How Chronic Illness Changed the Way I Travel

The Impact of Chronic Illness on Travel

At the age of 18, I was first diagnosed with a chronic illness. Last year, at 30, I received another diagnosis. Both psoriasis and polycystic ovary syndrome run in my family. For over a decade, my life has been filled with flare-ups, and I find myself paying more attention to my body and pain levels than I would like. One reality I've had to accept is that sometimes my body has different plans than I do.

This becomes even more apparent when I travel. Changes in climate, the stress of long flights, and even minor details like water quality can have a significant impact on my skin, while time zone changes can create additional challenges. Sometimes I simply need to manage fatigue and allow myself to rest, but there are times when this leads to hospital visits and prolonged complications.

Challenging Travel Experiences

When I was 25, I went kayaking in New Zealand, surrounded by stunningly clear waters. My best friend and I spent nearly a month hopping from one hostel to another, sipping rosé on pristine islands, enjoying poke bowls in coastal towns, and soaking in breathtaking landscapes. It was a wonderful trip, but it didn't last long. Suddenly, I noticed my skin, which was completely covered in psoriasis at the time, beginning to react to the sun. Just a week later, as I boarded a flight that lasted over 20 hours back home, my skin started to change.

Upon returning to England, I developed symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis, a severe and rare form of the condition that can be triggered by high temperatures. My dermatologist had only seen it once in his 40 years of practice. By the end of my trip, I was living in constant mild pain, which escalated to severe discomfort once I was home.

Adapting My Travel Style

Such experiences have greatly influenced how I travel. Many vacations have been postponed or rescheduled. I've canceled diving trips, spent days in bed instead of at the beach, and postponed or even skipped hiking excursions. Traveling is no longer as spontaneous for me as it once was. The most significant change has been the support network I now rely on. I used to love traveling solo, but in recent years, that has become more challenging. My partner, friends, and family have become crucial to how I travel.

They ensure that on the days I experience flare-ups, I receive proper care. This often involves simple acts: helping with my bags when I'm fatigued or running to get medication when needed. Ultimately, those living with chronic illness also deserve to explore the world. While I can’t always guarantee that my health won’t “get in the way,” as it sometimes does, I refuse to let it stop me.

Tips for Traveling with Chronic Illness

There are many different chronic illnesses, each with its unique needs and treatment plans. Here are a few tips that I believe everyone should keep in mind, many of which I've learned the hard way. First, know your limits and respect them. This is truly a note to self, as I often struggle with this in my daily life, let alone while traveling. But pushing myself beyond my limits for even a day only diminishes the quality of the entire trip.

I find this hardest when traveling with a large group. There’s a natural instinct to keep up with others, not wanting to “be a burden,” and sticking to the itinerary even when my body is protesting. But not everyone is living with a chronic illness. Accepting that can be tough, and at times, I feel envious of others' freedom.

Preparation Before Travel

Preparation is the second lesson. I take a medication that needs to be refrigerated. Bringing it along is a complicated process that requires paperwork, cool bags, and discussions with airlines to ensure they can store the medication in their fridge during the flight. I’m fortunate that I only need to inject every two weeks, so I often plan my travel days around my injection schedule. When that’s not feasible, packing becomes an exercise in anticipating every scenario. Many times, I've booked short trips with just carry-on luggage, convincing myself that there wouldn’t be any issues. But in doing so, I've overlooked packing items that help alleviate my symptoms because they were bulky or inconvenient. I always regret that.

Managing Health While Traveling

Finally, don’t abandon any healthy habits that help you manage your health. Part of the joy of traveling is enjoying new experiences and temporarily stepping away from daily life. But for those of us living with a chronic illness, letting go of everything we know about our bodies often doesn’t yield positive results. If there are exercises you do daily at home, keep doing them while on vacation. If you know you need a certain amount of sleep to manage pain, prioritize that. Travel may not be the same as it once was, but it’s still filled with joy and new opportunities, just requiring a bit more planning, patience, and a deeper understanding of the body you carry with you on your journey.

Article sourced and edited from: Condé Nast Traveler