• Follow Me On Pinterest
  • Follow Me On Facebook
  • Follow Me On Instagram
  • Google +
  • Linkedin

Chronic Chimera

  • Start Here
  • Hobbies
  • Self-Care & Flare Days
  • Creating Income
  • Contact Me
  • About
  • Hire Me
  • Blog Posts
  • Disclosure
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

May 9 · Leave a Comment

15 Travel Tips For Spoonies – Free Printable Packing List

Special Posts

Having an invisible illness makes traveling tricky.

However, if you make a travel plan, it can make it possible as well as keep you safe and possibly save you unnecessary pain. As a spoonie myself, I like to travel but can’t do it without some help. That’s why I created a list of 15 Travel Tips For Spoonies and a list of what to pack.

With summer comes the urge to get out of your room or house. When you are chronically ill, that urge can be even stronger. Being cooped up in bed with an autoimmune disease or chronic pain is difficult at best. Being cooped up and in pain because of winter makes it doubly so. When that warm sun comes out, wanderlust sets in.

I don’t travel much but when I do I make sure to plan it carefully.

When that warm sun comes out wanderlust sets in - by Kim McDowall

Here are 15 tips that could make your travel plans go more smoothly and keep you safe:

  1. Use Google to search for a hotel that is close to amenities
  2. Use another Google search to make sure you are close to healthcare in case you have an urgent care need or for a more serious emergency
  3. Check your medical insurance for coverage
  4. Get a ride to and from the airport or have someone else drive to save precious spoons
  5. Use airport assistance
  6. Don’t try to be a superhero, ask for help when you need it. Burning spoons because you are too proud or shy to ask for help will turn your vacation into a sleepcation faster than someone will judge you for using a handicapped spot on a “good” day
  7. Use a suitcase with wheels if you don’t have help or don’t use a porter
  8. Book some time off when you get home so you can recover 

    Chronic Chimera

  9. Make sure your hotel or apartment has amenities you need such as a big bed, kitchen or cooking utensils in case you need to prepare your own meals
  10. Also, try to stay close to a supermarket or somewhere you can buy your own food
  11. Spend some time relaxing by the pool or in bed with a good book to recharge yourself
  12. Buy travel insurance that covers your existing conditions. Chronic illness can cause so many changes to your life and travel plans are no exception. Travel insurance helps in more ways than missing a flight.
  13. Sheryl Chan of A Chronic Voice says “I also share a timeline of events on Google Calendar with my family, so they have an idea of where I am. At best, they’re able to contact the hotel where I’m at for information. At worst, they might need to fly up to rescue me.”
  14. ButYouDontLookSick.com has a great article about packing a travel bag and bringing an I.C.E. bag (In Case Of Emergency)
  15. Take a travel companion who knows how to handle an emergency, should you have one. Fill them in on your illness, let them help you in any way they are comfortable.

List of travel tips by Chronic Chimera

Here are just some of the things you should take with you when you travel. The Travel Tips For Spoonies Packing List Includes:

  1. Medications – There's a neat gadget that can help you pack your meds in my post 7 Ways To Remember To Take Your Medications and it includes a FREE Printable medication list.
  2. Hot/cold wraps
  3. Compression socks
  4. Toiletries
  5. Comfortable shoes
  6. Slippers
  7. Bring a travel pillow like this one with earplugs and a sleep mask
  8. A sweater, hoodie, lap blanket or anything else that helps you regulate your body temperature
  9. Book
  10. Crochet/Hobby
  11. A walking stick or cane like this pretty, collapsible one just in case you need the extra support
  12. Sleep mask and earplugs
  13. Sunglasses
  14. A power bank like Amazon's Choice by Anker to charge your electronics
  15. Bring copies of your prescriptions or something that allows you to get a refill in case your luggage gets lost or you lose them
  16. Bring a letter from your doctor detailing your history and illnesses 

