If you follow me on social media – especially Twitter and Instagram – then today you’ll be seeing a lot about The Arthritis Foundation’s Advocacy Summit or #advocateforarthritis. I’ve been looking forward to this since I learned that I received one of the foundation’s travel awards back before my surgery. So yesterday I flew down to DC from Boston, today I’m busy with advocacy training, and tomorrow I have several meetings on Capitol Hill. But, of course, there’s the whole “travel” part of this thing. After 5 years of traveling from New England to Nashville multiple times a year, I’ve pretty much mastered traveling with arthritis, so today I’m sharing my tips with you.
5. Be prepared for officials to doubt your condition
This is an unfortunate thing, but if you don’t look sick it’s pretty likely that flight attendants, TSA officers, ticket officers, basically anyone could doubt that you need extra help. So don’t just mentally prepare yourself: have any documents you might need to prove that you’re not lying or just trying to get special treatment If you have a narcotic or controlled substance, make sure it’s in its official pharmaceutical packaging and that you have a photo ID like a license or passport to prove that it’s yours.
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Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.
I'm glad that you are able to get through airports and things like that with help if needed. I had wondered about that since you are young and from outward appearances, seemingly in good health. I hope you're doing great things in DC to help with advocacy!
Love this post! When my missions team was coming back from Jamaica this weekend, I asked for a wheelchair for the first time. My spine pain was awful and I knew I wouldn't have made it through customs standing if I didn't ask for help. It can be scary to ask but worthwhile. 🙂 Love your tips and pointers on navigating this chronic life! 🙂
This is where my stubbornness always hurts me. I always think "I'm too young to need a wheelchair for my pain," but those hard floors you have to stand on in security lines always get me and I end up doing some weird dance to try to shake out the knee pain!
This is where my stubbornness always hurts me. I always think "I'm too young to need a wheelchair for my pain," but those hard floors you have to stand on in security lines always get me and I end up doing some weird dance to try to shake out the knee pain!