seizure\/\">So This is What a Tonic Clonic Seizure Feels Like<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2021\/02\/17\/epilepsy-seizures\/\">5 Things You Should Know About My Epilepsy (It\u2019s More Than Just Seizures)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2020\/10\/21\/panic-attacks-internet-friends\/\">The Savagery of Panic Attacks &amp; The Saving Grace of Internet Friends<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>3. The Nitty Gritty Travel Details (in Font Size 6) are Important Too<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>Yes, Buy That Travel Insurance (with Buffer Dates as Well)<\/h3>\n<p>Many people travel without insurance because nothing devastating happens 99% of the time, and they see it as a waste of money. But it\u2019s that 1% that can end up as one of the biggest regrets in life. It is crucial to have travel insurance for those who are travelling with a chronic illness or disability, as we have a higher chance of needing medical aid. This is essential even for short or nearby trips.<\/p>\n<p>These days there are more travel insurance plans that also include pre-existing medical conditions. They mostly only cover a small token fee for hospitalisations and doctor visits that are related to your chronic illnesses or disabilities, but it&#8217;s better than nothing.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to chronic illness, we can also still fall &#8216;regular people&#8217; sick (a.k.a. &#8216;muggle sick&#8217;), or become injured due to incidents or accidents. In such circumstances, travel insurance has you covered, as these are unrelated to your pre-existing medical conditions. They also cover lost or damaged baggage, flight delays, etc, depending on the travel insurance plan you choose.<\/p>\n<p>I read all travel insurance policies thoroughly and scrutinise the plan differences. Most of the time the difference between mid and top tiers is merely an increase in over all coverage, yet the daily maximum payout sum for hospitalisation fees are the same for chronic conditions. So do read everything closely to see what fits your needs best, in case of an emergency. I also buffer in a couple of extra days when I purchase travel insurance, just in case I need to delay my flight due to chronic pain or for any other reason.<\/p>\n<h3>Purchase Flexible Flight\/Transport Tickets<\/h3>\n<p>As a chronically ill or disabled person, it might be worth paying extra for a flight ticket that allows you to change flights without further penalties. I have had instances where I had to delay my flight due to acute or chronic pain, so I see it as a sound investment. Of course, if it&#8217;s only a small fee to change the dates, or if it&#8217;s a budget ticket to a nearby location with many flights available, then I purchase it at regular price.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"pinTxtCTA\">Pin to Your Travel Tips, Tricks &#038; Hacks Boards:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pinBox\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" data-pin-description=\"Get my top tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability, from a girl who loves to travel despite chronic pain and chronic fatigue.\" src=\"https:\/\/e4edn27usvk.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/top-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability-683x1024.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Top tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability [Background: Girl in a straw hat and sunglasses leaning against an orange luggage bag and gazing up happily.]\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-40952\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2020\/05\/31\/chronic-illness-life-lessons-accident-bird\/\">A Car Accident &amp; A Song Gone Silent (How Life Lessons from Chronic Illness Tide Me Through)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2016\/09\/07\/chronic-illness-expensive-but-heres-real-reason-why\/\">Chronic Illness is Expensive, but Here\u2019s the Real Reason Why<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>4. How to Maximise Comfort on a Stuffy Airplane, Whilst Travelling with Chronic Illness and Disability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>Dress for Ultimate Comfort<\/h3>\n<p>Save those stylish skinny jeans for your actual holiday, and wear something loose and cosy for the flight. Bring a shawl or soft jacket, as it can get freezing cold on a plane. Ask for an extra blanket or two if you need it. They usually provide you with fluffy airplane socks you can walk around in on long-haul flights as well. I love those, and even save them for home use sometimes!<\/p>\n<p>I love compression gloves as the tiny joints in my hands often ache from Lupus, and they help to manage the pain a little. I use them in school, and have had comments that they look &#8216;cool&#8217;, as if it were a fashion statement \ud83d\ude09 My favourite ones are from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.graceandable.