Travelling with MS: finding freedom one journey at a time

Hello, my name is Wendi. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis six years ago, though like many others, I had been living with symptoms long before that. MS has affected my mobility—these days I rely on a walking stick, and for longer distances, I use a manual wheelchair or my mobility scooter.

Back in 1993, my (then boyfriend, now husband) and I set off to backpack around the world. We even worked on farms in Australia picking tomatoes to help fund the rest of our journey. Since then, we’ve never stopped exploring. MS may have changed how I travel, but I was determined it wouldn’t stop me. It had already taken enough—I wasn’t giving it my adventures too.

Since my diagnosis, we’ve travelled to Japan, the USA, all over Europe, and many places in between. One of the biggest adventures I’ve had was flying solo to Bali to help my daughter after a surfing accident. It was a challenge, but also a reminder of what’s still possible.

And in June, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, we’re going on a cruise around the Greek Islands. Cruises weren’t really my thing before, but now they’re the perfect way to see the world without overexerting myself.

If you’re living with MS and want to keep exploring, here are a few of my top travel tips:
 

If you’re travelling with medication, check that it’s allowed in the country you’re visiting. The easiest way is to consult the official government website of that country. Always carry your medication in its original packaging with your name on the label. A copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor can be very helpful—and in some cases, required.

Always book special assistance at the airport. It makes the start of your journey so much smoother. If you’re not using mobility aids you can also request a Sunflower Lanyard, which quietly signals to airport staff that you have a hidden disability and may need extra support or patience.

If you have a list of sights to see, just prioritise one thing for the day. Anything else you manage to do is a bonus. That way, there’s no pressure, just pleasure in what you can do.

Travel might take more planning than it used to, but it’s still possible—and still joyful. I truly believe that after an MS diagnosis, it’s so important to find something that brings you joy, no matter how big or small, and focus on that. Take each day as it comes, and live life in the way that you can.

I’ve got plenty more travel tips to share, but these are a few that help keep me moving forward.

Wherever life takes you—happy travels.

Wendi 

Wendi shared her travel videos in our MS Trust facebook group, a perfect place to talk to other people affected by MS about travelling.

We also have a page dedicated to holidays and MS as well as more general information on travel when you have MS. 

For more of Wendi's travel videos, have a look at her TikTok account Wobblywendi