Conde Nast | Traveling With Endometriosis: The Packing Essentials That Help Ease My Pain On the Go

Traveling With Endometriosis Can Be a Challenge!

From portable heating pads to contoured pillows, here's what I turn to when my symptoms flare up on the road.

Dealing with endometriosis on a daily basis, or even just during that time of the month, can really put a cramp on your lifestyle. When Megan reached out to me for some travel tips, I was glad to give some insights into how to make the whole experience the best that it can be. She begins the article with:

For the past 10 years or so, I’ve been struggling with what I thought were just “normal” periods. I experienced everything from irregular timing between periods to debilitating cramps that would force me to sit or lie down, even if I was at work or traveling.

During this time, I’ve managed to travel near and far, driving to theme parks, visiting Europe and the Caribbean on cruise ships, and flying to new countries, all with the sneaking suspicion of endometriosis from my doctor and myself.

My first point to Megan is to remember that endometrial tissue is similar to, but not the same as, the lining of the uterus. It responds in the same way to cyclic bleeding, except because this tissue is not in the uterus, it has nowhere to go, and instead creates inflammation and scar tissue in the area of the endometriosis.

Traveling with endometriosis can present several challenges, from sharp pains running down the leg and back to persistent cramps, headaches, and bloating. The way we travel can cause flare-ups. Traveling is stressful, and stress affects our nervous system.

It doesn't have to be ‘bad stress’ that negatively affects us. Endometriosis is also often associated with bowel dysfunction due to lesions that originate from this area. Changes in diet when traveling and dehydration that occurs from flying or being in different environments and altitudes can also wreak havoc on your digestive tract.

After countless appointments and years of signs and symptoms (including a family history of endometriosis), I discovered that I too am one of 190 million women who have the chronic disease. Later this month, I’ll undergo a laparoscopic surgery for my doctor to determine the level of endometriosis that I have, and to take out any tissue that’s attached itself to places it shouldn’t be.

Megan's packing essentials for traveling with endometriosis include:

• TheraIce Headache Relief Cap
• NewGo Cooling Eye Mask
• Sunbeam Heating Pad
• Yeamon Portable Cordless Heating Pad
• Alkamto Memory Foam Pillow

Continue to the full article here to get the complete rundown on Megan's and my travel tips, and go here if you're ready to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed physical therapists.