Epilepsy - Always your travel companion?

It’s probably easy to squeeze a couple of weeks’ clothes into a suitcase or a gap year’s essentials into a rucksack. But it’s not so easy when your meds might take up a decent chunk of your space before you start. Under no circumstances should you sacrifice your meds to save space – this includes the things that help deter your triggers and that keep you feeling comfortable and relaxed.

All airlines across the world have Medical Information Forms (MEDIF) which you can get direct from your travel provider. You’ll need to complete it before you travel, and you might need input from your epilepsy team, so add this high up on your pre-travel to-do list.

You know this is as important as your passport. Your meds are essential on your travels. If you’re travelling with friends, make sure that they know where you keep your meds, what you take and when – just in case they need to know in an emergency. Plan ahead and make sure you have plenty for your travels, think about asking your doctor to prescribe some extra, and keep your meds in your both your hand luggage and hold luggage at all times so you can split the risk if you lose a bag. Make sure you keep all medication in its original packaging. Also consider unexpected delays and cancellations, and missing baggage –when you may not necessarily get your hold luggage back as soon as you’d expect.

It’s not just meds that you use to control your epilepsy. Medical devices, like VNS might also need to be declared. You can get a Medical Device Awareness Card which all UK airports recognise, and will help you clear security.

Yellow Fever. Malaria. Typhoid. While they sound scary, in some countries they’re still alive and kicking. Depending on where you plan to travel to, you might need some vaccinations. Chances are these won’t put you off your adventures – after all, vaccinations are a breeze compared to what you’re used to. While most vaccinations don’t affect AEDs, some anti-malaria medicines can trigger a seizure when mixed, such as choloroquine and mefloquine. If you’re travelling to a country where malaria is still a risk, chat to your epilepsy doctor about the best way to protect your travels and manage your epilepsy. Some travel vaccinations need a while to settle in so get them in plenty of time. Try to get an appointment at least 6-8 weeks before you travel, but the further in advance you can book your travel vaccination appointment the better, as son jabs have to be given as part of a course, or given at different times to other jabs.

We all need it. Whether we use it or not – it’s essential. But depending on your insurance provider, your premium might go up when you mention that you have epilepsy. This can depend on the type of epilepsy you have, your seizures and your meds. Give your insurance provider as much information as possible, they’ll probably run through some additional questions so that they can give you an accurate price but, more importantly, the cover you need. Shop around to get the best deal.

Travel is all about adventures, once in a lifetime experiences and making memories that last you a lifetime. And you want all of these to be positive. So be sensible about what’s achievable and do your research first. If you’re an adrenalin junky and fancy bungie jumping, pot-holing, bridge-swinging, kite-surfing, deep-sea diving, then make sure that it won’t put you at risk of a seizure, that your instructor is aware of your epilepsy and that your insurance has you covered. Look up the sort of things you plan on doing whilst travelling, and speak to providers before you arrive. Let them know if you are seizure free, what sort of medication you are on (and how long since your last med change), speak to your epilepsy team and ask for a medical certificate. When that’s all sorted you can enjoy the ride.

If tiredness is a trigger – make sure you plan around time zones carefully. This doesn’t just mean adjusting to where you’re going but prepping for jet lag too. Get as much rest as you can in advance of your travels as well as after. It’s hard to stay disciplined when there’s so much you want to do, see and experience and only so much time. But burning the candle at both ends really isn’t an option when you have epilepsy to manage as well as your itineraries.

Make time- management of your meds your priority. If you usually take them at a certain time, crossing several time zones may throw you out of sync. This will all depend on your destination and how long you’re planning to stay. One way to resolve this is to gradually change the time you take your meds while you’re still on home soil. Then you know you’ve got support if you need it before you travel. For example, in the UK you may take them at 10am daily. If you’re heading to California, you’d need to take your meds at 2am to stick to your body’s timeclock expectations. Chat to your epilepsy doctor or pharmacist about how best to manage your medication.

We don’t really want to bang on about Brexit. You know the drill. But we also don’t want that to be at the risk of your health. You may be one of 27 million Brits that had a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that expired in Dec 2020. This entitled you to free or discounted emergency medical treatment across Europe (except for GP appointments, prescriptions and hospital stays). It covered pre-existing medical conditions like epilepsy. The good news is that the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is now available, and covers the same healthcare for European countries. You can apply for one here . You will still need travel insurance – especially to keep you covered for emergency replacement of your meds.

Each country has its own local laws, and these can change from time to time. Its worth checking out all the countries you’ll be visiting before you travel, and remember to include any countries that you might have a stopover in. A good place to start your research is the UK based embassy of that country.

For example: travelling to The United Arab Emirates? Then you’ll need to complete a form before you travel with details of all personal medication.

If you can – travel prepared with letters from your epilepsy doctors, translated into local languages.

The people you meet when you travel will make lasting impressions on your life. Some could become lifelong friends. And some may be strangers that potentially save your life. It’s vital you tell people about your epilepsy when you’re travelling. We don’t mean you need to introduce yourself and two seconds later announce that you have epilepsy – but it should be something you talk about sooner rather than later. Just like your circle of trust at home, having a group of friends who have your back is essential when you’re abroad. Consider wearing medical ID tags. Keep a note on you/inside your passport, written in English as well as the languages of the countries you’re travelling in, that explains that you have epilepsy.