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Grace &#038; Able<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2021\/11\/28\/virtual-holiday-party-chronically-ill-disabled\/#grace-able\"><strong>who sponsored one of our Christmas Giveaways<\/strong><\/a>!), and also these two that I bought from Amazon: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07NQRNJN3\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Long Copper Compression Gloves<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40VdXna\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DrNaiety Dotted Compression Gloves<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>I am thankfully a deep sleeper who can pass out anywhere, but for those of you who are light sleepers, I&#8217;ve personally heard good reviews for the <a href=\"https:\/\/mantasleep.com\/?rfsn=7745577.2b8c6c&#038;utm_source=refersion&#038;utm_medium=affiliate&#038;utm_campaign=7745577.2b8c6c\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Manta Sleep mask<\/a> (another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2021\/11\/28\/virtual-holiday-party-chronically-ill-disabled\/#manta-sleep\"><strong>awesome sponsor for one of our Christmas Giveaways<\/strong><\/a>!), which is 100% blackout. They&#8217;re also adjustable, and zero pressure on the eyelids and eyelashes.<\/p>\n<p>Other items that can help you to have a good rest, or at least some peace on a flight, are things like a neck pillow, noise cancelling headphones, something soft to hug, a stress ball to squeeze, just listening to your favourite songs, or if you&#8217;re like me, playing Sudoku \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"pinTxtCTA\">Shop the Manta Sleep mask here:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pinBox\">\n<br \/>\n$rfsn_creative.generate(&#8216;refersion_client\/26081\/creatives\/dynamic\/59430-32505b7d8ade40e88361173d90061443.json&#8217;, {<br \/>\n\taid: &#8216;7745577.2b8c6c&#8217;<br \/>\n});<\/p>\n<div id=\"rfsn_img_59430\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Stay Hydrated<\/h3>\n<p>It isn\u2019t just you &#8211; everyone becomes dehydrated on a flight. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qantas.com\/sg\/en\/travel-info\/travel-advice\/your-health-inflight.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">humidity levels of less than 25 percent are common in the cabin<\/a>. I live in Singapore, where the humidity levels can reach up to 100 percent, yet I still suffer from dry skin problems. A healthy person might just get cracked lips and a croaky voice, but the slightest pain is often amplified in your body if you live with chronic illness.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;d skip the alcohol selection for now, and save it for when you land. It not only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au\/health\/healthyliving\/how-alcohol-affects-your-body\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">dehydrates you further, but is inflammatory and might trigger more pain<\/a> if you&#8217;re travelling with a chronic illness. I have a <a href=\"https:\/\/imp.i263265.net\/rQ1xAj\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LARQ Bottle<\/a> Movement PureVis, which is really useful for travelling, camping, or even whilst on-the-go back home. You can fill it up with tap water from anywhere, and simply press a button to purify it and kill bacteria with UV light. It also cleanses the bottle periodically to keep the water fresh.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201cIt isn\u2019t just you \u2013 everyone becomes #dehydrated on a flight. In fact, humidity levels of less than 25% are common..&amp; the slightest pain is often amplified in your body if you live with #chronicillness.\u201d #ChronicPain #TravelHacks<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9CIt%20isn%E2%80%99t%20just%20you%20%E2%80%93%20everyone%20becomes%20%23dehydrated%20on%20a%20flight.%20In%20fact%2C%20humidity%20levels%20of%20less%20than%2025%25%20are%20common..%26%20the%20slightest%20pain%20is%20often%20amplified%20in%20your%20body%20if%20you%20live%20with%20%23chronicillness.%E2%80%9D%20%23ChronicPain%20%23TravelHacks&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong class=\"pinTxtCTA\">Get up to 20% off Larq bottles here:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pinTxtCTA\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/imp.i263265.net\/c\/2113489\/1735424\/11455\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopenner noopener\" id=\"1735424\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/a.impactradius-go.com\/display-ad\/11455-1735424\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Get up to 20% off Larq bottles here\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" height=\"0\" width=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/imp.pxf.io\/i\/2113489\/1735424\/11455\" border=\"0\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Limit Germ Contact<\/h3>\n<p>I suppose there isn&#8217;t much you can do if you&#8217;re sitting beside a sick passenger (oh no!), so just try to remain calm. I switch seats with a healthy travel partner if I can. Since the pandemic, it&#8217;s more common to wear a mask as well, so don&#8217;t forget to bring plenty of masks along. I personally have an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/47QDvnD\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Airinum Lite mask<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/485AYGn\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">replaceable filters<\/a>, which I strap around my neck for convenience. Other popular reusable filtration air masks are <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/46sJgXA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vogmask<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/cambridgemask.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cambridge Mask<\/a>. They all come in a variety of cute patterns or colours.<\/p>\n<p>I also carry alcohol wipes in my little pouch wherever I go to clean dirty tables, toilet bowl seats and whatnot. I also use them to disinfect my phone and earphones when I reach home. It doesn&#8217;t hurt to carry them around whilst travelling too, on top of a good hand sanitiser for when no soap is available.