Travel and IBD Part 5 - Accommodation, Food and Drink

If you have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) you may find the thought of travelling daunting. A change of climate, water, or food can upset anyone’s bowels. Yet many people with IBD travel widely, both in the UK and abroad. They may go for a short break or a long holiday lasting several weeks or months. With careful planning ahead it should be possible for you to travel to most places. This article series sets out to answer some of the questions that you may have when thinking about going on holiday or on a business trip.

What should I look for in holiday accommodation?

You may wish to ensure that any accommodation you are booking has an en-suite bathroom. Your travel agent should know, or it may be worth contacting the hotel yourself, and asking for written confirmation. Information about accommodation for people with medical needs or disabilities is available from various organisations, such as Tourism for All, Contact-a-family and RADAR.

Some people worry about having an ‘accident’ when staying away from home. You could take a towel to put under you in bed or request a mattress cover. You might also find it helpful to check on laundry arrangements beforehand. If you need to do your own washing it can be useful to take travel wash, a folding coat hanger, a portable washing line and a few pegs.

What should I do about food and drink on holiday?

Anyone travelling abroad is at risk of getting a stomach upset, especially in less developed countries. A common problem is traveller’s diarrhoea, usually caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses in contaminated food and water. Having IBD means you have to be particularly careful about hygiene and what you eat and drink. The following tips may help:

• Wash your hands with soap and dry by air or on a clean towel before eating.You could carry a supply of antibacterial disposable wipes for places without washing facilities.
  
• Peel all fruits and eggshells yourself. This includes tomatoes.
• Avoid food from street vendors and kiosks, and any food likely to have been exposed to flies.
• Avoid unpasteurised dairy products.
• Avoid raw vegetables and salads, and foods that may be undercooked, such as steaks and burgers, and foods that have been kept warm.
• Avoid shellfish as these can easily be contaminated.
• Drink bottled water (ensuring the seal is not broken) or water that has been boiled. Use sterilising tablets when travelling at a high altitude where boiling will not sterilise the water.
• Use bottled or sterilised water to clean your teeth and when preparing food.
• Avoid ice in drinks unless you are sure it is made with safe water.
• Avoid swallowing water while swimming.

If you are on a restricted diet, you can obtain dietary cards in various languages at www.dietarycard.com.

In Part 6 - Staying well with IBD on holiday