David July 5th, 2006

Traveling with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or any other digestive problem can be a frustrating experience. Even for healthy people a trip takes planning, but traveling with a medical condition requires some special preparation for comfort. Don’t be stuck at home because you’re afraid to go very far from a restroom–learn how to travel without the stress.Here’s How:

1.   In the several days before the trip, consistently follow the best schedule of meals and medications for your condition. Don’t try new foods or unfamiliar restaurants.

2.   Contact local tourist boards or an auto club to find restrooms on your route. If you schedule far enough ahead of time, some tourist agencies will send you maps and information in the mail (may times for free).

3.   If there are no rest stops on the highway, plan your route on surface streets where you are more likely to find a fast food restaurant or grocery store that has a restroom.

4.   If your destination is in an unfamiliar city, obtain a good map and make a note of areas that may have public restrooms: tourist info centers, shopping malls, hotels, and restaurants.

5.   Make sure you have enough medication for the duration you’re traveling, and add some extra–just in case.

6.   Many public restrooms aren’t clean or well-stocked. Carry a little travel pack containing extra undergarments and trial sizes of toilet seat covers, wet wipes, antibacterial hand wash, extra toilet paper and anything else you might need. If you need to make a dash, you can grab your little bag of necesseties and be off!

7.   Pack a book, sewing project, crossword puzzle or video game–anything that will keep your mind occupied while you’re a passenger in the car.

8.   If you think it will help you, pack a portable toilet. It may not be useful in urban areas, but when traveling off the beaten path it could be very helpful.

9.   When possible, arrange your meal schedule around your trip. If you know that you have to use the toilet about an hour after a meal, be sure to leave enough time between your last meal and the start of the trip for that bathroom break.

10.   Ensure that your traveling companions know that when you say you need to stop and find a restroom you mean NOW. They can also help you scout for restrooms and help explain if you need to jump to the front of the line.

Tips:

1. Does driving help keep your mind off how far the next bathroom is? Then maybe you should drive.
2. Gas stations almost never have toilets anymore. Some public places that are more likely to have easily accessible public restrooms are fast food chains (including coffee shops), diners, supermarkets, department stores, discount stores, large bookshops, craft stores and bed and bath stores.
3. Places unlikely to have an easily accesible restroom include electronics or furniture stores, drugstores, toystores, restaurants (other than diners), and small shops or boutiques.
4. If the worst happens–ask politely and explain that you have a serious medical condition.

What You Need:

• Maps of the areas you’re traveling
• Wet wipes, tissues or toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer
• More than enough medications or medical supplies
• Portable toilet (optional)
• Sympathetic traveling companion
• Hobby or book to keep you occupied

Author: Amber J. Tresca

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