Don’t Let Chronic Illness Ruin Your Vacation
If you are dealing with a chronic illness, you are not alone. The CDC says that as much as 60% of American adults are living with some form of chronic illness, with 40% dealing with two or more.
A chronic illness by its definition will last a minimum of 3 months; however, many are incurable and must be managed for a lifetime. In managing your chronic disease, you will make many changes to your day-to-day lifestyle including diet, exercise, activity level and medication and supplementation. But you also have to take your illness into consideration for other things, and planning a vacation is one of them.
Vacationing with a chronic illness can be a challenge, but it is something you can do successfully with a bit of pre-planning. And increasing the amount of joy in your life while decreasing stress is critical to every chronic illness, so vacations are important. Here are a few things you should think about when planning your next vacation if you or a loved one are living with chronic illness.
Pick the Right Destination
You need to take your illness into consideration from the beginning of your vacation planning, so the first thing you must consider is where you will go. Every chronic illness is different and comes with its own set of challenges; be sure to take those into consideration when choosing a location.
If you are dealing with rheumatoid arthritis, choosing a physically taxing vacation may not be ideal, those dealing with diabetes must take meal choices into account and those with Hashimotos need to plan for energy levels that may not be optimal. Many popular destinations have accommodations that can be made for your needs, so there’s no reason to pass up a great Disney World tickets discount or assume that a cruise isn’t for you. But you should be honest with yourself about any limitations you have and contact your proposed destination to have a conversation about what help they can offer.
Pack Well
Packing is a challenge in the best of times, with a chronic illness you have a bit more to think about. You need to think about more than the right outfit.
Some kind of organizer for your medication and supplements is essential. While on vacation your schedule will be different than you are used to and it can be easy to forget to take important meds. A simple 7-day pill organizer can be super helpful. If you have meds that you need to take throughout the day, think about installing a reminder app on your phone to make sure you don’t miss something while you’re out and about.
Think about packing the items that give you the most comfort at home. If that weighted blanket allows you to relax and sleep, then take it with you. It might make your suitcase heavy, but if it allows you to enjoy your vacation more then it’s worth it. Do you need to pack a heating pad for joints that get overwhelmed easily, a spray bottle with a fan to help with heat intolerance, an extra sweater because you are always cold? This isn’t the time to worry about getting everything down to one carry-on. You deserve a great vacation, it’s worth spending a little extra time to pick up checked baggage to make sure you have one.
Pace Yourself
While on your vacation, make sure you are checking in with yourself and respecting your body’s needs. Don’t try to hide your needs from your friends and family and don’t overdo in order to keep up with everyone else. Don’t tell yourself that the vacation is only a success if you are able to participate in every moment of it. Be willing to adapt. If you need to stay at the hotel or onboard the cruise ship and enjoy some time in the sun and a relaxing soak in the hot tub while everyone else is running around somewhere, that’s OK.
A great vacation with chronic illness can be yours. Plan ahead, choose your destination wisely, bring your necessities with you and give yourself permission to rest when you need to.
