1.) Packing List

Oh, the packing list. When in doubt, pack it! Not sure if you will need that extra bottle but think you might? Pack it! Not sure if you might need your emergency medications but hope you don’t? Pack them! Plan, plan, plan, and take proactive steps to make sure anything you might need you have. In addition to the emergency to-go car list, which you can read in Emergency Car To-Go Packs, it can be helpful to pack extras of everything. Extra hydration supplies, extra shoes, extra compression garments, extra medications you might need, a medical ID bracelet or band, a medical passport, extra comfy clothes, and don’t forget those N95 masks if you are sensitive to smells and fumes to keep with you in the car.

2.) Pacing

Pacing, pacing, pacing…and more pacing. If possible, it can be helpful to extend the road trip slightly so you can take more breaks and rest more often. This might mean traveling over the course of 3 or 4 days instead of 2. You may find that even if the trip is longer, doing less traveling each day gives your body more opportunities to rest and recover. We are all different, so this may not help everyone, but it is something worth considering.

3.) Extra Research

Extra research ahead of time can be really helpful. This can be specific to food options along the way, mapping out bathrooms for yourself, where you are going to be staying, where to stop if your symptoms are flaring, and thinking about anything else you might need along the way you could plan for proactively.

4.) Plan For The Worst

This might sound a little depressing, but in all honesty, planning for the worst can ensure you have everything you might need JUST in case. The goal is that you will have a wonderful road trip with minimal symptoms and no difficulties, but if you plan for the worst, you will ensure that you have everything you could need in a pinch or emergency. This can include bringing extra emergency medications with you, and even an air purifier along for the ride in case you are going to be staying in a hotel. Given how many in our community have MCAS, it is important to ensure you have everything you might need to keep you safe and minimize flare-ups or triggers.

5.) Keep An Eye On Your Gas Tank

For the love of gas, please don’t run out of gasoline! The last thing a POTSie or chronic illness warrior needs is to be stranded in a car with no gasoline. Not helpful for our temperature intolerance or orthostatic intolerance! Would recommend making extra stops and ensuring your gas tank is always at least 1/2 of the way filled. Always better to be safe!

6.) Try To Avoid Traffic If Possible

We all know how stressful traffic can be and we also know that stress can flare symptoms (for 99% out of the over 450 in our community who responded to one of our polls)! This means that driving during rush hour is probably best to avoid (if possible), and looking at Google Maps ahead of time can give you insight into what traffic looks like in certain areas during certain times of the day. We can’t plan everything so sometimes it is unavoidable, but at least do what you can and focus on what you have control over.

7.) Listen, Listen, Listen To Your Body

This is not always easy and takes repetition, time and practice. This being said, over time we gradually learn that thriving with diagnoses like POTS requires us to listen to our bodies, especially when traveling. Pushing away signs that you need to rest, or stop at a rest stop to take a quick nap, can take a toll on our bodies and also may put us at increased risk while driving. It’s ok if you need to take more breaks, naps, or stop to go to the bathroom more often and demonstrates that you are prioritizing your health and wellness.

8.) Most Importantly, Have Fun!

Do you have to plan a little more, or a LOT more than perhaps you used to? Yes, perhaps you do; HOWEVER, all of that planning is worth it if it allows you to really enjoy yourself. Living with an illness like POTS can make things more difficult, especially when traveling, but it doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun and enjoy yourself. All of that planning proactively can really help with this.