<\/p>\n<h3>Move Around &#038; Keep Your Blood Flowing<\/h3>\n<p>Something else that I try to do is to get an aisle seat for any flight that&#8217;s more than 4 hours. You can try requesting for this at the assisted check-in counter, though it&#8217;s better to do so 48 hours beforehand by checking in online, as the flight might be fully booked. You might have to pay a small fee to do so, especially if it&#8217;s a budget airline. Even healthy people can get <a href=\"https:\/\/wwwnc.cdc.gov\/travel\/page\/dvt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DVTs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) on long flights<\/a>; I have Antiphospholipid Syndrome, a blood clotting disorder, which increases that risk.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting along the aisle makes it easier for me and everyone else as I go for my routine toilet breaks and mini strolls every hour. I do my silly exercises in the toilet, which includes jogging on the spot and wide hip twists. Sometimes I giggle to myself because it feels ridiculous, but a girl&#8217;s got to do what she&#8217;s got to do to arrive in one piece \ud83d\ude09 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/travel\/tips\/flight-seat-exercises-stretches-dvt\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Here are more simple exercises you can do whilst onboard a flight, from Washington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Make the Travel Process from Start to End as Smooth as Possible<\/h3>\n<p>Travelling can be exhausting even for a healthy person. I prefer to take a day flight if that option is available, as I&#8217;m usually in the <a class=\"contentLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/health\/article-2478568\/Why-illnesses-worse-night-From-arthritis-colds-heart-disease-changes-body-clock--fact-youre-lying--send-symptoms-soaring.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">most pain at night<\/a>, and need to take my medications before I feel alive in the morning. Whenever I take an overnight flight, I always need a day to two to recover from the aftermath. It&#8217;s also double the misery when I&#8217;m trapped in a cramped chair whilst aching all over in the night.<\/p>\n<p>All the waiting around and security checks at the airport whilst dragging your luggage around takes up time and energy as well. Energy that a healthy person has to spare, but not you. You are all here to enjoy your holiday, so allocate your energy supply wisely! Make the process of leaving your house up to stepping foot into your hotel as smooth as possible.<\/p>\n<p>I print out all my flight and accommodation details (you guessed it &#8211; off it goes into that clear folder). Whilst many hotels accept digital confirmation these days, I have always found good old paper to be more reliable. This is especially true in countries or places where internet connection is sketchy. I&#8217;ve seen people getting rejected at hotels, even though they have an email confirmation from a third-party booking site such as Agoda or Booking .com. Somehow my printed copy seems more legitimate. It&#8217;s also easier to refer to your hotel address should there be language barriers, or issues with your mobile device.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"pinTxtCTA\">Pin to Your Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability Boards:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pinBox\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" data-pin-description=\"Top tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability (from a girl who loves to travel). Find out why I do it despite chronic pain, and my best travel hacks and things to do. Free downloadable travel packing list included!\" src=\"https:\/\/e4edn27usvk.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/top-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability-girl-loves-travel-683x1024.jpg?strip=all&amp;lossy=1&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Top tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability (from a girl who loves to travel)\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-40951\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2021\/05\/24\/dimensions-of-wellness\/\">How to Use the 7 Dimensions of Wellness to Thrive with Chronic Pain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2020\/01\/28\/healthy-relationship-body-chronic-illness\/\">How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Your Body (Even with Chronic Illness)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/10\/28\/pain-flare-triggers\/\">A Roundup of Biggest Pain Flare Triggers (from 40 People with Chronic Illness)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/09\/07\/pain-chronic-illness\/\">Sometimes, Physical Pain Isn\u2019t the Worst Part About Chronic Illness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/04\/18\/everyday-scenarios-not-sure-polite\/\">4 Everyday Scenarios We\u2019re Not Sure How to be Polite About and Why<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>5. Adjust Medication Schedules to the Destination Timezone<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Lots of people with chronic illnesses need to take medications a few times a day, every day. I have pills I need to take in the morning, afternoon and night, and sometimes others are added on top of them. It may create a bit of anxiety if you&#8217;re travelling to a destination that has a significant timezone difference.