Travel and Parkinson’s: Traveling Tips for Summer

Traveling can be stressful for a lot of people, but it can be particularly stressful when you mix in the unpredictability of Parkinson’s disease. Five years ago, at the Orlando International Airport, I learned the hard way just how important it is to plan ahead when traveling with the extra baggage of Parkinson’s.

What was supposed to be a fun trip with a group of friends to celebrate my 40th birthday didn’t start off well. A late night of last-minute packing plus an early morning flight meant very little sleep. As we were delayed by traffic on the way to the airport, I could feel slowness and rigidity starting to set in. I took a pill hoping it would kick in before we got to the airport. It felt like my dopamine levels were dropping almost as fast as my optimism of making our flight on time. When we finally arrived at the airport, thanks to a friendly airline attendant at curbside check-in, things were looking up.

Then it happened. As I rounded the corner to the security checkpoint and laid eyes on the typical long lines of passengers, I could feel my toes starting to curl. As I was on the verge of not being able to stand, my husband went searching for a wheelchair. This was a first for me – I had never required a wheelchair before. Heck, at this point very few people even knew I had Parkinson’s.

Tears streamed down my face as my husband wheeled me through the security line designated for wheelchairs. Fortunately, my symptoms improved shortly after we arrived at the gate, and the rest of the trip was all that I hoped.

After we returned home, I reflected on my experience in the airport. I realized that the stress, and its effects on my symptoms, could have been avoided by better planning. Here are some travel strategies and tips I’ve used in my recent travels:

• Pack early. Start packing 2-3 days before your trip to avoid rushing around at the last minute.
•  Get your meds. One week before you travel, make sure you have a sufficient supply of your prescriptions to last you for your entire trip plus a couple more days. You never know when your trip may be unexpectedly extended due to weather delays, etc.
•  Be organized. Create a checklist for everything you will need on the trip. Individually list your prescriptions and supplements/vitamins. If you’ve had Deep Brain Stimulation, include any remotes and charging systems. This list should also include any medical identification cards.
• Arrive early. If traveling by air, plan to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours prior to your flight. Trust me, I don’t like hanging out in airports, but it’s better than unnecessarily stressing out and your body having a PD meltdown.
•  Carry less. If you’re flying, limit what you carry on. If your symptoms are not cooperating, you don’t need additional baggage to weigh you down.

About Guest Author Tonya Walker:

Tonya began experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms in 2006 at the age of 32. Two years later she was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease. In 2013, she underwent Deep Brain Stimulation. Tonya is active in the Parkinson’s community. She has shared her Parkinson’s journey at the 2016 World Parkinson’s Congress, health-industry related corporate meetings, and various community Parkinson’s forums. She shares her love of fashion and shoes on her blog, The Shoe Maven, which also serves as a platform for Parkinson’s awareness. Tonya and her husband recently launched a podcast – PD Connect, to encourage, educate, and connect the Parkinson’s community. Tonya also works full-time as a Legal Research & Writing professor.