Traveling with rheumatoid arthritis

I suggest getting Global Entry, or at least TSA Precheck. (Don’t forget to enter your KTN in when buying your tickets. ) I so appreciate the shorter lines, NOT taking my shoes off or taking my laptop or CPAP out. It’s such a smooth way to start your trip!

When possible, I try to buy “Comfort” or “Premium” seats. They are typically closer to Main cabin fares than First Class and are more comfortable, you board earlier and sometimes you get a better snack. I try to get an aisle seat so I can get up and walk every 1-2 hours.

I always check my bag. It wears out my shoulder pulling a wheelie bag through the airport and lifting it into the overhead bin.

I wear a small backpack on the plane - mine can also be worn as a cross-body. I try to limit it to my prescriptions, phone charger, kindle, wallet and a snack. OTC meds go in my checked bag. I really try to evaluate if I need my laptop on a trip. Can I get by with just my phone?

Don’t be shy to use PreBoard if you are having mobility issues. Consider a folding cane.

Compression socks for any flight over 2 hours. If I do a lot of walking, I’ll sleep in a pair too. I don’t like wearing them during the day, especially in the heat. But they seem to help energize my legs overnight.

If flying through big airports, consider requesting a ride between concourses. A tip may be appropriate for the assistant.

If you are being careful with your diet know that most free airline snacks are carb or gluten heavy: cookies or pretzels. On longer flights you can pre-buy your meal. My favorite is the fruit and cheese plates.

I’ve had a hip replacement- and never once set off the metal detector. I’ve been told there is no need for a doctor’s note stating you have a metal joint.

Hope you have a great trip! Jo

Jo has an amazing list! Just to add, I would say wear comfortable clothes and maybe consider getting a aisle seat just incase you need leg room. Also, if your changing time zones, be sure to adjust your medication schedule! -Latoya (Team Member)

I love to travel. I learned the hard way 20 years ago that if it’s a long trip, I should assume that I need 3x the time to do what an average traveler will do. I had planned 6 weeks in Europe, going from Paris to Switzerland and Austria, but never made it past Zurich because I was suddenly trying to find massage and other treatments that I also depend on at home.

But really any trip I try to give far more time than the average. I did a solo road trip that many could have done in 1-2 days, but I took 5 to try to give myself stretch breaks, time to find a pool for exercise, and reduce stress.

As for airplanes, I do not like the aisle for germ reasons. I’m careful to sit as far from a bathroom as possible. There was a study that showed, barring something airborne like covid, germs are often concentrated on the headrests of aisle seats and reduce concentration the further you sit from a bathroom. Because people hold on to the headrests as they walk from the bathroom. It’s ok to ask people multiple times to get up.

I board early even if I’m not having a particularly hard day because we all know how things can change on a dime. I’d rather keep the reserves in my energy bank. Radical self-care is my new motto! Have fun!

With others already providing excellent travel tips, below are my favorite travel items. BTW, my list ends with a recommendation on bringing your disabled parking placard. Read why below.

NIFTY TRAVEL AIDS
Electric plug outlet/USB A, B, C/adapter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B4DR1532
This ultra lightweight power strip worked terrific for my smart devices/tools, which had dual voltage 120/240V. Note that this is an adapter, not a voltage converter. This worked in many EU countries, but not the UK and parts of Croatia. For the latter two, bring plug adapters for this power strip.

USB C female to USB A/B male adapter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085VT1VJT
I needed more USB Cs than the one in my European Travel Plug Adapter. These work with my existing fast-charging cables to quickly power my Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, and earphones. The only con: they are tiny and easy to lose, so I bought 2.

Temperature sensor
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AEQ9X9I
Tested periodically for accuracy by my scientist husband, this small, lightweight, accurate, temperature sensor alerted me to any temperature changes in my medical travel case. It was especially helpful in alerting me whenever my hotel room’s mini refrigerator was outside my programmed temperature, so that I could take action. It already comes with a CR2477 battery. Mine lasted a year because I use it daily before needing a replacement battery, which is easy and inexpensive to purchase on Amazon.

2+ day ice packs (for medical travel bag)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M06AQLF
These surprisingly lightweight, slim ice packs kept my biologic syringes properly chilled in my medical travel case for 2+ days, and fit perfectly into both of my medical travel cases’ pockets. They are superior to the 5 hour tiny, slim gel packs that often come with medical travel cases. What a waste were IMO the metal, cylindrical travel cases that boast up to 3 days to keep your syringes properly chilled, . They lasted not even 24 hours. Too bad I bought 2 of these at $50 each as well as extra cylindrical ice packs. Using different temperature sensors in my tests, they failed well before the 3 days advertised.

Medical Travel Case, dual chamber, for up to 2 months travel
https://www.amazon.com/AUVON-Expandable-Insulated-Diabetic-Medication/dp/B0B56LKFQW
This is very like the dual chamber medical travel case that I bought on amazon.it for delivery to my hotel in Florence. My existing medical travel bag had gotten damaged during moves between Tuscany hilltop towns, so I replaced it with this one very similar to the one in the link. I needed to carry 7 biologic syringes, and they fit comfortably in this medical travel case, along with the ice packs. I could also keep the BH alcohol wipes in a separate chamber, and keep them closer to room temperature.

Compact, slim pill organizer
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RDCQZHQ
This slim, lightweight, compact pill organizer is perfect for multi week traveling with my prescription medications. The compartments are airtight, hold my pills along with a desiccant, and so far the lids have not yet loosened with a lot of use. It comes in several colors. I liked it so much that I bought another for my daily supplements.

Disabled parking placard
Do bring your state issued disabled parking placard. Despite many websites and even foreign country official government websites, your disabled parking placard will be honored. This is because the USA is privy to the EU/Shengren Agreement, which abolished border checks, and provided reciprocity for matters like disabled parking placards. I got zero parking tickets when using my disabled parking placard, whether in a big city or a tiny hamlet, by placing on my dashboard a brief statement in a large, bold face font in the country’s language about the Shengren Agreement reciprocity along with the international handicapped symbol.

A couple of tips anyway:
- the museums have seating in the nearby hallways.
- if you’re able, hire a private tour guide, rather than going on a group tour, so that the tour guide can customize your tour and add in rests, if needed. Also, I’ve gotten the best visitor tips from the private tour guides versus the group tour guides.
- if available, go on a bike tour of a new to you city/town. That way you get a very good idea of distances between places that you want to see, beautiful vistas with the tour guide as your photographer, history info/foodie and cultural tips from the tour guide, and s/he can answer any questions. Besides, biking is easier on your joints then walking over cobblestone streets and large plazas.

- your hotel’s concierge and the Airbnb hosts will often provide nice discounts and excellent recommendations for restaurants.

Sorry for the lengthy post!