<\/p>\n<p>The best way to stay on top of this schedule is to start adapting to your destination timezone even before you depart. You can take your medications an hour or two earlier or later, so that the time difference isn&#8217;t too wide, and so that it isn&#8217;t overly disruptive to your regular routine. Once you land, you can adjust it further, bit by bit.<\/p>\n<p>I personally am a little lazier, and only start adjusting my medication schedule on the flight, where my mind is in the &#8220;I&#8217;m travelling for real!&#8221; zone. I take my medications up to 4 hours earlier\/later than usual, aimed at the destination timezone. It then takes about a day or two for me to fully adapt my medication schedule thereafter. Note that this works for me and my types of medications, but may not work for you. So do check with your own doctor should you be unsure about how to adjust your medications whilst travelling with chronic illness or disability.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>6. Use the Tools You Have Whilst Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>All the little details to take care of, moving around, and changes in routine can drain your energy bar pretty quickly. Whatever assistance, medication or mobility aid you have &#8211; use them. I&#8217;ve read many accounts of people with chronic illness or disability who do so &#8211; and not one of them have regretted making that choice. You&#8217;re there to have fun with your travel companions after all, and not to prove how much you can tough things out at the risk of a pain flare.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201cYou\u2019re there to have fun with your travel companions after all, and not to prove how much you can tough things out at the risk of a #painflare.\u201d #Traveling #ChronicPain #ChronicallyIll #DynamicDisabilities<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9CYou%E2%80%99re%20there%20to%20have%20fun%20with%20your%20travel%20companions%20after%20all%2C%20and%20not%20to%20prove%20how%20much%20you%20can%20tough%20things%20out%20at%20the%20risk%20of%20a%20%23painflare.%E2%80%9D%20%23Traveling%20%23ChronicPain%20%23ChronicallyIll%20%23DynamicDisabilities&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>It&#8217;s Okay to be a Little More Liberal with Your Painkillers &#038; Medications<\/h3>\n<p>I try to control my intake of painkillers and steroids as I have limited <a class=\"contentLink\" href=\"https:\/\/patient.info\/treatment-medication\/painkillers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">painkiller options<\/a>, and don&#8217;t want to build up a resistance to what I can take. But I&#8217;ve also come to realise how silly it is not to use these pain medications that I&#8217;m <em>allowed<\/em> to take whilst travelling with a chronic illness and disability. I&#8217;ve wasted days on holidays simply because I was in too much pain to walk, or felt too fatigued to leave the hotel. It&#8217;s ridiculous!<\/p>\n<p>These days I am a little more liberal with the tools I have; this simple short-term change has improved the quality of my holidays by a great deal. This also includes anti-anxiety tablets, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcentral.com\/pain-management\/chronic-pain-medications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">whatever medications you need to keep your chronic illness at bay<\/a>. You don&#8217;t go on a holiday all year round, so try to maximise the pleasure, and minimise the pain!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/09\/22\/painkillers-quality-life\/\">Why Painkillers are One of My Biggest Allies for a Decent Quality of Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2016\/04\/23\/high-dose-steroids\/\">What\u2019s it Like to be on a High Dose of Steroids? (And the First Question You Will Definitely Ask)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/11\/12\/prevent-pain-flare\/\">Best Tips for Preventing a Pain Flare (from 40 People with Chronic Illness)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/01\/13\/pain-management-tips-pain-flare\/\">40 People with Chronic Illness Share Their Best Pain Management Tips (What to Do if an Unforeseen Pain Flare Hits)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/05\/13\/you-dont-have-to-be-strong\/\">You Don\u2019t Have to be Strong, Just a Little Stronger Than Before<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Bring All the Mobility Aids You Might Need<\/h3>\n<p>With my permanent knee injuries now, I also need to bring along a walking stick for those extra bad days (or simply to swipe at annoying people who have no sense of personal space, or who are glued to their phones whilst walking). I have a quad-cane and a nicer looking one, but I think I will be getting myself a foldable one for my future travels as well. I&#8217;ve come to realise that having a walking cane that can stand on its own &#8216;feet&#8217; is actually a must-have whilst travelling, because my hands will be pretty full. It can be pretty annoying with my sleek walking stick, where I keep needing to find surfaces to prop it against whilst I rearrange my items.<\/p>\n<p>If you are travelling with a wheelchair or motorised scooter, you will want to check with the airlines and insurance company, and see how they can best help you out. You might also want to do some detective work via Google beforehand, to see what the experiences were like for previous disabled customers. Avoid bad service like the plague &#8211; you don&#8217;t want a missing or damaged wheelchair when you land at your holiday destination (which would probably end up costing you more than taking a more inclusive airline company).