    Download Your FREE Packing Checklist For Spoonies

  17. Keep an I.C.E.  (In Case Of Emergency) list on you at all times. This enables others to contact your doctor or family in the case of an emergency. It can also help to have it printed and kept in a bag or purse you keep with you at all times in case you lose your phone or it gets stolen.
  18. Comfortable clothes and pajamas
  19. Water & snacks
  20. If you’re riding in a car, try sitting on a pillow or cushion
  21. Keep a cooler in your car with ice for drinks and cold packs. You can even store some snacks that need to keep cooler
  22. Find a heating pad that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter or other connections. You can also get a power converter.
  23. Use games or apps on your phone or tablet as a distraction
  24. Hot tea. I love how hot tea makes me feel, it helps when I start getting or have a headache or panic attack. I also use black tea to help regulate my blood sugar.
  25. Antihistamines or an epi-pen for emergency allergic reactions
  26. A list of what and when to take your medications, vitamins, and supplements

Also, take frequent breaks on your road trip to stretch, use the facilities and move around. If you can’t stop, try moving your position or change your seat position

Take frequent breaks while travelling

You need a plan. Use these travel tips for spoonies as a guide and add your own needs to the list.

Whether you are traveling to another country or just going to visit the grandkids a few hours away, you need a plan. Making a list and adding to it as you go will make getting ready to travel much easier on you and your SO or caretaker. If you keep your list up-to-date and easy to print you can save time and energy that you can use to enjoy those grandbabies or sightseeing.

I recently wrote a post 14 Steps For The Chronically Ill – Use Your Time More Effectively To Save Energy And (Hopefully) Avoid A Flare that might help you plan your days. A plan will help you pace yourself but only if you use it.

I know how easy it is to get excited and ignore your symptoms. When my grandbabies come over I want to do so much with them to make up for the time I miss. When I get a chance to actually do something, I get just as reckless with myself. I have started using lists and a calendar to plan everything I do but I also stay realistic. If I am unable to do something I let myself off the hook. If I am flaring, I take it easy.

You need to make sure you take it easy and listen to your body while traveling or you could end up in the hospital. Like this post? Share it with friends!

Download Your FREE Packing Checklist For Spoonies

Let me know if you have any ideas I can add to this list.

*DISCLAIMER: I used some information from these articles when I wrote this post. Check them out by clicking on the links.

https://themighty.com/2017/06/how-to-travel-go-on-vacation-with-chronic-illness/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-travel-with-a-chronic-illness_us_57629a5be4b07d4d0a41bb47

https://www.achronicvoice.com/2017/04/17/chronic-illness-travel-guide/

https://www.spine-health.com/blog/7-tips-alleviate-back-pain-your-road-trips

I love hearing all about how you tackle your struggles with chronic illness!

Do you have other tips you can share with us? Most spoonies have found workarounds for all types of things and I’d love to share your advice. Write a comment below,send me an email, tell us about it in our Facebook Group or post some pictures on our Facebook Page

You may also like my store on Zazzle (affiliate link) with unique sayings and items I make for myself but that you can also buy. If you want something created with your unique saying, let me know and I'll do my best to get it designed.

Chronic Chimera

Kim is a freelance blogger, writer and VA. She loves sharing resources for other “spoonies” to help them create lives they love. Hoarding crochet patterns on Pinterest is her second favorite thing.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Pin
Share
Tweet

Related

« My Life With Hashimoto’s – Choose To Create A Life You Love Before It’s Too Late
27 Outdoor Activities For Spoonies »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

A Little About Me:

Kim is a freelance blogger, writer and VA. She loves sharing resources for other "spoonies" to help them create lives they love. Hoarding crochet patterns on Pinterest is her second favorite thing. Read More…

Recent Posts

  • 27 Outdoor Activities For Spoonies
  • 15 Travel Tips For Spoonies – Free Printable Packing List
  • My Life With Hashimoto’s – Choose To Create A Life You Love Before It’s Too Late
  • Make Money Creating Graphics
  • How To Crochet For Your Mental Health & For A Cause

Check Me Out On Pinterest

Join Me On Facebook

Join Me On Facebook

Chronic Chimera Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9wgRLtx03I

Recent Comments

  • Tara on 16 Tips (For Spoonies) To Spring Clean & Organize Your Bedroom

Archives

  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018

Categories

  • Creating Income
  • Hobbies
  • Self-Care & Flare Days
  • Special Posts
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2019 · captivating theme by Restored 316

This site uses cookies: Find out more.