IBS flare when travelling

[Hennen]

any tips for travelling with IBS? I think the overnight flight from Canada to England messed up my system, eating different foods, and staying in various places. I also suffer from a ‘shy bowel’ which makes my constipation worse!

[winfong]

I'm not sure if I have any good tips, but travel is a surefire way to get the old IBS active.

That said, getting to sleep on the plane to Europe seems to help (I take sleeping pills). Also, don't think in terms of the old time - just go with the new time. Personally, I'll also probably take some extra laxatives when I get there, just to make sure (I'm a C).

[Hennen in reply to winfong]

Thanks for the tips! I think it may be diet related. I ate a salad last night with lots of quinoa in it and that has really flared things. Lots of pain and bloating. Before that, I was having a hard time sticking to gluten-free, due to not finding it locally. I don’t focus on the old time - laxatives may help, thanks. And I don’t know how you sleep on a plane!

[Senin in reply to winfong]

What laxatives do you take? When I take laxatives, I get diarrhea for about 5 hours.

[Hennen in reply to Senin]

Yes, I have to be careful with laxatives too - I usually use something fairly mild like Mirelax/Restoralax or Lactulose. These can take a couple of days to work and they sometimes cause discomfort but they’re not as harsh as some other laxatives.

[winfong in reply to Senin]

I have IBS-C plus diverticular disease, so I have to take laxatives every day. I actually take two - Miralax and Fibercon (US). Both are osmotic.

[Hennen in reply to winfong]

I have heard osmotic laxatives are safe for long term use. I have not heard of Fibercon. I will look it up, thanks!

[Senin in reply to winfong]

I was taking Metamucil, until I went on a recent trip and it did nothing.

My Dr just told me to take Miralax.

[Letsfixit1]

Hi. I'm flying manchester to Toronto, then Toronto to Vancouver in 3 weeks, and not looking forward to the flights! I have IBSd and sometimes I pray for constipation. The combination of the stress of the packing and travelling to the airport, then the food on the flight, really messed with my insides last year. I like the suggestion of sleeping on the plane, I take a Nytol which I find helps. And I take loperamide (Immodium) every day for a few days before, and during the flight. Loperamide is the only thing I find works. I'm breaking up the trip this time with a hotel stay, just trying to make it easier on myself.

[Mumdog in reply to Letsfixit1]

Codeine helps. I take a small dose every day along side Imodium if i need it. It seems to 'slow' things down a little.

[MinnadeParis]

I travel a lot from CA to London and would arrive totally sick. If I ordered a special meal it usually had things I couldn’t eat. And the regular meals are just horrendous. Btw I have IBS D. I would arrive spaced out and sick bc I did not eat drink nor sleep for 12 hrs+.

Now I make a bento box with what I know I can eat & a peanut butter and jelly sandwich + unsalted nuts , small bag of popcorn and any other small food items you can fit in. Trader Joe’s has plenty of small bags of cut celery. Put some peanut butter on them and a few dried currants….great snack. Also take the biggest bottle of water that you can and drink it. Too bad if you have to go 12x. It’s better than arriving dehydrated and miserable

Don’t forget to pack Imodium, peppermint pills, some ginger, and enzymes if you take them.

Hope this helps. I know I am always anxious when I know I’m going because of food.

[Ceasersalad]

I have a shy bowel, I can't go in public places . I would recommend you take meds that help .

[Hennen in reply to Ceasersalad]

Thanks! What meds do you take? I already take Constella.

[Ceasersalad in reply to Hennen]

I take buscopan. Fybogel sachets and milk of magnesia when needed as I cannot be constipated my anxiety goes through the roof . I don't take anything regularly as and when required

[Hennen in reply to Ceasersalad]

Thanks! I am from Canada so I have never tried Fybogel, but I am actually in London right now! So I will pick some up. I guess it is similar to psyllium? Not sure if we have buscopan in Canada either so will buy some of that too. Is Buscopan more for bloating and cramps?

[Ceasersalad in reply to Hennen]

Yes buscopan is , it helps somewhat Fybogel comes in powder form and a chewable tablet . I take the powder one . 1 glass every night before bed . Hope it gets better . I say that but I know it's a battle for all of us . Keep well x

[Luisa22]

Well, I avoid travelling as much as humanly possible because it stresses me. Even having to catch a train at a certain time and be ready for the taxi makes me start to shake slightly! Stress of travel shouldn't be underestimated. Though I admit I am highly sensitive to it.

For a flight or short term journey, if you possibly can, take your own foods in a cool bag. If that;s impossible, then only order items than you know you can handle easily and don't eat those you know you can't, however hungry you are and however tempting they smell.

Staying in different places is tricky, as menus vary and ingredients. But if you try your best to stick to foods you are pretty sure are OK, it might be easier even if it's boring and you aren't sampling local foods which sound good.

It's always good if you can get off-menu meals. Sometimes places will do that for you. You can always ask. I once asked if it was possible the restaurant could do eggs and chips for me! That wasn't on the menu at all, but they were happy to oblige and they were the best eggs and chips I'd ever eaten in my life!

Shy bowel thing....I do know, as even a change in environment can bring that on for me temporarily, even if no one else is there!

[Haz999]

If flying, always take an aisle seat so that you know you can get to the toilet easier which takes some of the stress away, less stress the better you feel.

[Hennen in reply to Haz999]

Good idea! I managed to get an aisle seat on the way there but not on the way home.