<\/p>\n<p>Mobility aids aren&#8217;t just confined to wheelchairs or walking canes either. Yes, electric can (and wine!) openers are counted. Whatever else you need to keep yourself most mobile during your holiday &#8211; find a way to bring it along. P.s. If you do drink, these wine wands are great for filtering antihistamines and sulfites from wines, <em>without<\/em> compromising on taste or alcohol levels. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2020\/02\/13\/drink-pure-wine-review\/\"><strong>read my review on Drink Pure Wine here<\/strong><\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2022\/12\/13\/knee-surgery-post-operative-care-introduction\/\">Knee Surgery Post-Operative Care: Introduction to the Series (1\/6)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2022\/03\/06\/suddenly-disabled\/\">What It Feels Like to be Suddenly Disabled<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/05\/26\/independence-disability-chronic-illness\/\">Tips &amp; Tools to Help Regain Independence with a Disability or Chronic Illness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/10\/11\/invisible-illness-disability\/\">Would You Rather: Have an Invisible Illness or a Visible Disability?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/08\/19\/yuyu-bottle-review\/\">YuYu Bottle Review: Hot Water Bottle for \u2018Surround Warmth\u2019 Pain Relief<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>7. Non-Tangible &#8211; But Practical &#8211; Tips for Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In order to actually find some enjoyment from travelling with chronic illness and disability, it&#8217;s important to accept your limitations, and to make peace with these added hassles. Yes, it&#8217;s annoying that we need to take all these extra precautions and spend more time and money for safety&#8217;s sake, but life experiences, at least to me, are worth all that and more. There is no point in denying that we&#8217;re physically weaker in many ways, but if we are able to be our best selves (ill or otherwise), the right people will enjoy your company nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>Do remember that it&#8217;s okay to ask for help whenever you need it. Should you try to do it all on your own, you might end up in a pain flare, which would affect your travel companions too. It&#8217;s not &#8216;wrong&#8217; or &#8216;bad&#8217; to ask for help, especially when it&#8217;s a true need. Others probably also have more energy than you do, so it might not affect them that much as it will you.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>\u201cThere is no point in denying that we\u2019re physically weaker..but if we are able to be our best selves (ill or otherwise), the right people will enjoy your company nonetheless.\u201d #TravelTips #traveler #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.achronicvoice.com%2F2023%2F11%2F26%2Ftop-tips-travelling-chronic-illness-disability%2F&#038;text=%E2%80%9CThere%20is%20no%20point%20in%20denying%20that%20we%E2%80%99re%20physically%20weaker..but%20if%20we%20are%20able%20to%20be%20our%20best%20selves%20%28ill%20or%20otherwise%29%2C%20the%20right%20people%20will%20enjoy%20your%20company%20nonetheless.%E2%80%9D%20%23TravelTips%20%23traveler%20%23ChronicPain%20%23InvisibleIllness&#038;via=AChVoice&#038;related=AChVoice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Some Inspirational &#038; Motivational Travel Quotes to Get You Going<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Here are some quotes to inspire, motivate, and hopefully get you to book that next ticket to check one off your bucketlist!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\n\u201cMaybe life isn\u2019t about avoiding the bruises.<br \/>\nMaybe it\u2019s about collecting the scars to prove that we showed up for it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u2014 Hannah Brencher<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is the bravest thing you\u2019ve ever said?\u201d, asked the boy.<br \/>\n\u201cHelp\u201d, said the horse. \u201cAsking for help isn\u2019t giving up. It\u2019s refusing to give up.\u201d<br \/>\n\u2015 Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThink of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.\u201d<br \/>\n\u2013 John D. Rockefeller Jr. \u27a1\ufe0f For your travel companions \ud83d\ude09\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"relatedList\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/chronic-illness-quotes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">View more inspirational &#038; motivational quotes on our Quotes Page<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n<p>I hope that you found these travel tips for travelling with chronic illness and disability helpful! Do you have similar protocols, or more tips to share? I would love to hear them. Have a happy holiday!<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you liked this article, <a class=\"contentLink\" href=\"https:\/\/eepurl.com\/bVyAbn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sign up for our mailing list here<\/a> so you don&#8217;t miss out on our latest posts!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"relatedListBlue\">Check out our travel guest posts on <a style=\"text-decoration: underline !important\" href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/the-strange-sensations-on-a-train-in-china_b_57620c73e4b07d4d0a41aff1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Huffington Post<\/a> &#038; <a style=\"text-decoration: underline !important\" href=\"https:\/\/tobetterdays.co.uk\/blog\/travelling-with-chronic-illness-sheryls-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To Better Days<\/a>.