Traveling with IBD: Tips and Resources for a Stress-Free Summer Vacation

Ahh, summer vacation, a time for relaxation. The warmth of the sun, the smell of sunscreen. Traveling to new places, long car rides. How long is the car ride again? Are there rest stops along the way? How many miles to the next rest stop? Uh-oh. That relaxation is slipping away.

Summer is here, and for people living with IBD, some challenges may be casting a dark cloud over their vacation plans. Concerns about packing prescriptions correctly or navigating TSA with an ostomy can heighten the stress of long-distance travel, while symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue, and frequent bathroom visits can put a damper on even a simple day trip.

To help alleviate these concerns, we have compiled the following tips and resources.

Our Traveling with IBD page provides helpful tips for:

• Traveling with prescription medications
• Finding bathrooms
• Navigating transportation security
• Avoiding and alleviating travelers’ diarrhea
• Preparing for and responding to medical emergencies

Planning for international travel? Check out our interview with Kay Greveson, Founder and Chairman of IBD Passport. As both a nurse and IBD patient, Kay understands the challenges patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis face when they travel, and she offers tips for:

·       Planning and advocating for yourself when abroad with IBD

• Traveling with an ostomy
• Navigating language barriers
• Dealing with extra-intestinal symptoms like joint pain

Whether you travel near or far, knowing there are restrooms nearby can be a great comfort. Using our We Can’t Wait restroom finder app, you can see the nearest restrooms to your current location. Prefer to plan ahead? Search for restrooms along your route and at your destination using the search feature on our map. Use our new Favorites feature to save these restrooms to a list so you can find them quickly.

We’ve even added new restrooms to our map with your vacation plans in mind!
 

• 1,200+ interstate highway rest stops across the U.S.
• New public restrooms/comfort stations in beach towns
• Hundreds of public restrooms/comfort stations across popular destination cities, including New York, Charleston, Boston, Seattle, and more

If you come across a restroom that isn’t already on our map, be sure to submit it!

If you find yourself urgently needing a restroom, take advantage of the digital “I Can’t Wait” card included in the We Can’t Wait app. Showing this card to a business that only has a private restroom will help you explain you have a medical reason for needing access to their restroom.

Wherever you travel this summer, a little planning can make a difference in your vacation experience. And if you have additional questions or concerns, our IBD Help Center is here for you.

You can make an impact on IBD cures! Please consider making a donation to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.