My Vacation in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico was amazing and I had the most fun I have ever had since pre-COVID and pregnancy. Now that I know what to expect. Before I left Louisiana, I had taken my medicine because I don’t know but when I travel I become sick. So with my medicine:

• I bought an organizer and organized all my medicine for a week.
• I brought extra steroids in case I get into a serious flare-up (because there were times that my lupus would flare up and I would get sick and the issue would last for days.
• I brought prescribed cream for the sun including sunscreen.

Our vacation travel began

Once I dropped my daughter in Atlanta because I and my husband were flying to Puerto Rico from there I went to go and get my COVID test done. By the end of the night, we had received our results which were negative. For travel out of the USA, we needed a vaccination card or negative COVID testing and this was when we reached the destination. Before the airport, I had taken my medication and immune support just to make sure my immune system was protected while on a plane. I know my condition could always be compromised.

Worrying about weather and lupus

The flight took 4 hrs and 30 minutes. When we reached San Juan, Puerto Rico before we could leave the airport we needed to show proof that we had a negative result or they would test us there at a cost ( I don’t know how much). We had an Uber take us to our hotel and his car was clean and sanitized. We made it to the hotel and started to enjoy ourselves. The weather was beautiful and perfect. The moments when it rained it was worth it because whenever I felt that the weather would affect my lupus, it would rain for only a minute or so. Everything we wanted and needed was within walking distance. This was my first time being out of the United States and I was really worried about my condition.

The best vacation ever

The whole time I ate what I wanted, I drank what I wanted, I slept when I wanted, and I was completely fine. To be honest I had so much fun I would look at my steroids and walk straight past them. I had the time of my life, honey, and I was not ruining it no way no how. I was so happy I made the choice to go because usually when I travel, I fall sick and I never understood why. This was the best experience of my life. Of course, I wore sunscreen to protect my skin. The ocean water and all the salt helped soothe my joints to where I slept like a baby. Lupus did not ruin my vacation and I was completely happy about that.

When it was time to go I took my medicine right before departure and we made it home safely. It was when I got home that a flare-up occurred and I felt that it maybe was from the jetlag I experienced from the planes being delayed and canceled. Also maybe the stress and frustration of being stuck in the airport for another 2 to 3 hours, but will I do it again? YES!