For many reasons, we think that road trips are the best types of holidays. However, when you are also juggling traveling with a long-term medical condition, a road trip is a great option as it allows you the freedom to roam but with the ability to keep your health under control. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it is worth it. Here is what to prepare for a road trip if you are traveling with medical conditions.
Make Sure You’re Up To Date With Your Vaccinations
If you are going abroad at all as part of your road trip, it’s important to check what vaccinations, if any, are mandatory and which are advised. Make sure you discuss with your doctor where you are planning on going to so that they can advise you, and inform you of any risks that may come along with having particular injections alongside your medical condition.
Take Regular Breaks
Although sitting in a car might seem like a relaxing activity, it can be quite taxing on your joints and muscles, so regular breaks to stretch and loosen up are very important. Try to do this every one and a half to two hours before any pain sets in, rather than as a way to ease it when it has happened.
A little walk and some fresh air will help you feel a little more invigorated and ready to carry on the journey too, which is especially important if you are the driver.
Staring at the road can also cause you to strain your eyes, which can cause headaches. If you find that you are straining your eyes, take a break. It is also advisable that you wear any glasses that you have been prescribed. If you need to buy glasses before your trip, you can do so here.
Research your hotels
As part of your roadtrip, you are likely to stay in several different hotels, or other types of accommodation and so it is important to research these in plenty of time before making reservations.
Find out about their accessibility if that is something you need, and don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure that they can cater to your needs. It’s much better to know ahead of time and be able to enjoy yourself without worrying.
Schedule in Rest Days
A road trip can feel quite full on, especially if there are a lot of places you want to visit, things you want to see, and stuff to do. It’s important, then, to make time to rest and let your body recuperate from your activities in order to enjoy yourself.
Try not to push yourself too hard, or put too much pressure on yourself. After all, holidays are supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation too!
Pack a Travel Health Kit
Alongside the usual first aid kit contents that you should always have when travelling — eg, antiseptic, plasters, gauze, dressings, antihistamines, insect repellent etc, Make sure you have everything you need for managing your medical condition and the symptoms associated with it. Pack spare medication just in case and make sure you know where it is stored.
You will also need any information from your doctor, such as prescriptions, medical information and your next of kin details in case you fall ill while away, to help anyone treating you.
When you have a medical condition, depending on what it is, it can sometimes feel as though you have to put your life on hold, or stop doing some of the things you used to love. A road trip is a great way of taking back some of that, while still being sensitive to your needs and not pushing yourself too hard.
Once you have done one road trip, you will probably be ready to book more! Leave a comment if you have other tips to prepare for a road trip with medical conditions.