<\/div>\n<ul class=\"relatedList\">\n<u>Read Related Posts:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2017\/09\/23\/its-in-my-blood-sarah-poitras-lung-disease\/\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cIt\u2019s in My Blood\u201d: Sarah Poitras \u2013 Round the World with a Lung Disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2017\/12\/20\/its-in-my-blood-bree-dixon-paris-chronic-pain\/\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cIt\u2019s in My Blood\u201d: Bree Dixon \u2013 Paris Je T\u2019aime, Even with Chronic Pain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/10\/17\/florence-italy-chronic-illness\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Invisible in Florence: Life with Chronic Illness in Italy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2018\/09\/15\/singapore-chronic-illnesses\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Invisible in Singapore: What\u2019s It Like to Live Here with Chronic Illnesses?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/12\/15\/travelling-chronic-illness\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Travelling New Paths with Chronic Illnesses in My Pocket<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achronicvoice.com\/2019\/08\/18\/ask-help-life-skill\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Asking for Help (and Why Everyone Needs to Learn this Important Life Skill)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"relatedListBlue\">\n<u>Read More Experiences &#038; Travel Tips from the Chronic Illness &amp; Disability Community:<\/u><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myseveralworlds.com\/2023\/06\/08\/traveling-as-a-disabled-person\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Traveling As A Disabled Person \u2013 The Angst and Anxiety (My Several Worlds)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayfaringwithwagner.com\/travel-chronic-condition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Travel with a Chronic Condition (Wayfaring with Wagner)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thedisableddivablog.com\/2017\/08\/09\/five-reasons-my-latest-road-trip-exceeded-my-expectations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Five Reasons My Latest Road Trip Exceeded My Expectations (The Disabled Diva)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/themighty.com\/topic\/ehlers-danlos-syndrome\/road-tripping-when-ill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">5 Tips for Taking Road Trips When You&#8217;re Chronically Ill (The Mighty)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/themighty.com\/topic\/fibromyalgia\/tips-advice-traveling-train-chronic-illness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">12 Tips for Traveling by Train With Chronic Illness (The Mighty)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/februarystars.co.uk\/weekend-in-london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">My Weekend in London + Strategies That Helped Me To Manage Chronic Pain (February Stars)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.probearoundtheglobe.com\/how-to-pack-your-medication-when-flying\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to pack your medication when flying? (Probe Around the Globe)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.therefresh.co\/2017\/07\/19\/traveling-while-chronically-ill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Traveling While Chronically Ill (The Fresh Co)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/highwaytohealingblog.wordpress.com\/2018\/06\/01\/9-tips-for-chronic-illness-travelers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">9 Tips For Chronic Illness Travelers (Highway to Healing)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/patienceandpajamas.com\/flying-with-pots-how-i-prepare-and-what-i-bring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flying with POTS: How I Prepare and What I Bring (Patience and Pajamas)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trippingthroughtreacle.com\/navigating-sorrento-with-a-physical-disability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Navigating Sorrento with a Physical Disability (Tripping Through Treacle)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gutsyfeeling.com\/2018\/12\/16\/vacation-packing-list-disney-world-packing-essentials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vacation Packing List &#038; Disney World Packing Essentials (Gutsy Feeling)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelbreatherepeat.com\/accessible-travel-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Accessible travel tips from frequent travelers (Travel Breathe Repeat)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hannahonhorizon.com\/10-helpful-tips-for-traveling-with-lupus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 helpful tips for traveling with lupus (Hannah on Horizon)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Travelling with Chronic Illness &#038; Disability &#8211; Why I Do It Anyway Travelling is one of my biggest passions in life, and I&#8217;d like to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":380,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions\/380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serenitylake.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}