​1. Choose your destination wisely. Ask yourself the following questions:   
-Do you do better in cold weather or warm weather? What about damp or dry? 
-How will you get there? Are you able to fly and for how long? Can you drive for a long period of time?  
-Once you get there how will you get around? Is there a lot of walking or waiting a long time for public transportation? 
-What are the typical things to do? Is the focus sightseeing and walking, like in New York City, or relaxing on a beach, like in Mexico? 
-Is there access to healthy and organic food options? 

2. Plan an Itinerary. 
Remember that vacation anticipation boosts mood. Spend time planning out each day of your vacation. I use TripAdvisor and Yelp, to look up things to do and read reviews. If it's a big trip, I might treat myself to a guidebook and read it cover to cover. 

The most important reason to make an itinerary is so you can spread out your activities. If you are doing something strenuous one day, plan a less intense activity the next. 

I typically plan things to do during the day and leave my evenings free for a slow-paced dinner and time to relax. If you're anything like me you start the day with a certain amount of energy and willpower, which diminishes throughout the day. Plan accordingly.  

3. Find healthy restaurants in the area and look up the menus online. 
Many people with chronic illness are on some type of anti-inflammatory diet to manage symptoms. It's important to maintain diet as much as possible on vacation to avoid flares. 

I recently vacationed in Phoenix, Arizona and was ecstatic to see all the healthy, organic, whole food restaurants in the area. Not all destinations are so health conscious. 

I need to eat 3 meals a day in order to take all my medications and supplements, so when I travel I search online for 3 restaurants (and cafes for smaller meals) a day near the hotel or attractions I will be seeing. I usually start with TripAdvisor and Yelp for recommendations. Then, I go onto the website and search through the menu to make sure it is allergen friendly. These days most restaurants have a menu online and most healthy restaurants list common allergens on the menu. 

In places where healthy food is few and far between most restaurants have salad and then I keep little vials of oil and vinegar in my purse, which luckily don't have to be refrigerated. 

4. Schedule relaxation into your trip. 
I never used to splurge on massages before I got sick, but now I use my illness as a reason to spend the extra cash. When I'm away I like to schedule a massage or mani pedi to take a small break from being on the go. 

Other options are to schedule in time to lay out by the pool or find a drop-in gentle yoga class in the area. 

5. Find the right pill organizer. 
Chronic illness and a jam packed cabinet of medication and supplements go hand in hand; however, you can't travel with your cabinet, so a great pill organizer is the next best thing. 

I have an organizer that has 4 large compartments and the days separate from one another. This allows me to take only the days I need and carry the separate compartment with me throughout the day. I even have two, in case I'm traveling for more than a week. 

The TSA does not require you to pack medication in the original bottle, but they do request that it is "labeled." I don't really know what that means, but I've always just given the agent the heads up and they've never seemed concerned. It's probably best to do a quick Google search before you fly to see if anything has changed. 

6. Research the nearest hospital. 
Ten plus years of strange new symptoms popping up randomly caused me to develop health anxiety. I'm always wondering what is around the corner and if it will be serious. 

Therefore, it is important for me to know that there is a descent hospital relatively close to where I will be. Last summer we spent a few days in Northern Minnesota and it was a 30 minute drive to the nearest hospital. That did not put my mind at ease, but it was important for me to know in case anything did happen. 

7. Bring 2 or 3 essential oils. 
My personal favorite "use for anything" oils are lavender and peppermint.

4 possible uses are: 
-Headache/nausea remedy by mixing 1 drop of each and rubbing on my temples, forehead, and behind my ears.
-Stomach ache remedy by mixing 1 drop of each and rubbing on stomach. 
-Pain remedy by mixing 1 drop of each and rubbing on low back. 
-Relaxing aromatheapy bath by adding 3 drops of lavender to hot water. 

If you have 2 or 3 go-to oils it's a good idea to bring them along. Make sure you put them in a plastic baggie as they have a tendency to leak.  

8. Pack some allergen-friendly snacks. 
You never know when there won't be anything available for you to eat, so having a few extra snacks in your carry on or suitcase is not a bad idea. 

Here are some suggestions: 
-assorted raw nuts (if you tolerate)
-nutrition bars (Larabars, Epic Bison Bacon Cranberry Bars, Trader Joe’s Fruit Bars, OneBar)
-Pacific Bone Broth single servings 
-Jackson's Honest Sweet Potato Chips 
-Plantain chips 
-SeaSnax seaweed

9. Get the right shoes. 
Another thing you might want to spend a little more on is a good pair of shoes. Shoes can make a huge difference in back and leg pain, especially when you are walking more than you're used to. Quality shoes usually run over $100, so if you can't afford that check out places like ebay or thredUp where you can buy slightly used high end shoes for much less. Nordstrom Rack also carries a good selection of high end walking shoes at a discount.  

