Traveling With Parkinson’s Disease? These Tips Can Help

Travel is a big part of the holidays for many families. Whether you’re driving down the street to attend a party for a few hours or flying halfway across the globe for weeks, these tips can make the journey easier when traveling with Parkinson’s disease.

The most important is medication. Always have your meds with you, and bring extras. My rule of thumb is to bring along twice the amount of medication I anticipate needing. You’re out for an afternoon and scheduled to take two doses in that time? Bring four. Are you traveling out of state for a week? Bring two weeks of medication. And make sure your next dose is in an easy-to-reach pocket so you don’t have to dig through your luggage or find your purse when it’s time.

You may want to wear a medical ID bracelet, especially if traveling alone. They come in all different styles today. Include your medical conditions and a contact name and phone number. If you have a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device, include information about its type and any MRI or X-ray warnings.

Keeping a list of your medications and photos of the prescription labels on your phone can be helpful, too. You can also program your medical details into an iPhone if you have one, under “emergency information.” For other phones, Google your phone type to learn how to set up your device.

Another key to comfortable travel is hydration. That always makes you feel better, especially in overheated airplanes, trains, and cars. It’s also essential to keep a bottle of water handy so you can take your medications on time. Parkinson’s medications are most effective when you take them on schedule. Set an alarm on your phone to help you remember if necessary.

Minimizing the hassle

Navigating airports and train stations is a challenge, too, particularly if you have balance issues or gait problems. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Choose a carry-on bag that crosses your body or a backpack so that you’re hands-free when navigating crowds.

Print a paper copy of your boarding pass. Fishing your phone out of your bag repeatedly, finding the boarding pass app, turning up the brightness of your screen so the scanner can read it — these things can be a nightmare for someone with tremors or stiffness. It sounds like a little thing, but it’s one less thing to worry about.

Consider using a wheelchair at the airport. That may be a difficult concession for some of us, but it’s a matter of safety, particularly if you’re a fall risk. And wouldn’t you rather spend your energy with the people at your destination instead of walking across far-flung airport terminals? Simply call your airline in advance or go to its website and select “special services.” They’ll take care of the arrangements throughout your trip.

If you have a connecting flight, requesting a wheelchair can be especially helpful as it flags you in the boarding list for assistance, and the wheelchair porters know the fastest routes through the airport to get you to your connecting gate. Don’t forget to tip your wheelchair pusher!

If a wheelchair isn’t for you, consider walking with a cane. Even if you don’t need it regularly, it gives a visual clue to other travelers that you might be slow and need some space. You can also use it to smack rude travelers. Just kidding! Kind of.

If you have a DBS system implanted, security screening might be intimidating. Most DBS patients can’t go through traditional metal detectors. Some systems are OK for the X-ray screening, but check with your doctor or device manufacturer. If you’re worried, you can always let the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent know you have an implanted neurostimulator and ask for a manual pat-down.

Lastly, if taking your shoes on and off is problematic, let the TSA agent know you need to keep them on for medical reasons and that they help with stability. They’ll typically let you leave them on, but they may need to wand your shoes.

Travel, especially at the holidays, is stressful for everyone, particularly if you or a loved one has Parkinson’s. But with some forethought and planning, you can make the most of your time with family and friends while minimizing the hassle.