Travelling is the most amazing thing in the world but having a chronic illness can make it hard. Here is a quick rundown of my chronic illnesses. I have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), chronic migraines and headaches, Vestibular migraines, Endometriosis and chronic stomach ulcers. POTS is a heart condition where it affects me when I go from sitting to standing. My heart rate increases by at least 30BPM, I get dizzy, hot, and can pass out. It also affects me when I am standing for long periods. The blood will pool in my legs making me dizzy, nauseous and can pass out. Vestibular migraines are very different from a normal migraine. Instead of getting a painful headache, it makes my limbs feel heavy, get hot and cold sweats, blurred vision, nauseous, ears ringing, dizzy, and light-headed, vomiting and possibly passing out.
With having those 5 chronic illnesses a normal day is hard let alone one spent walking lots in a different country. I have about 15 headaches/migraines a month, 3-4 vestibular migraines now that I am taking medication (before taking medication is was twice a week), the endo affects me once a month for 4 days (but I do get some pain in my ovaries varied throughout the month), POTS every day. Quite often there are days where everything is happening and it makes it so hard to get out of bed. I have to call in sick to work a lot. Some days they cant find a replacement so I have to work. I have been at work vomiting, almost passing out, and in the worst pain ever but I can’t leave because I’m the manager on duty. I just have to think about the money I am saving to go on my next holiday.
To help manage my pain, and symptoms I take medication for everything. I am currently taking 13 tablets a day, 6 in the morning, 2 at lunchtime, and 5 before bed. I also take some other supplements to help me. I see my cardiologist and neurologist every 3 months, and every time I go, they do more tests, give me more or new medication, or think something else is happening. I go to the GP at least once a month and they run more tests. I will be having surgery for the endo in 1.5 weeks so I hope that helps with the pain
So what is it like travelling with all of these things?
It sucks.
I have the most amazing time when nothing is playing up. When I feel symptoms starting I get angry and frustrated, I try so hard to act as if it isn’t bothering me. I think that I’m just making it up in my head, so I can keep having an amazing time. Almost always that doesn’t work, as I’m in so much pain, or I vomit or nearly pass out. Then I have to get an uber back to the hotel while my friends continue to explore. I usually just watch TV or sleep, when my friends get back to the hotel they talk about what they just did and it sucks not being able to be there. I usually think to myself that some people are so sick that they can not even travel so I am lucky.
Having a chronic illness means you have to pay more in travel insurance, you can pay an extra $200+ to declare your conditions. You also have to worry about buying and bringing enough medication with you. You will need them in there original packaging for flights and some medication you might need a note from your doctor depending on what you are taking and what country you are going to. The most confusing part is when do I take my tablets on the plane, especially with big-time differences.
Putting all that aside I love travelling and I will easily put up with the hassle to see spectacular places and meet amazing people all over the world.
