Travelling can be stressful at the best of times, but when you have Fibro it can be a complete nightmare.

Getting organised ahead of time for any significant journey can make a world of difference. As well as planning and investigating various aspects of the trip, you can also try and make sure you are as physically prepared as possible.

Although it is often hard to avoid rushing around before a trip away, making sure you get as much rest as possible beforehand can make a big difference to how you physically cope.

If you have problems with myofascial tension and trigger points, then getting a myofascial release massage done shortly before the journey will mean that you don't start off with myofascial problems that will only be worsened by travelling. However, make sure that you leave yourself enough time to recover from any after effects of this, or any other treatment you have.

If IBS is a particular issue for you then being especially careful in the run-up to the trip away can help to avoid problems. Make sure you avoid any foods you are intolerant of, as well as general IBS triggers, such as too much insoluble fibre or high fat foods.

No matter how you are travelling, there are some preparations that will always be useful:

Make sure that you have enough of all your medications for the whole trip away, and include over-the-counter medications in this. Make a kit of all the meds you might possible want during the journey so this can be kept close to hand; a pencil case or small wash-bag often make ideal medication kit bags. If you are travelling abroad, keep all medications in their original packaging, take copies of actual prescriptions with you and make sure that none of your medications are illegal in the country you are visiting – for example, there are heavy penalties in some countries for carrying codeine or even having it in your blood stream.

Work out everything that could help you deal with your pain on the go. TENS machines can be useful for some people and are portable. If heat works for you, then get some of the patches that heat up on their own, as you won’t be able to rely on having access to either a microwave or electricity socket.

Take your own snacks and drinks so that you don’t have to rely on being able to stop and find something suitable for you in a rush.

Dress comfortably. Even if you want to look smart or elegant on arrival, this is possible. There are some wonderfully cut leisure clothes available these days and even if you need to arrive wearing a suit, you’ll look better if you travel in comfortable clothes and then change right before you arrive. Layers are always a good idea for travelling, but especially when Fibro means you don’t know when you will go from hot sweat to shivering cold.

Take everything you might need for comfort. A small blanket and either a feather pillow (which compress well), small cushion or blow up cushion can make a world of difference. If you use them to rest at home, then take an eye mask and ear plugs.

Pack a small wash kit with toothbrush and toothpaste, facial cleansing wipes and a packet of tissues (in case there is no toilet paper). When you are exhausted, being able to clean your face and teeth can perk you up and travelling tends to make everyone feel grimy.

Make sure that, no matter how you are travelling, everything that you could need on the trip to help you cope with your Fibro is either right next to you or easy to access.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH FIBRO

1. Plan. Work out what the specific problems associated with travelling are going to be for you, whether it’s sitting still, needing a toilet frequently or having to walk long distances in an airport. If you know something will be a problem beforehand, you can try to work out a solution.



2. Accept help. It’s all very well being independent, but if it means you arrive at your destination in a major flare, it’s unlikely to be worth it.



3. Try and be in the best shape possible physically before you even start.



4. Have a medications kit. You don’t want to have to stop and unpack everything when you need a painkiller or, even worse, not be able to get at the medications that could help you because they are out of reach in an airplane hold.



5. Take travel supplies of pain relieving products, such as self-heating heat pads.



6. Take your own snacks and water.



7. Dress comfortably.



8. Take comfort items, such as a blanket and travel pillow.



9. Choose your seating position in the vehicle, whether it is a car, train or ‘plane, so as to make it as easy as possible for you.



10. Take plenty of breaks and stretch regularly.

Remember to relax, take it easy and enjoy what you can. The whole point of preparing for a journey when you have Fibro is to make it easier for you, not to stress you out.

When travelling by car with Fibro...

Find out where all the service stations on the route are, and where it is easy to get off the main road and find an alternative if needed.

Make sure you stop frequently, even if it is only for five minutes to enable you to get out and stretch.

Make sure you have enough leg room in the car to adjust your position.

Try and sit in a seat with a good head rest.

If you get nauseous, then sitting in the front may help.

When travelling by train with Fibro...

Book a seat to ensure that you get one. An aisle seat will make it easy to move around frequently.

If you need help with your luggage or with getting on and off the train, then let the station(s) know beforehand. This can make a big difference, especially in the larger stations where just the walk to the train can be a real effort and getting a ride there with your luggage can save you energy and pain.

Give yourself plenty of time to find the train and get on board.

When you board the train, locate the nearest toilets. If it is to be a long journey, then checking they are in useable order before you need them can give you time to find an alternative.

Get up and walk up and down and stretch regularly.

If you sometimes use a walking stick, then take it with you as it will likely make people give you more consideration.

When travelling by aeroplane with Fibro...

Make sure you have everything you need in your hand luggage.

Check with your airline what security measures are currently in place. For example, you may be unable to take liquids on board over 100ml or if they are not in clear containers. This can include toiletries, bottles of water and even yogurts. You may also need to have a doctor’s letter to take some forms on medications, especially anything injectable, on board the ‘plane.

Try and book a seat with extra leg room. Be aware that people with disabilities are not allowed to sit by the emergency exits: if you genuinely think that you would struggle to open an emergency exit if needed, then you should not ask for one of these seats. However, there are often other seats that have more space than usual that do not have these restrictions.

Try and get a seat next to the aisle so you can get up without bother.

Ask either the airline or the airport how far you will need to walk to your gate. This can be a very long way in some airports. If you think this is long enough to tire you, then arrange beforehand to get a lift in the electric cars they use.

During the flight, get up and move around regularly.

Stay hydrated – ‘planes are very drying for everyone.

If you are concerned about catching something because of the recirculated air, then you can buy portable air filters that hang quite unobtrusively around your neck and help to clear the air in front of you mouth and nose.

Get some rest on the ‘plane. Your comfort items will help with this, but it may also be a good idea to discuss with your doctor whether a sleep supplement or medication could help you travel better. Something to help you sleep can both help you rest on the plane and also help you avoid jet lag.