Hypothyroid Packing Guide: 10 Expert Suggestions for Vacation Success!
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If you are traveling with hypothyroidism, the least of your concerns should be what to pack! You have so many more interesting things to think about, like what to eat, which tours to book, fun museums to visit and…well, back to researching the best restaurants! That is why I made this handy-dandy hypothyroid packing guide!
You focus on all the details of the trip, and let me do all the boring packing checklist stuff! That said, everyone’s needs are different, especially when it comes to managing their hypothyroidism, but hopefully, this list will be a helpful reminder to pack everything you need! Be sure to look over this hypothyroid packing guide while you pack, and then again before you leave!
Table of Contents
Health
I feel like when most people start thinking about a hypothyroid packing guide and what to bring on a trip, their mind immediately goes to all of the necessary health items. Which…makes sense. Our health is necessary, after all. So I am going to start this hypothyroid packing guide with the basics – all the health stuff. No matter what other fun things you pack, your trip won’t be as amazing if you aren’t feeling well, so be sure to add these to your bag!
Medication
This one is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS a must.
Obviously.
But unfortunately, it is easily forgotten since you can’t really pack it in advance in most cases. Because I like to keep my medication in the original bottle (that has my name, doctor/pharmacist, prescription info, etc), I keep my medication next to my phone/wallet/keys so I don’t forget to grab it as I’m headed out!
Tip: It is always better to pack your medication in your carry-on! Checked bags can get lost, delayed, or unreachable during long layovers. Best to just have it with you at all times!
Snacks
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I always aim for flights that are cheaper rather than at a convenient time. On top of that, I am always rushing out of the door at the last possible minute, potentially risking missing said cheap flight altogether..much at the detriment to my eating schedule.
It usually takes me about an hour or so to start feeling hungry after waking up, by which point I’ve BARELY made it to my seat on the plane. So – snacks are a must! Aside from that, sometimes I need an energy pick-me-up throughout the day, and having snacks (specifically ones that don’t melt in the heat from walking around all day!) really come in handy! I’ll drop a few of my favorite go-to’s below, though I’d recommend checking out some local businesses where you live! A good amount of my travel snack list is picked from my favorite pantry items from Portland businesses and around the PNW!
- Wehpepah’s Kitchen Grain Bars (vegan, GF)
- Joe Brown’s Caramel Corn
- Nora’s Kitchen Granola (vegan, GF, soy-free)
- Skout Organic Bars (vegan, GF, kosher)
- Slim Jims
- Sahale Snacks
- Pan’s Mushroom Jerky (plant-based, kosher)
Sunscreen
Do not forget your sunscreen!!!!!!!! Seriously, and this could just be a general tip and not related to a hypothyroid packing guide at all, but I know my skin gets very itchy and irritated after being in extended direct sunlight (especially near the equator where the sun is SKRONG). It also really does a number on my energy levels and make me extremely lethargic. So in addition to frequent shade breaks – as needed – be sure to slap on some ‘screen and protect your skin!
Tip: I made a list a while back of sunscreen brands for darker skin tones that won’t leave a white or grey cast on your skin. I think that factor alone deters a lot of Black, brown, and even less-pale people from wearing sunscreen (surprise-the sunscreen industry only actively caters to white people). BUT I FOUND SOME THAT’LL WORK FOR US!! Plus, I noted which are oxybenz free and reef-safe!
Gatorade/Powerade
Well, technically it may be easier to buy this at your destination depending on your method of transportation, but either way, I highly recommend somehow having a sports drink with you when you travel with hypothyroidism. I don’t know what it is about sports drinks (well, actually it’s probably the electrolytes), but they can completely revive my exhausted-from-exploring body way better than even copious amounts of water.
(but you should also still be drinking water as well!)
They are an absolute MUST when I do long road trips as well!
Pepto-Bismol Tablets
Oh ho hoooo…do I have hypothyroidism – or am I just a Virgo?
Jk, both are true, and both are equally irritating to my gut health. I literally cannot even begin to count the number of times my bowels suddenly need to expel something while I’m out adventuring. Especially when you’re not in the presence of (free!!) flush toilets…this can be tricky. And inconvenient. And definitely not comfortable.
Because you can’t predict everything your body is going to do at every moment, another rule to this hypothyroid packing guide is to pack responsive items too. Highly recommend bringing Pepto-Bismol (or the generic equivalent) along with you on a trip. Preferably the tablet variety so you can stash them in your day pack!
Rapid Release Tylenol
On that same note – Tylenol (or the generic equivalent) should also have a place in your bag. Headaches, at least for me, come out of nowhere, and lowkey are an even bigger damper on my parade than diarrhea. I usually opt for extra strength AND rapid release so I can get back to having fun as soon as possible. It also helps with all the other usual body annoyances like aches and cramps.
Plus, if you’re traveling with people, it’s a good OTC to share as well.
Comfort
Aiiiight – now that we’ve covered the basics of what every hypothyroid packing guide should have, let’s move onto a few things you might not have thought of. Or routinely forget – like I do. These aren’t necessarilyyyyy absolutely needed, but tbh they kinda are because they make your trip so so much more enjoyable and comfortable. Small little luxuries go a long way, and if you have hypothyroidism, you deserve it!
