Meds, devices, jet lag, new schedules - put it all together, and traveling with epilepsy isn’t as easy as traveling, well, without epilepsy. As someone who travels a lot, I have found a few travel hacks that make it more likely I will get through seizure-free.

1. Always put all your meds in your carry-on. If you’re traveling by plane, don’t check your meds. This may seem obvious, but I know some people who do it. “But, Sara, I have the dose that I need for the day, and I won’t need to take another until tomorrow.” That’s fine. I’m happy for you. AND keep the meds on you, so that when the airline loses your luggage or you are stuck overnight at the airport because of that crazy, unforeseen climate-change snow storm, you have everything you need right where you are. My mom used to double check before I’d fly back to college: “Meds? Money? ID?” So, now I’m going to channel her. Check your carry-on several times before you leave. Meds? Good!

2. Bring a few days’ more meds than you need. I took a two month road trip last summer, and my medication filled two gallon-sized plastic bags. I told the insurance company that I would like a little cushion of meds - for me, a week. It took the pressure off in case of an emergency. You can either have your doctor’s office arrange that for you or you can make a phone call request to the insurance company yourself. (They will then probably refer you to your doctor for the specific paperwork, but at least there is a note of you calling as well.)

3. Plan for jet lag. Is sleep deprivation a trigger for you? Plan to arrive a day or two earlier than you would if you didn’t have epilepsy to get used to the time difference. For example: you’re going to a cousin’s wedding on the East Coast and you live in California. Instead of pushing your arrival to Friday and going straight to the rehearsal dinner, arrive on Wednesday or Thursday if you can, and get your body acclimated to the new time.

4. Plan for adjusting the time you take your meds. You will also need a plan for taking your meds at the new time. If you are only staying for a night and you are one time zone over, it’s not a big deal. If you are staying for a week and you are six time zones over, you will have to figure it out. I found that a gradual change over the days evens out on about the 3rd day. Yes, it’s a pain having to get back to normal when you go home, but it’s better than having a seizure.

5. Know whether you can go through the metal detector if you have a device. I don’t know about the VNS or a DBS implant, but my RNS instruction manual said that I shouldn’t go through airport metal detectors. So, every time I get to that part of the security checkpoint I say, “I have a pacemaker in my brain. I can’t go through the metal detector.” And, every time, they take me to either the checkpoint where you just stand there with your arms up or I get a pat-down from a friendly female TSA agent. Know whether you can go through a metal detector, and, if it will affect your device, don’t let the TSA workers pressure you into doing it. I’ve never had pushback, and hopefully you won’t either.

6. Travel with someone - someone who knows what to do if you have a seizure. It’s always more fun to travel with a buddy than traveling alone, right? If you are traveling for business, this may not be a possibility, but going on vacation? Don’t go it alone! Bring a friend, make it a girls’ trip, a guys’ trip - whatever! Be sure that at least one person in the group knows what to do if you have a seizure.

Remember - have fun! Traveling with epilepsy takes a little more forethought, but with some planning, your brain doesn’t have to hold you back.