Hello! Claire here…just back from an amazing adventure to Sitka, Alaska. We had a great time and learned so much. I had an idea that it might be helpful to share some traveling tips with those of you who have special medical needs and issues. I was a little nervous to go because I have Cystic Fibrosis and I have tons of medications and equipment and oxygen to travel with. I have traveled many times before, but this year my lungs have really taken a hit. I am now on oxygen full time and need lots of other special care.
We started our trip a little overwhelmed by all that I had to take along. We decided to box and wrap all the medical equipment with eco bubble (my favorite thing) so it wouldn’t get damaged in the long journey..nothing ended up getting severely damaged, but the only thing was a battery for my portable oxygen concentrator (POC)..bummer! Just a tip, if you are ever traveling with a POC and the batteries, do not let the security personnel pry open the battery for inspection..they break!
When we landed in Sitka, we were amazed by the view and the beautiful small town but when we got to the hotel room, there was a little shortage of plugs and counter space for all of my equipment. Make sure to bring extension cords and ask the Manager if you can have an extra table in the room..it’s always good to be able to set everything up and feel organized. Our hotel was also able to get us a mini fridge for the meds that need to be kept cool. Our trip was full of many adventures – some of the highlights were situations that took me way out of my comfort zone lugging around oxygen. If possible, when purchasing or renting a POC, see if they have a carrying case that would fit on your back or have a strap like a duffel..this will be very helpful when hiking, walking, and flying, jumping, skipping and hopping :) My Mom also had my medical information faxed up to the local medical center in case any problems came up – this made me feel a lot safer. Also, be sure to do an altitude study with your doctor if you need O2..flying scared the bejeezus out of me since this is the first time I’ve flown on O2 but the study said I would be fine in a commercial plane and ok up to 4000ft in a small plane. Nothing beats seeing mountain goats standing on the side of a mountain from a little plane!
Be sure to also give yourself a few days to fill out forms, doctor notes, communicate all with the airlines and have copies with you…getting on a plane with O2 nowadays is a big deal! The airlines can also help you get wheelchair assistance between flights so you don’t have to drag all your stuff and try to run at the same time…whew, that would have worn me out! This was so helpful in Seattle where we had to ride 2 trains just to get to the next gate and we had less than an hour to make it. If you have a fear of getting sick while on your trip, bring written prescriptions, that you know work well for you, so you can get them filled wherever you are.
At first, I thought this wasn’t even possible because of all my special needs…but, if you put your mind to it, plan ahead, put the work in, miracles can happen! Don’t let anything stop you from seeing those mountain goats or seeing whales jumping out of the water or having a Bald Eagle fly past you!
From a now experienced traveler, I wish you good luck!
Love,
Claire
