Whether we’re celebrating an accomplishment, going on a vacation, or in my case, visiting a city before a big move, traveling is a rewarding and often necessary aspect of our lives. A topic that is not widely discussed is traveling while living with a chronic illness(es). We have to be more mindful about certain aspects of traveling that other abled-bodied people never have to consider. This was my first time traveling post diagnosis, which was extremely anxiety producing and almost dissuading in a sense. Why do I have to take extra precautions? I quickly learned that this form of self-destructive thinking was only preventing me from being present.
I recently traveled to the beautiful city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take a tour of campus before I start my masters program, as well as getting a feel for the city overall. Throughout my trip, I made sure to record a few helpful tips, tricks, and pieces of travel and airport related advice that would make the overall experience less stressful for my fellow members in the IBD community.
Traveling is a privilege that chronically ill people deserve to be afforded. Exclusionary language and barriers paired with a lack of resources and information can make the idea of traveling quite daunting, but these tips should make the reality of travelling more palatable. With the tail end of the pandemic emerging, we all deserve the opportunity to travel as comfortably and healthily as possible!
Tip #1: Store your medication in your carry on
It’s important for us to have access to all of our medication at all times. I found it very helpful to store all of my medications in my carry on bag, in a small pocket that is easily accessible. This way it is easy to keep track and organize all your medicine so you can stay on schedule.
Tip #2: Get a collapsible water bottle
As IBD patients, we know that we are at higher risk of dehydration, so we need to have full access to water. But wait, you can’t bring water into an airport, right? There’s a loophole! I bought a collapsible water bottle before my flight and I stored it in my carry on. It’s small, super convenient, and you can fill it up once you leave security. After your water bottle is filled, you are then able to take it on the plane.
Tip #3: Check the airport map to find all bathroom locations
We all know the feeling of needing emergency access to a restroom, and this feeling is no different in an airport, if anything it's exacerbated. I found it extremely helpful to locate all the bathrooms before I arrived at the airport so I knew which ones were closest to my terminal. Many airports have detailed maps scattered around, and the Apple maps app also gives you a detailed layout as well!
Tip #4: Stress management is key
Traveling can be very stressful on our bodies. In my case. Stress and anxiety are triggers for my symptoms, so finding healthy ways to mitigate that stress is super important. We all have our own unique ways of reducing stress, but I found that packing headphones and listening to music helps tremendously. Chewing gum is another simple and useful stress reducing tip!
Tip #5: Be sure to get an AirBnb or hotel close to restaurants that cater to your dietary restrictions
Trying new restaurants, eateries, and bars is an integral part of the traveling experience, but it can be rather difficult for those of us with IBD since we have many dietary restrictions. My tip is to research restaurants, super markets, or local grocery stores in advance. This helped me so much during my trip; preplanning can make all the difference. We don’t deserve to be robbed of the full experience, so researching options beforehand can increase overall satisfaction.
While there are so many other tips that I could provide, these five were the most pertinent. Utilize these tips to ensure happy and safe traveling!
This article is sponsored by Connecting to Cure.
Connecting to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis is a grassroots, volunteer organization that brings together the IBD community with a focus on caregivers and families. Connecting to Cure Crohn’s & Colitis provides community and support for those coping with these chronic illnesses, while raising awareness and funds for research as well.