Most medical professionals categorize travel as a stressful event, even more so for those suffering from autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel, celiac, Hashimoto’s or psoriasis. A change of routine, jet lag, and unfamiliar germs or foreign food can exacerbate one’s condition.

Plus, since a growing number of people adhere to strict anti-inflammatory diets to manage those illnesses, dining on the road can pose a real challenge. Here, doctors and specialists share some advice on how to stay healthy and eat well while traveling. As always however, talk to your doctor for specific advice related to your condition, depending on where you plan to visit.

Prepare your prescriptions before you go

“Make sure your disease is under control before you travel,” said Dr. Michael Chiorean, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center of Excellence at Virginia Mason. “I encourage my patients to choose destinations where they don’t need to get a live vaccine, like yellow fever, because it can lead to other health issues, or where they won’t be exposed to deadly organisms.”

He also recommends carrying on medications in their original packaging with a copy of prescriptions, as well as a doctor’s letter detailing their condition and necessary medications to decrease any chance of confiscation by airport or border security.