Endometriosis travel essentials
As someone who has suffered with endometriosis for the last 10 years, and with a recent diagnosis of adenomyosis AND an upcoming job in the travel industry; I decided at the start of 2022 I was going to invest in pain management solutions to help me manage my pain when travelling. I had already purchased period underwear in 2021, as disposable options were no longer financially viable for me, you can read this post for a more in-depth review than below. Here are the companies and products I recommend after having tested them for a year and over multiple trips.
OVIRA: the Noha device – £120
Ovira is probably the most well-known company in this list, or at least they were coming up all the time in my Instagram and TikTok feeds, maybe the algorithm just knew how much I needed this device. When looking into the company at the time I was on more of a budget so I purchased a slightly cheaper tens device from a company called Livia. However, I quickly realised that one device was not enough, as despite the long battery life, I needed constant pain relief, so I bought the Noha device as my second tens machine. Both were highly rated and offered different benefits.
One benefit to Noha over the Livia device is that it is flatter and smaller so fits underneath my uniform more discreetly, which can be beneficial when in scenarios with different customs and cultures.
What makes the device so travel friendly is how small and compact it is. It comes in a little drawstring pouch and the entire device and pouch are no bigger than a bank card.
The Noha device has 40 intensity settings! So you can customise the intensity to match your pain levels, and the 12 hour battery life means you can go an entire working day pain free.
MYLIVIA: the Livia device – £100
My Livia device was the first tens machine I ever purchased, and without exaggeration, it completely changed my life. The Livia device uses a slightly different technology to other devices on the market, there are no side effects and you can’t build up a tolerance to it so it’s a lifelong pain solution.
I was really hesitant at first to use the device, however, when I wore it for the first time, I literally cried with relief. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought to buy one sooner, as I could have saved myself, so many hours in pain over the last 10 years.
A feature that makes this device perfect for travel, is how small and compact it is, no bigger than the palm of your hand. It also comes in its own little travel case which means it won’t get damaged or lost in my bag. It uses a micro USB port which is compatible with many other electronics that I travel with, meaning fewer cables to pack (and less cables for me to forget to pack!).
MYOBI: Artemis – £60
More recently, I have seen similar devices being advertised on social media. However, I stand by my choice in selecting this brand as I believe it to be one of the best products of its kind.
I hadn’t seen this advertised by the company on my for you page or Instagram feed. However, all of the chronic pain and endometriosis awareness influencers that I follow heavily endorse this product; I have only ever seen positive reviews online, even from non-sponsored reviews. Other companies haven’t got the same solely positive response.
This device is a portable electronic heat pad with vibration settings. In the past, I have always been a strong supporter in using hot water bottles and disposable heat patches to help control my pain. However, hot water bottles can leak and disposable heat patches were not a sustainable option and often fall off; the temperature couldn’t be maintained either…
The device has three temperature settings and three different vibration settings. It is attached to its own belt, so I can easily wear it over, or under clothing when going out and about.
Although bigger than both tens devices listed above, it is still super compact and travel friendly, and fits very comfortably in my pencil case sized emergency period kit.
MYOBI: Apollo – £115
This is a new product MYOBI have just released and I am super excited to purchase it. This new device has temperature settings, massage, settings, and an Inbuilt tens device (the feature I’m most excited about!). This means no need for the sticky pads and cables.
One of the biggest downfalls I’ve found using tens devices; the sticky pads become irritating to the skin after prolonged periods of usage. They also need replacing every few months. With this device, you wear it as a belt and the electronic impulses are sent straight from the device into the problem area.
It is, however, slightly larger than MYOBI’s other device, but still small and compact enough to not take up too much precious space when travelling.
TIGER BALM – £3 – £5
This is something my mum recommended I try out during covid, as a homoeopathic form of pain relief. Having been unsuccessful finding it in the panic buying pandemic era in supermarkets, I soon forgot about it until I saw it one day recently on offer in boots. At £3 a pot I figured there was no harm in testing it out, especially as it’s good for headaches which I get a lot and that would work even if it didn’t help my cramps.
The relief is not that long lasting, however I think it would be the ideal method of pain relief when doing activities in or around water. Obviously the electronic devices cannot (or should not) be used around water; when swimming in waterfalls or sunbathing on the beach this balm is perfect and easy to reapply, providing relief until you’re dry enough to use the electronic devices.
Really, the tub is so small it takes up almost no room at all in a bag whether that be for a carry on only trip or in a beach bag or even just your pocket. The pot will also last you a good 6 months too depending on how often you need to use it, so could last you most if not all of a trip.
REUSABLE HAND WARMERS – £1 – £10
If heat is something that helps you manage pain I suggest purchasing a selection of reusable hand warmers which are perfect for travel.
Unlike disposable patches or hot water bottles, these won’t leak and fall off, but they sit perfectly in the top of your underwear or trouser waistband and will stay warm for several hours without needing to change them.
There is such a small amount of liquid it’s often not picked up by airport security. However, if you’re worried about liquid allowances you can just snap the trigger and once it’s solid it can go through fine. Once through security just ask a cafe for hot water and you can reset it to normal.
What makes these perfect for travel, especially if you’re only packing what’s necessary, is that they have multiple functions. Personally, I don’t only use these for period pains but also on cold hikes or after jumping in freezing water to keep my hands and other parts of my body warm and functioning. There’s not much worse than trying to do up zips or tying shoe laces with frozen hands!
MODIBODI: period underwear – £15 – £30
This isn’t a pain management product, but it’s the best solution I’ve found for dealing with the actual period side of things. For the last year, I have used ModiBodi period underwear, I swear by it and will quite literally recommend it to absolutely anyone willing to listen.
Period underwear is a more expensive sustainable option, however, it will save you lots of money in the long run. In 2021, I spent so much money buying disposable products. In half a year I spent approximately £250 on pads alone, and that was something I felt was no longer financially viable on my salary at the time. I did a lot of research as there are many companies who create period underwear, however this company came highly recommended and had products I really liked.
I have a separate blog post that gives a more in-depth review of the products which you can read here.
With the investments I have made in my period this year, it has cost me just under £500, with the intention of purchasing the Apollo device in the near future. Obviously, this isn’t something everyone can afford, however just owning one of these products will most likely change your life, period and pain management for the better.
**** This post is not sponsored, these are my honest opinions on products I have spent my own hard earned money on in hope for some relief from the stress and pain that comes along with having a chronic illness and travelling for a living.
