Travel Tips for People with Crohn's, IBS, IBD

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/07/01 - Updated: 2023/01/15
Category Topic: Disability Travel Information - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Essential travel information for people with Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative colitis, or Inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease, also known as Crohn's syndrome and regional enteritis, is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus.

Introduction

Well, I love international travel - and I have Crohn's disease. however, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and travel can sometimes be like ketchup and chocolate cake: they don't go well together.

Main Content

Crohn's disease, also known as Crohn's syndrome and regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, and weight loss. Other complications may occur outside the gastrointestinal tract and include anemia, skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, and tiredness.

In the ten years that I've lived with the joys of Crohn's disease, Crohn's has not stopped me from the following:

• Three months in Belize (at age 19 within a year of being diagnosed).
• Study abroad in Costa Rica (1 semester).
• 1, 2, 6, and 10-week trips to Costa Rica, sometimes leading groups.
• 6 weeks in Italy.
• Three short trips to Mexico.
• Side trips to Panama and Nicaragua (2nd poorest country in the Western Hemisphere).

My Crohn's hasn't been exactly dormant either. I've always had flare-ups 1-3x per year, and I have even had one in Italy and Costa Rica. There is a lot I have learned in these experiences, some through doing it right, others from doing it wrong (8 hours bus ride with one stop and no onboard bathroom made me nervous). The most important thing I can say is that we should do everything we can not to let IBS impede us.

It is my theory that we are extra prone to becoming sick abroad because of a combination of subtle stresses we put on our body that can add up and may include:

• Sleep deprivation.
• Change of climate.
• Time changes.
• Dehydration.
• Shocking our system with different water and foods that it's not accustomed to (not that they're necessarily contaminated).
• Drinking more alcohol than usual.
• Stress of trip planning / interpersonal conflict.
• Stress of being out of one's comfort zone / experiencing culture shock.
• stress of worrying about getting sick (at some point you have to have fun).
• Each person's experience with IBD is unique; the following tips will apply to some but not others.

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Pre-departure

• Research your destination.
• Have a simple understanding of the medical system.

Example: In Costa Rica, the pharmacy is generally the first stop when people are sick. Pharmacists are trained to treat minor ailments and provide medications without prescriptions. Every town has one or two.

The bathroom situation:

• Are there many (or any) public bathrooms? Do you typically need your toilet paper
• Know how to ask where a bathroom is in the host country's language.

Any guidebook for the country you're going to should give you this info; otherwise, ask the receptionist at your hotel.

Low Stress Itinerary

• Get flights with good connections and departure times.
• Consider a tour or package deal from a reputable company.
• Reconsider renting a car - this can lead to many stressful situations.
• Give yourself time to decompress at home before returning to work.

Contact Your Health Insurance Provider

• What are coverage rules abroad?
• Will they reimburse?
• What are their limitations?

Buy travel insurance. It should cover:

• Emergency evacuation (i.e., send you home on MedVac).
• Emergency reunion (i.e., pay for you to have a visitor if hospitalized).
• Medical expenses (in case your HMO surprises you).

Check your medication and doctor visit schedules when picking a date. Be sure to have not only enough pills for your trip but also for when you return. Try to travel between scheduled appointments.

Contact Your Doctor

• Ask about taking anti-motility medication before you leave home.
• Ask about treating traveler's diarrhea should you develop it while traveling.
• Have written backup copies of all prescriptions.
• Have a written statement summarizing your medical history and medications.
• For a list of physicians in the cities you plan to visit.
• Ask for a written action plan if your condition worsens.
• Ask if the climate at your destination will affect your medications (such as lots of sun).

Visit a travel clinic:

• For valuable information on staying healthy in the host country.
• For necessary medications and shots.

What to Bring

• Needed documents and medications.
• Your doctor's phone number and your health insurance card in your wallet.
• Medications in their original pharmacy bottles.
• Enough medications for a few extra days in case of surprises.
• Pack a "bathroom kit" and carry it with you.
• Include extra underwear, tissues, antibacterial hand wash, plastic bags, and anything else you may need if you encounter a poorly stocked lavatory.
• Know how and when to find a doctor.

Have a Strategy for Each Mode of Travel

• Leave healthy.
• Be extra healthy in the weeks leading up to your trip, if possible. Get exercise, sleep and, eat well, take your meds.
• Allow plenty of time to pack for a trip, so you're not stressed before leaving.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before departure.

During Your Trip

Communicate your concerns to the flight attendants. They may:

• Change your seat to be near a bathroom.
• Invite you to use the first class bathroom if the coach one is occupied.
• Allow you to use the bathroom during fasten-seat belt times.
• Allow you to get up and walk around if necessary.

If traveling to exotic or developing countries, all travelers are at risk for GI/bowel problems. People with Crohn's disease need to be especially careful.

Be Extra Cautious with Food and Water

Consider:

• Sticking to bottled water.
• Avoid non-carbonated beverages such as iced tea and fresh juices. Skip the ice cubes. Don't swallow water when swimming and showering.
• Avoiding raw vegetables or salads.
• Never eat prepared food like potato salad and canape.

Note: Local food is an important part of an international experience. Consider your health condition, recommendations from guidebooks, and, well, your gut feeling.

Eat and Drink Healthy Food

• Be cautious of drinking more alcohol than usual.
• Be aware of your new diet abroad compared to what you normally eat at home. Are you eating more roughage, processed foods, meats, etc.
• Drink plenty of water.

Becoming dehydrated stresses the body. When traveling to a new destination and new climate, it's easy to forget to drink water as we are out of our normal routine.

Danger Signals

Contact a physician immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:

• High fever and shaking chills.
• Profuse bloody diarrhea.
• Severe abdominal pain and distension, especially with abdominal tenderness, nausea, and vomiting.
• Fainting or dizziness when standing up.
• Marked decrease in urine.

Be Extra Aware of Where Bathrooms Are Located

Although you're probably used to this at home, there may be much fewer bathrooms, and you may have to deal with language barriers.

It may seem like a lot, but any international trip requires extra planning, and most people need to do much of this for one ailment or another. International travel is a true joy and provides so many lifetime memories.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.