Travel has always been important to me because I have adventure-hungry parents who made it a priority in my childhood. But because of a number of chronic illnesses, I haven’t been able to travel freely for the most of my life.
I have had a complex triad of incapacitating chronic conditions since I was 14 years old, including localized scleroderma, fibromyalgia, and undiagnosed endometriosis, which affects my skin and joints.
I also had irritable bowel syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, complicated post-traumatic stress disorder, joint hypermobility syndrome, and vaginismus between the ages of 18 and 26.
Chronic weariness and constant discomfort that I endure occasionally make it difficult for me to do simple cognitive tasks like paying attention or speaking coherently.
Because I was unsure if my symptoms would get worse or if a new underlying issue would manifest, I started to think that traveling was impossible. I long ago stopped going on vacation.