Tips to make international travel easier with EDS

While I’ve written before about tips for traveling with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), I learned some new things recently that were helpful for traveling internationally. I was surprised at how just a few items made a recent trip to Europe much easier.

They include the following:

A good travel pillow: There are many kinds of travel pillows, and while I’ve used them before, I’d never been thrilled with them. I decided to try a few styles to see if one worked better than others. I found the wrap-around style to be a game changer, as it provides more neck support. It helped keep my head from falling in any direction, which lessened my neck soreness.

Plenty of snacks: While I always bring food with me when I travel, for a long-distance flight, it was important to have on hand whatever I wanted, especially because the vegan meal I’d requested ahead of time didn’t make it to the plane. Bringing fruit, protein bars, and other light snacks made things easier, and I didn’t have to worry about food allergies. Remember that you’ll have to eat the fruit before you arrive at your destination or you’ll have to throw it out.

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A lounge pass: I had a long layover, but I discovered I could buy a day pass to a travel lounge for about $50. It was worth every penny. Lounges have comfortable chairs, food, drinks, and quiet places to relax. While there aren’t actual sleeping spaces, the chairs are much more comfortable and easier to doze in than standard airport chairs. This gave me a chance to relax, put my bags down, and relieve some of the stress in my body.

The right bags: When I fly, I always take a backpack with a waist strap, which helps better distribute its weight. That’s good for my EDS-associated sore joints. I make sure not to pack it too full so that I don’t aggravate my damaged right shoulder. A solid suitcase that smoothly rolls also helps when navigating an airport. I don’t bring big bags, as handling them is too difficult for me.

A plan for jet lag: I knew I’d experience jet lag, but I had no idea how bad it’d be, especially after returning home. I was so exhausted after the trip that I could barely function for days, which increased my anxiety. Even minimal activities wiped me out.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, “For each time zone crossed during travel, it takes about a day to adjust to the new environment.” In the future, I plan to ask for more help when I get home so that I can get through the jet lag more easily. I’m happy to report that I was able to overcome it eventually and am now back to normal.

Overall, my trip to Europe was an amazing experience. While preparing for it was difficult, once I arrived, it was much better than I’d imagined. The food was better, I found some new shoes after learning about proper foot stability, and I got to spend time with my family. Traveling such a long distance made some things more difficult, but I found that by implementing a few tips, Europe was quite doable — even with EDS.

Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.