Hi @Mountbeauty, I am the same with loving/wanting to travel! It's one of the few things I usually consistently find pleasure and meaning in, so I definitely understand. I've also had the 'running away' thing suggested to me before, but I don't think that necessarily has to apply at all, and you know your reasons better than anyone 🙂 From what you've said, it doesn't sound like your motivation for wanting to travel is running away.
Re: meds - some really good ideas here already. I would add
- always keep your medication in the original packaging/labelling (no matter if heavy duty prescriptions or basic painkillers) - pretty common sense, but I've heard of people trying to save weight by cutting the packaging, which can obviously lead to serious hassles.
- I would always put any/all meds in your hand luggage (maybe with some backup/emergency ones in your checked luggage, if you have it - with another GP letter). If you need the meds on daily basis, you don't want to have the drama of trying to find more in a new country if your luggage is lost.
- definitely check the rules around bringing in your particular prescriptions (call the country's embassy here if necessary) and make sure you get clearance if necessary.
- get the GP letter explaining your prescriptions, copy it, put copies in different luggage + one with the meds + one in any travel buddy's luggage, and also email it to yourself in a secure web-based email (and memorise the password! that way you can access anywhere, even if you lose all the luggage) (also good for other travel docs like visas, emergency contacts, the prescription itself, etc).
- if you think it's necessary or there's a major language barrier, maybe get a translation of GP letter in the local language of where you are going? I don't think you'd need that in Europe for example, but may be useful in say, Sth America, etc. especially if you are going off the beaten track at all.
- the only time I travelled with prescription meds was to NZ, packed them in hand luggage, had the GP letter but no issue or questions at all.
- I would definitely be super careful in areas where there is major concern about that type of thing and/or penalties are severe (think China, some parts of SE Asia, probably South America, not sure about Africa?). Make sure you know your obligations and rights, and double-check any country requirements.
Re: weight - I don't have a lot of ideas on this, but maybe you could keep working on fitness, with the motivation of going somewhere in particular (set a date) once you've reached a certain reasonable goal weight/shape? Maybe could combine that with the suggestion of a short local trip?
Good luck, I hope you get to go somewhere nice soon 🙂
