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Living with epilepsy effects people differently, depending on the severity of the condition. One sufferer may find that medication and changes to their lifestyle make a dramatic difference in dealing with the illness, whilst others may find that controlling their condition is a much more arduous task.
If you have ever travelled whilst suffering from this condition, you will know that it is something which can make usually straightforward tasks much harder to handle. However there are a number of things you can do to ensure you have the most enjoyable time possible.
Unfortunately suffering from a condition such as epilepsy means spur of the moment breaks can become much less spontaneous; the importance of ensuring you have enough medication to last the duration of your trip is one of the most crucial things to remember. While this may sound obvious, if you do not take enough medication with you, depending on your destination, you may find it extremely difficult to get replacements should you run out. It’s also worth packing extra medication in a separate piece of luggage, if you lose the bag or suitcase containing the original supply of medication; it’s a massive relief to know that you still have easy access to an alternative supply.
You may also consider taking a copy of your prescription or a letter from your GP in case you need to stock up while abroad on medication. This may be something you never need to use, but if you should find yourself in this situation it may be the difference between getting the medication you need and not.
Also depending on the type of medication you are taking for your epilepsy you may need to be careful of some types of anti-malaria tablets as some can react badly with one another.
Depending on your destination, you may find that due to time differences, the time you would usually take your medicine would now be in the middle of the night.
Taking medication at regular intervals is important to avoid seizures so ensuring you check the time difference and arrange your medication around that should be something you consider before travelling.
If you are travelling alone it is also a good idea to make people aware of your condition, especially if your epilepsy is more severe and you are at higher risk of seizures. Informing people such as airport staff, tour guides or hotel/ resort staff can offer a great amount of reassurance to you, knowing that people will be on hand to help if you should need it.
Travel insurance offers cover for any emergency medical treatments you may require while abroad. While it’s advised that everyone travelling outside the UK gets some form of travel insurance, it is even more important for those with potentially unpredictable medical conditions like epilepsy. By ensuring that you have suitable insurance coverage, you’ll be able to fully relax and enjoy your holiday, without worrying about unfortunate complications.