Sun Umbrella
This is hands down my favorite hack for traveling with hypothyroidism. Y’all, the sun can be a straight up DOOZY, especially if you’re coming from a place farther from the equator. Depending on the location, there might not be any shade to give you a little extra reprieve. Having a UV-blocking sun umbrella will help more than you could imagine. I have both a full-size and a compact version!
Face moisturizing mister
Oh man, this one just hits the spot. Even if you aren’t obsessed with skincare, having a good face mister really changes the game. Traveling is generally pretty rough on your skin, and you might not be able to carry all of your usual treatments with you. That’s where a face mister comes in handy! As long as it fits your skin’s needs, then you’re golden. However, I would strongly recommend that you opt for a carry-on size, and make sure it’s fragrance free in case you need to use it on long public transit journeys or in crowds (like on a tour or amusement parks).
Here are a few to check out!
Hand/Feet Warmers
Ooo this one can make or break an experience. When I was staying in one of the famed “bubble hotels” in Jordan, it was beautiful, don’t get me wrong, BUT I WAS SO COLD at night. Like, unbelievably freezing, and the bathroom bubble did not have a heater. I kid you not, I couldn’t even take off my clothes to shower. It was that cold. And then having to go view Petra at Night when it was that cold…yeah, hand warmers definitely would have come in handy.
People with hypothyroidism don’t all have the same health quirks, but usually being temperature sensitive is a common one. So if you’ll be out in the desert at night, or going hiking where there might be low temperatures, or high winds…always more comfortable for your little digits to be toasty. A while back I invested in an electronic hand warmer (that you just plop in your pocket and it’ll warm them up!), but the shake and squeeze ones work great as well.
Plane Socks
Ohhh good ol’ circulation. Yanno, a lot of travelers (and people in general) like to harp on others that take their shoes off on the plane, but yooo. That blood pooling is no joke. One thing that helps with that are compression socks. There are a ton of them out there, and I really encourage you to try a few out yourself because there’s no one-size-fits-all (need-wise). Just…make sure your feet don’t stick if you also decide to kick off your shoes.
One of my very good friends Amanda from PT Passages wrote an incredible guide to preventing and recovering from body stiffness caused by long plane rides. She is a PT, and her information is TOP KNOTCH. Us hypothyroidies get stiff QUICK, so definitely take a look at her post for additional stretches and tips!
Hand lotion
This one is self-explanatory, but let me just state it again: being ashy on vacation is not fun!!!!!
I am, unfortunately, ashy by default. Even if I slather on body moisturizer, the hydration WILL be gone in five minutes. And while scaly, cracked, skin is something I’ve learned to…accept, albeit begrudgingly, it still kills me when I look back at pictures of me gleefully holding up my iced latte or a perfectly Instagrammable donut…AND MY KNUCKLES ARE GREY.
So do yourself a favor and throw a little travel hand lotion in your day bag.
Chapstick
SAME VIBE. Whew, if I had a penny every time my lips were chapped in a photo, I’d…be too rich to even be writing this blog post right now. It doesn’t even have to be a fancy one, I literally just swipe a quick Carmex on my lips every so often. If you are someone who also gets cracked lips, especially in dry climates, I’d recommend pairing that with a lip scrub and nighttime lip mask to bring life back to your lips after a long day of exploring. Linked are the ones I use!
And of course, make sure to stay hydrated!
Tip: If you want an extra pop of color, check out my blog post on the best lipstick brands for hiking! It features a ton of options that are long-lasting, flake free, moisturizing, AND they look good!
Muscle Cramp Roll-on Stick
The whole body ache thing miiight just be for me, but I feel as it is a nice comfort to add to my personal hypothyroid packing guide. But also handy for general cramps, muscle soreness (from activity), or leftover discomfort for sleeping on a new bed. Use whatever you normally would at home, I personally use BioFreeze.
You can also opt for those little warming patches, though I found them to be unreliable stick-on wise. Though…they tend to last a bit longer than the roll on, so pick your preference.
Joint braces (Knee/Wrist)
Ah yess…the joint pain. One of the main reasons I’m adding joint braces to this hypothyroid packing guide as a comfort instead of in the health section is because I don’t really like them, and I haven’t found one that works perfectly for me yet, but they are helpful.
Especially if you are a hiker, because that’s where my knees always get me.
If you have a brace that works for you, great! Bring it if you plan on doing lots of activity, it’ll definitely cut down on your potential pain afterwards. But if not, I’d advise talking to your physician if you periodically experience joint pain as they can help fit you and/or give you additional recommendations.
Hypothyroid Packing Guide: Conclusion
And there you have it folks! A short -but hopefully helpful – hypothyroid packing guide to help streamline your pre-travel checklist! Packing is definitely a trial-and-error process, but this will get you started. If you have hypothyroidism, did I miss any of your hypothyroid packing guide must-haves? Let me know in the comments below!
Feel free to share this with any of your friends and fam, or print out (and laminate!) this handy-dandy hypothyroid packing guide checklist for your convenience! Thanks for reading!
Hypothyroid Packing Guide Print-Out
