I’ve been away for a few weeks because I’ve been traveling! I just returned from a work trip in Africa and, Sturdy Readers, I want you to know that yes we can travel and yes there is a whole world out there waiting for us. Every time I travel, I get a little more savvy and today I want to share my top five tips for traveling with lipedema and lymphedema so you can manage your symptoms and have a safe and comfortable trip.
Read about last year’s disaster trip in Conservative Treatments for Lipedema: Do they work?
Remember, I am not a doctor. These tips are based on my experience as a woman living with lipedema, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency. It’s always a good idea to discuss upcoming travel with your care team.
Tip #1 Wear Your Strongest Compression Leggings (but not a brand new pair)
Even people without lipedema and lymphedema swell on airplanes!
Wear the strongest pair of compression leggings you have while on the plane and try to wear one that comes down over part of your foot. These are the CzSalus compression leggings I always use. You can change into a different pair if you want to when you land, but your swelling and you lipedema legs will thank you. If you are traveling for work, read your company’s travel policy and see what they will pay for.
I’ve learned the hard way not to wear a brand new pair for the first time on an airplane. So many things can go wrong and you don’t want to be literally trapped in poorly fitting or uncomfortable garments praying to land and peel them off. We all know that changing compression isn’t possible in an airplane bathroom!
Tip #2 Spend More Money or More Time
I approach flying like working at my desk job. Sitting for two to three hours is ok, but beyond that, I know I will swell.
How can I get my legs up and moving? Buy yourself that extra leg room so you can do ankle pumps. Better yet, go business class so you can lay down flat and literally kick your legs up. You might get some crazy looks but – trust me – no one is going to say anything.
If you can’t afford to spend more money, consider spending more time traveling. A direct flight that would take six hours could be two three-hour flights. During that layover, you can walk around, use a human-sized restroom, and re-hydrate.
Whether you spend more money or more time, you’ll feel a lot better when you land and will be less likely to limp off the airplane swollen, puffy, and exhausted.
That’s no way to start a trip!
Tip #3 Set Up for Success
When you travel there’s a lot you can’t control but do your best to set yourself up for success.
On my trip, this started a few days before I left when I did an extended three-day fast. Fasting makes me feel amazing and clears swelling and inflammation from my legs so I saw it as a way to level up and deepen my ketosis right before going. I broke my fast on a Sunday and left Monday morning.
To keep myself on track, I brought my own food for the airplane. Yes, you can take it through security as long as it doesn’t have too much liquid. My trip was about 20 hours each way so I took a large bag of cooked bacon, lunch meat, pickles, olives, and beef jerky. Even though I ate some of the airplane food having something to at least get me started kept me from being tempted by all the carb-heavy snacks they pass around with.
I also brought my favorite collagen powder and supplements to keep me on track after arriving.
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Tip #4 Adjust Expectations
“Good” will look different when you are traveling versus at home. You’ll have less control over your routine and your food.
What compromises are you willing to make and what is non-negotiable? Decide this beforehand so you aren’t acting out of emotion or boredom in the moment.
For me, adjusting expectations meant allowing some dairy and eggs which I usually avoid. Yes, I knew they could give me some swelling but they weren’t going to kick me out of ketosis the way a cinnamon roll would. This allowed me to say no to desserts, but yes to cheese plates and no to pancakes but yes to omelets. Read more about food sensitivities in my post What I Eat for Lipedema.
Ask yourself, what does good enough look like for this trip? Trust yourself to get right back on track when you get home. Because you will!
Tip #5 Have Fun
I get it! Traveling is stressful when you have a chronic illness, and you manage it with an alternative lifestyle.
But the whole reason I have turned my life upside down is to reclaim my health and live my one precious life. When I was diagnosed with lipedema, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency I thought my life was over. I thought my career was over. So imagine how I felt standing on a rock in the middle of Lake Malawi.
Managing lipedema and lymphedema is a lot of work. But Sturdy Women, you are worth the work. When life invites you to come out and play… say yes! Traveling can be messy and imperfect, but so is life. Even if you come back a little puffy and swollen the memories and the fuel for your soul will be worth it.
Summary and Conclusion
Too long; didn’t read? Four years ago I wouldn’t have imagined myself so much as getting on an airplane but after a million small steps I’m back to traveling internationally. To make this possible with my lipedema, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency I:
- Wear my strongest compression leggings on the airplane
- Buy an upgraded seat (spend more money) or break up the trip into shorter legs (spend more time)
- Set myself up for success by fasting, packing keto-friendly snacks for the airplane, and sticking to my supplement routine
- Adjust expectations and understand you may have to make some compromises. For me, that means eating some dairy and eggs.
- Have fun! What’s the point of working so hard if you never get out and live? Come out and play.
Round Up of Product Links
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Do you have any favorite tips for my next trip? Use the comment section below to share them with the community.
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