IBS Self Help and Support Group Forums - IBSgroup.org: Travel Advice - IBS Self Help and Support Group Forums - IBSgroup.org

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

If you've read my book: Living with IBD & IBS then you know I'm a big advocate of being prepared when you travel - whether by car, air, rail, foot.

By plane is how I travel long distances most frequently and the thought of being enclosed in a tin capsule with 200 other people and only 2 or 4 bathrooms has never been too comforting to me. In fact, when the big D first hit in '97 I started getting claustrophobic on airplanes and once even had a mild panic attack. I nearly leapt out of my seat and ran for the nearest exit! Now, nearly 10 years later I travel frequently, to far-flung places, and generally travel well. The first thing I do is to book an aisle seat nearest to the bathroom. Second, I make sure I have things to do to keep my mind off my gut - books, iPod, laptop, whatever helps keep your mind occupied. Third, I stick to eating what I know won't upset my gut - that usually means bringing safe foods to snack on. Also, don't eat or drink anything in the few days before traveling that could set-off you gut.

Stress is the biggest trigger for my gut (food is second) so I try to keep as much stress out of my life as possible. But, even so, sometimes just the thought of getting on an airplane can trigger a flare. When this happens I tend to go into "just-get-through-the travel-portion-and-then-you'll-be-okay" mode - for me this means, eating only rice or applesauce for breakfast. The less I put into my body, the less that comes out. But you don't want to risk dehydration to you do have to eat something, and be sure to drink plenty. I choose water mostly. But Recharge or Gatorade help to replenish lost electrolytes. You can find Recharge in health food stores or in the health food aisle of most mainstream grocery stores. With Gatorade I find I have to cut it with water, usually 50/50, or its just too acidic and causes stomach upset.

In addition to a book, magazines, iPod, and water, my Emergency Tool Kit includes a change of underwear and pants (I've only had to use them once and it wasn't on an airplane it was in a grocery store. It took months before I went back to that store), Imodium or Pepto Bismol, Tylenol (I don't take any NSAIDS and Tylenol isn't always easy to find), A notecard on which I've written, "I have a bowel disease and need to use the bathroom urgently. thank you for understanding." If I really need to go and there's a line of people I have flung this card into the hands of the person who is first in line as I've dashed past them to snag the next available bathroom stall. Sometimes there just isn't time to chat and ask permission. I've never had anyone angry at me after seeing this card.

For car travel my advice is pretty much the same. But I do have once piece of advice which can come handy if traveling on small highways, side roads, in the middle of Nevada where there's nothing for hours, etc. If you have to go, and it's urgent but there is no hope of finding a bathroom, or a forested area, find a place where you can pull of the road as far as possible. Have all other passengers leave the car and go for a walk. Then, open both the front passenger door and the back passenger door and use them as shields - similar to a bathroom stall. It's not pretty and a bit gross but you can then do your business in some privacy.

Oh yeah, be honest with those you are traveling in a car with about your situation and let them know that if you say you have to go, that means you have to go NOW, not in half an hour when you planned to stop for lunch. Better yet, drive as much as you can. I find that being in control of the situation helps me to be in control of my situation and it takes my mind off of my gut. Generally, I get where I'm going with a minimum of stops.

That's my advice for now. There are gazillions of other things I've learned that will ooze out as we go along. They're all in my book, too.

Have a great and safe weekend!

Cheers!