5 Tips for Traveling with Endometriosis

Ladies, if you are traveling with endometriosis, believe me when I say I feel your pain.

Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which the tissue that normally grows inside of your uterus grows outside- on your ovaries, your pelvic floor, the tissue lining your bowels, or elsewhere. Don’t ever allow someone to downplay the horrific pain you experience due to this disease. That being said, don’t let your angry ovaries and uterus get in your way of exploring!

Here are five things that have helped me immensely while traveling. For more medical info on dealing with pain you can go to a site like Rolling Paper.

1. Yoga.
I used to think yoga was just glorified stretching, but it’s helped me in so many ways. The great thing about yoga is that you don’t need a studio or a gym to practice- you can practice anytime, anywhere. On the beach, in the mountains, in your hostel room- you can do it. The other great thing about yoga is that there are literally certain routines that are designed specifically to help ease menstrual pain. Because of my endometriosis, I am out of commission during that week of my life and not so great the week before or after. These moves help me find relief without being drugged up. Check out some yoga stretches and see what works for you:  (Tara Stiles is my personal fave, but there are millions!)

2. Portable heating pads.
I’ve never been the type of person that can take a Midol and go about my day. When I have cramps or pain from endometriosis it hits me hard and fast and I’m out. Generally, one of the only things that has helped reduce the pain is a heating pad. But, when you’re out traveling or even at work it’s a little difficult to take your heating pad with you and plug it in. That’s why I want to kiss the person that invented menstrual heating pads. Buy some of these and take them with you. They’re a lifesaver.

3. Sleep.
It’s so important to get lots of sleep when you’re body is going through the pain of endometriosis. But, unfortunately, the aches and pains and being in a foreign place makes it pretty difficult to get the recommended amount of z’s. That’s why I live by melatonin. I am not the type of person that likes taking habit forming pills or things that make me feel groggy (ie: NyQuil) which is why I use melatonin when I need it. I don’t ever feel groggy the next day, I feel well rested. It doesn’t feel like it’s forcing me to sleep- it feels like I am tired and ready to sleep and my mind is at ease. I’ve taken it before a 12-hour flight before and it worked wonders…and we all know how hard it is to sleep on an airplane.

4. Fast-acting pain reliever.
Unfortunately, with endometriosis, it’s tough to wait around for a pain reliever to work. Still yet, if you can find the right one for you, I don’t leave home without it.

5. Water+Lemon+Ginger.
Often times when I am suffering side effects of endometriosis my digestion will be all out of sorts. The best thing to do in this situation is to make this concoction. You boil some water, squeeze in some lemon juice, and pieces of ginger and drink. The great thing about this is that it’s so easy to make and the ingredients aren’t hard to find no matter where you are in the world.

And ladies, don’t forget to give yourself a break. Sometimes we are just sick…and although we want to GO, GO, GO…sometimes we just need to take a day to recoup.

I hope this helps!