Some brands I like are: Dansko, Keen, Merrell, Reiker. 

10. Rest when your body tells you to rest. 
I've found that I have much more energy while traveling. It's a sort of vacation adrenaline, which allows me to do more than I would at home. However, when you have chronic illness there is always a limit. 

Make sure you rest when your body tells you to, otherwise you risk not being able to make it through the activities planned for the next day. 

If the hotel bathtub seems clean, take a long, hot bath, or take a nice afternoon nap in the crisp clean sheets.  

11. Be in nature & meditate. 
Since, I was diagnosed with chronic illness I've planned more vacations that revolve around spending time in nature. Maybe it's because running around in the bustle of a big city seems exhausting, or maybe it's because when I'm in nature I feel better.

I also try to spend a few minutes meditating each day. It only takes 5 minutes to center yourself and gain a boost of energy. It's usually good to take a moment after a busy day just to calm the senses and have a moment to yourself. Breathe in the lavender oil you brought with you before you begin.   

12. Cheat a little (if you can). 
On our most recent trip to Arizona I had the opportunity to have gelato made from the fruit of a cactus. And I took it. I typically don't eat dairy, but I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity. 

This may not be a good idea for those who need to stick to a diet for serious health reason. However, if you are able to handle some inflammatory foods, pick 1 or 2 local favorites during your stay and give them a try. 

Where are you traveling to next? What are some of the challenges you face?

"Afoot and lighthearted I take to the open road." - Walt Whitman

This article was first published on Lymeology in 2016, a website that is no longer active. Most of the links on this post are informational, but a few are affiliate links to help maintain this website.

Dear Conventional Medicine,

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. You've increased our life spans and eradicated certain viruses from the planet. You can replace a failing organ and fix a shattered bone. You've made so many advances and discoveries it makes me want to kiss you. You work tireless hours and even when you aren't at work you carry that godforsaken pager. Respect. 

I was 100% devoted to you Conventional Medicine. I took your pills and spewed your research to anyone who would listen. Everything you are is based on science and peer reviewed, so how could I doubt you? I thought alternative medicine was for conspiracy theorists.  

And then I got sick. And you abandoned me. 

For 10+ years I stuck by you, even when you were mistreating me (literally). Test after test, diagnosis after diagnosis and all you could tell me is, "We don't know."  

At the end of our relationship, you started ignoring me completely. It seems you couldn't admit you had nothing to offer me.  
​
So I reached out and gave alternative medicine a try, because I thought it might be a better fit for me. Within a year, they found the right tests and I was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Since most of us are in this for the long haul, here are some suggestions on how to respond to this daily question: 

1. "I have my ups and downs." 
This is very true for those of us with Lyme disease or chronic illness. We may have a symptom-free day only to end up on the couch for the week. It is a constant roller coaster and I often describe it as such.

Similar response: "I have my good days and bad days."   

2. "I'm adjusting."  
Lyme disease creates a new normal. There are things we have to give up and there is grieving process that goes along with it. We have to come to terms with our diagnosis, while at the same time fighting with conventional medicine for appropriate treatment. For most of us it takes awhile to adjust. 

Similar response: "It’s a process." 

3. "Not great, but I’m hanging in there." 
I save this one specifically for my bad days. It usually leads to a follow up question, and at that point I can let people know it’s a particularly bad day. It's important to tell people when they either need to leave you be or offer some extra help. I say this at work when I know I may not meet all my expectations for the day.  

Similar response: "It’s tough, but I'm making it." 

4. "I'm putting one foot in front of the other."
Many times all people with Lyme disease are able to do is get out of bed and get through the day (sometimes not even that much). Responding this way implies we are doing the best we can.

Similar response: "I'm taking it one day at a time."

And my personal favorite...

5. Say something positive about your current treatment. For example, "Well, I just switched antibiotics and I'm not having headaches anymore."
Every day I try to think of one positive thing about my treatment—maybe I tried a new ginger tea that helps with nausea, or maybe I just finished a book that gave me a new understanding of Lyme. Dig deep and find something, anything, that is working.    

The truth is there isn't always something positive to say, so if that's the case choose one from the list above. 

Remember, most people won't understand what you are going through. When you really need to talk about how you are feeling make sure you reach out to your loved ones or your support network. Lyme disease is not something people can go through alone, no matter how you are feeling.

"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." - Lao Tzu