Flying with chronic illness — tips needed

I fly with EDS/POTS about twice a year and here's what I've learned: 1. Request a wheelchair. Do NOT feel guilty. Airport distances are insane and you need your energy for the actual trip. Nobody is judging you and if they are, that's their problem. 2. Bring a doctor's note for your medical supplies. I've never had TSA confiscate anything but having documentation makes the conversation easier. 3. Compression stockings for the flight. Blood pools even worse at altitude. 4. Window seat so you can lean against the wall. Aisle seat if you need to get up a lot. 5. Bring your own food. Airport food options when you have dietary restrictions are... limited. 6. Hydrate like crazy the day before, during, and after. Planes are incredibly dehydrating. It is absolutely doable. You'll be tired after but you'll make the wedding and that's what matters.

get a TSA notification card if youre in the US. you can print one off their website. it lets you discreetly tell TSA agents that you have a medical condition without having to explain it in front of everyone in line. you dont have to disclose what it is. also: gate-to-gate wheelchair service is a thing. they meet you at check-in and take you all the way to the gate, and at landing they meet you at the gate and take you to baggage claim. its free and you just request it when booking or calling the airline. you got this. the first time flying post-diagnosis is the scariest. after that it becomes routine.

bring MORE electrolyte packets than you think you need. planes are basically dehydration chambers. i bring like 6 packets for a 3 hour flight and use at least 4. also: ask for water from the flight attendant as soon as you sit down and then again every time they walk by. no shame. stay ahead of the dehydration.

For the TENS unit — I fly with mine all the time. TSA has never even blinked at it. Just take it out of your bag like you would a laptop and put it in the bin. Same with electrolyte powder. The wheelchair thing: I resisted this for SO long because I "look fine" and I was embarrassed. Finally gave in on a trip to O'Hare and it was the best decision ever. I arrived at the gate rested instead of already crashing. Do it.

one more thing nobody mentions: bring a neck pillow AND a lumbar support. the seats on planes are terrible for hypermobile spines. i bring a small rolled up towel for my lower back and a neck pillow and it makes a huge difference on anything over 2 hours. also noise canceling earbuds/headphones. the sensory overload of airports when youre already running low on energy is brutal.