Traveling with ulcerative colitis/Crohn’s

Didn’t go to Med school, don’t have the disease BUT
1.) discuss your travel plans with your doctor
2.) if any medication is advised take it and use it
3.) be certain you know what foods you shouldn’t eat
4.) drink bottled water
5.) try not to stress yourself out with worry
6.) research where you are going to see where restrooms are located
7.) Travel with your health care contact information.

Hi there -
Wow, I applaud your adventurous spirit in spite of some very real challenges/concerns! Good for you!

While waiting for advice from others who share those challenges - or have someone close to them who does - this might be a good read in case you haven't found it yet?

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/traveling-with-ibd.html

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/TSA-air-travel-101.html

Those discrete "I can't wait" cards they mention could be translated into Greek and Italian: I'm sure some of our members who are fluent in either language could do that for you via private message. Better yet, providing those translations here on the public forums could help others traveling with touchy plumbing.

My own advice would be the same as I'd offer to folks traveling with very young people. As what level of fuss they might kick up, and when, can be unpredictable, it's best to keep your sightseeing plans as unscheduled as you can, such as not pre-booking too many scheduled tours and whatnot. That way if you're having a tough day, you can just take care of YOU, not over-stress about missing something, and potentially making the problem worse?

In Greece, pharmacists can dispense medications without a doctor's prescription for many ailments. Check to see if your meds are otc in these countries.

In Greek, here are a few phrases that could help in an emergency: "Thelo toiletta, sas parakalo. Ah-rostee (fem.)/Ahrostos (masc) ee-meh. Den boro na perimeno." I need a toilet please. I am sick. I cannot wait.

"Ehete toiletta, sas parakalo?"
Do you have a toilet, please?

If you need to avoid raw vegetables, ask for things "vrasmena"--boiled. Stick with bottled water.

Congratulations on your stable health and upcoming trip. I assume this is a tour as you are moving every day or two. It could make things complicated if you have a flare up and a move is due the next morning. Not to be the provider of doom, but you will want to know the rules of the tour if you cannot travel that day. For your confidence, be sure you and your sister have discussed the possibility and can prepare yourself to fend without a tour's help. Hotels, pharmacies, medical staff will help as far as they can go, but sometimes that only goes so far.
Would you be willing to eat outside the tours choices? You know what you can eat at home. Given the frequency of moves, it could become tiring. I would think that eating as close to 'at home' as you can would help keep things stable. I have food sensitivities so often shop a market or grocery store for a meal that keeps my system at its best. May not be as accessible on a busy travel schedule, but there are plenty of corner stores that hold a multitude of food stuffs......or bring standbys from home, if packaged.
Find the translation of colitis to Italian and Greek. Also translate some foods you rely on (or cooking methods) and put on cards you can provide to restaurant staff.
Tips from Chrohn's Foundation https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/traveling-with-ibd.html

I do not have ulcerative colitis, but I do have a chronic gastro issue, so I am very sympathetic. Since I develped the problem, I have spent over 180 days in Europe without any effects on my itinerary. I hope you will be equally lucky.

However, I lost several days of travel a few years ago when I had a bacterial GI infection. I had a slight fever part of the time but didn't feel all that bad. I just couldn't go more than a block or two from my hotel room. By the time I went to the doctor, the symptoms were abating so we didn't do the follow-up lab work needed to figure out what specific antibiotic should be used. We just knew from the blood work that tne problem was bacterial.

I also missed a pre-paid tour of the Cotswolds after eating a dinner of disgusting deep-fried bar snacks. That wasn't real food poisoning; I wasn't sick enough, long enough. It was just enough to make getting on a bus the next morning a very bad idea.

I also picked up a norovirus while traveling in the US, which made me feel dreadful for an hour or two and weak as a kitten for another 24 hours.

And then there was the 10+ days of giardiasis, acquired from drinking the water in Leningrad/St. Petersburg. (Don't do that.)

As a result of those four experiences, I think I am fairly well equipped to self-diagnose future tummy troubles in myself, but I imagine the same complaints could produce different symptoms in other people.

Assuming you aren't going to St. Petersburg or planning to drink from rural streams, you needn't worry about giardiasis. I don't think medical intervention is called for in the case of norovirus, so I think the main thing, in the event of gastro symptoms, would be to try to figure out whether you have a bacterial infection which would benefit from antibiotics. They used to say (I am not a doctor and don't know whether the guidance has changed) not to take immodium/Lomotil if a bacterial infection was suspected. I suggest checking with your doctor on how you might attempt to identify a bacterial infection, and whether you should suspend taking your regular meds (if you use any) in that situation.

I too am planning a 3 week European trip and also suffer from gastro issues (they thought it was Chron's but decided it wasn't and still do not have a clear diagnoses). Although I am nervous, I am determined to make the best of this trip. I have some medication that "helps" but not always and with the change in food, I am worried it will act up. Bathrooms (knowing where they are and if they require a token) are probably the most important thing to me but as a "just in case" I am packing some adult underwear as a precaution. I know that doesn't sound pleasant, but the alternative is worse for me. Good luck to you and enjoy your vacation.

Hello,
I have ulcerative colitis, and now have an ileostomy (bag), but a group tour travel-mate was traveling with her Chrons when I first traveled with my 'bag'. The suggestion to take adult diapers is a good one, and they are pretty comfortable I used them before I found appliances that worked well. My travel-mate and I carried a full change of clothes in small backpacks. Take an alligator type hair clip to keep your top up out of the way, underwear, pants, socks, maybe even shoes, wet-wipes, small air freshener ,and a garbage bag. You can stand on the garbage bag for a clean place to change your clothes, then put everything dirty in it. Me, I would just throw it all away. Get written prescriptions from your MD and make sure you keep all your medicine and prescriptions with you at all times. It wouldn't hurt to research the location of local clinics - just in case. Circle it on your maps and then you can just point it out to the cab driver, should an emergency arise. I got medical insurance for treatment abroad and medical return flight insurance. Watch out for dehydration. You can get a print out a 'gotta-go' card from the national Chrons and ulcerative colitis foundation. It's handy to present to airline attendants or security people, if the restrooms in your area are full, or the line is long and you 'gotta-go'. If you're in distress, you can ask for preboarding and show that card, as your 'handicap' won't be visible. Lastly, there are very active groups on FB, which are incredibly helpful and someone there will have some good ideas for you. Pace yourself and ENJOY!

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 40 years ago and have been living and traveling with it ever since. I had 2 surgeries for it. I've taken a few different meds for it. Some didn't work at all. One worked most of the time.

Then I was prescribed Pentasa in early 2004. It works in the colon and it has kept me under control for 15 years now. There are still occasional issues, but the only serious ones were related to consuming something that would make anybody sick.

I carry Pepto Bismol caplets for such a problem and taking 1 caplet clears it right up. In the past 15 years I've taken a total of 2 caplets, one while traveling in England and one in Salt Lake City.

Everyone's GI tract is different, but based on my experience, I would never say I was in remission. This is a chronic disease for which there is no cure. I certainly would not travel without making sure I had the meds needed to control it. And I'm definitely a happy traveler when the breakfast buffet includes yogurt.

There are types of traveler's insurance that will cover pre-existing conditions, but only if you buy the policy within a certain number of days of paying for your first travel expense. If it's too late for that, at least do some research to see if you can find any coverage that might work for you.

I always carry little emergency information notes with all my medical issues listed, along with contact information for the doctors that treat them. I did this even when my husband traveled with me, knowing that he would be so upset if anything happened to me, he'd just blank out. I keep one in my purse and one in my money belt.