International Travel with Crohn’s Disease
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This post is for my fellow Crohnies who know the challenge of living everyday life with Crohn’s Disease (or Ulcerative Colitis but it’s also for friends traveling with someone who has Inflammatory Bowel Disease (because it gives insight into what we deal with on the regular). It can be stressful, and miserable and make us want to retreat to the safety of our homes (and our private bathrooms). Even a simple localized day trip presents challenges and planning an international trip abroad even more so. While we are familiar with all things washroom and have become adept at managing our disease, planning a trip abroad can bring a whole host of anxieties.
For example….
There I was at my keyboard, excitedly researching for my trip to Greece when I came across a fact that sent me into a momentary feeling of panic….. in Greece, you aren’t allowed to flush your toilet paper. Their sewage system can’t handle the TP. You have to place it in the bin. Yes, you read that correctly. No flushing. If you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease, you are likely thinking “Nope. No way” at this point but I spent 2 weeks in Greece and it all worked out just fine. It wasn’t nearly as big a deal as my imagination initially thought.
I have been lucky to travel abroad, solo, quite a few times and I have strategies in place that have worked well for me. I hope they work for you, too!
Here are my top tips for safely and sagely traveling abroad with IBD (some are obvious and others a little less so).
Strategic selection of your accommodation
Despite being a traveler who hates staying in the thick of the tourist areas, I generally choose an accommodation close to the main attractions I want to see and visit. Why? Because sometimes in the middle of sightseeing, I need a bathroom STAT and I loathe public bathrooms when ……. it hits the fan, so to speak.
You know the drill…. you are out and about and then you get hungry. You know that if you eat anything, disaster is forthcoming within about 5-10 minutes so staying centrally allows you to beat feet to your own bathroom in a hurry.
I don’t always love being right in the center of the activity but sometimes the advantage is worth the trade-off. For example, I was recently in Athens for only 2 days and I stayed in the Plaka neighborhood at the Phaedra Hotel which was within a 5-minute walk to the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, and access to the vibrant Plaka marketplaces. I was able to visit must-see sites, eat something, make my way back to my accommodation quickly when needed for a bathroom break, and then go right back out and visit other sites. The beauty is you can repeat this as many times as you need to without a severe disruption in your sightseeing plans because your accommodation is nearby. This strategy has worked well for me so far.
There are times when I want to be outside of the tourist zones and those are the times when I wait to eat until I have more or less finished my day sightseeing.. I’m sure many of you have done the same! Solidarity, my friends!
2. Bring over-the-counter meds from home
In Europe (specifically), you need to visit a pharmacy to purchase over-the-counter items such as Immodium. It’s not a big deal but keep in mind, it can sometimes be more expensive than the price back home and you might receive fewer pills in the package which leads to having to make several trips to the pharmacy. While they are VERY easy to find (just look for a green cross on the side of a building), it is much easier to bring Immodium or whatever over-the-counter meds you might need so that you don’t have to make any pitstops during your travels.
3. Travel Insurance
This seems obvious but it is always a good idea to do some legwork in advance regarding medical insurance abroad.
Check with your insurance carrier first. Some might have a health insurance policy that provides coverage while traveling while some may not.
. Another option is to check with your credit card company as some include travel insurance (with medical) though you should speak with a human on the phone rather than trying to make sense of their policies in the fine print beacuse it can be confusing and a health emergency is not the time for any surprises.
Lastly, search travel insurance companies for the most comprehensive insurance, focusing mostly on the medical aspect of the policy. Read the reviews carefully because there are always a lot of conditions and to be honest, it’s convoluted. I also recommend calling and speaking with an agent so that you can explain your condition and find a plan that will offer the coverage you may need if anything goes awry.
Here is a helpful artcilce discussing Pre-Existing Conditions and travel coverage.
And, check out this link to see a ranking of travel insurance companies for 2024 from Forbes.
Lastly, if you do run into any situations where you need to see a doctor but it is not an emergency, check with your hotel or host as they will likely be able to steer you to quality medical care.
4. Listen to your body
Traveling abroad is expensive and we don’t get to do it frequently so we tend to plan every second of our trip and forget to leave time to just ‘be’. I try to always plan one rest day per week of travel. This way, if you aren’t feeling well, you have a ‘do nothing day” built into your itinerary and can utilize this day to remain low-key without feeling stressed or disappointed that you’re missing out on something. Give yourself this day in advance and then plug it into your travels whenever you need it. Listen to your body! It is OKAY to act like a local and just “be” somewhere for a day. And honestly, you’re not going to be able to see EVERYTHING in one trip anyhow so permit yourself to take a break should your body tell you it’s needed.
5. Carry a few Euros (coins) or local currency around with you
It’s a good idea to have a few euros with you while you’re out and about as some public restrooms may require 1-2 Euros/currency for access. I can’t think of anything worse than needing to use the restroom NOW only to realize you don’t have any currency on hand.
A note for the travel companions:
If you are traveling with someone who has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, you might wonder what you can do to make things easier for them. For many with IBD, food is the kickstart to all tummy issues. Your companion might have to skip meals until the end of the day or they might need extra time hanging around your accommodation in the morning after breakfast because oftentimes, our stomachs are upset for an hour (or more) after eating. Your travel buddy is probably really stressed about how their stomach could end up dictating the day. Please be patient and… if you see a look of anxiety on their face or if they mention they need a restroom….. this is not a drill! They mean NOW so reassure them that you are just fine with whatever needs they have (which can be moment by moment).
We are well versed in how to maneuver the inevitable stomach problems so don’t feel bad if they skip a meal… it doesn’t mean you have to. We can hold our own but just know… we are stressed and anxious that our condition could cause a disruption in the schedule for others. It is helpful to just let them know that you are aware that how they feel might change frequently and that is okay!