Summer is my favorite time of year and for most, it is usually full of fun Summer vacations to the beach, lake, river, etc. Hopping on planes, packing up the car for road trips and getting ready to soak all of the summer sun in.
But for those of us with Gastroparesis, that can feel daunting, overwhelming and even scary.
So, let’s chat a little bit today on how to make vacations, whether in the summer or not, exciting again and how to look forward to them and not be afraid.
To be clear, I’m no travel expert, but I am a Gastroparesis expert, so I’m going to focus more on that than the actual travel part.
10 Tips on Traveling with Gastroparesis
Remember, not all of these might be applicable for you, but this is what I did when I was at my sickest and traveling still.
I wasn’t going to let this ridiculous condition stop me, but adjustments were made.
Get an AirBnb or VRBO type of rental over a hotel. This tends to be more spacious and comfortable. More bathrooms, more beds and a kitchen,
Prepare your own food over going out to eat. I know when you go on vacation you don’t want to always have to cook, but if you are pretty sensitive or intolerant to most foods, then preparing your own will keep the consistency your body needs. You also have more control over quality and quantity.
Stick to the basics. Yea, you want to indulge, but you might need to weigh that out. Is it worth it being sick the remainder of your trip to indulge? If so, go for it. If not, stick to the easy to digest meals. Smoothies, soups, juices, soft solids.
When it comes to the actual travel part, plan to walk and stretch. Being sedentary for long periods in a car or plane can make your bloating, gas and pain worse. Plan to stop the car or get up out of your seat and walk around or stretch it out a bit.
Don’t jam pack a day. Plan your activities over the stretch of the trip. Sometimes, overdoing it can cause your body to shut down. Allow it to rest and digest.
Get outside. Usually, in the summer that’s not an issue, but I want to make a point of it here, because getting outdoors, in fresh air and the Vitamin D is sooooo helpful for every function of our body.
Lemon Water. Don’t stop drinking your lemon water on vacation. Bring lemons with you or buy them when you arrive. Drink it warm in the morning and then throw the lemon into your ice or room temp water for the rest of the day. It will constantly be helping your digestion.
Bring a heating pad. Sometimes it helps when you have that pain to put a heating pad on it. Bring it with you in your bags to be able to use when needed.
Be up for exploring other interests. Depending on how sick you are, you might not be able to do the more adventurous type activities at the moment, and that’s okay! There’s nothing wrong with exploring museums, the city in general, riding tours, etc. There is so much to be done on a vacation where you don’t have to stress your body out.
Give yourself grace. This is a motto I use a lot with my clients during their protocols for healing, but it stands here, too. Some vacations will be a breeze, others a bit more challenging. And if you need to cancel an activity and just rest one day, that’s totally okay. It is not the end of the world.
Bonus tip: a day on the beach, relaxing in the water and under an umbrella with some good music playing will always do the mind and body good.
And of course, if you take medications, please make sure you have them all and plenty for your trip. That’s not where I focus, but it is a reality for a lot, so I wanted to mention it here.
You don’t have to stop living your life because of Gastroparesis, and more importantly, you SHOULDN’T stop living your life. It can take some adjustments and some planning, but it’s totally possible.
Hopefully, that’s a little helpful for you and gives you some ideas on how you can adjust your vacation and your expectations to make it all work!
And if you need some help with your Gastroparesis, make sure you download the free 3-day healing guide here.
Or visit the Gastroparesis Help Page for tons of info.
Until next time,
Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.
Aubrey