Travel Tips for People with IBD - Traveling with IBD can feel overwhelmingly stressful, especially when dealing with symptoms. Schedule yourself extra time for stops (if driving), and be patient with yourself. You're loved ones should be too! Over the years I have learned what it takes to travel even when experiencing active disease.(Sometimes your specialist is two hours away!) Now to

Traveling with IBD can feel overwhelmingly stressful, especially when dealing with symptoms. Schedule yourself extra time for stops (if driving), and be patient with yourself. You’re loved ones should be too! Over the years I have learned what it takes to travel even when experiencing active disease.(Sometimes your specialist is two hours away!) Now to be perfectly honest this isn’t all glitter and butterflies, but it’s helpful real advice. Below I’ll lay out what you need to know when traveling with IBD.

Today we mainly use two main types of travel; by car or by plane. But don’t worry I’ll go through both! I understand that sometimes you need to make a short trip, and sometimes you need to go halfway across the country.

Food by Car: When traveling by car, it’s a little easier since you can prepare food up ahead and bring it with you in ice coolers. Make things that you can eat easily and consider cold foods like chicken salad. Be sure to bring silverware, plates, and napkins so you have something to eat the food on! Buying these items at a rest stop can be costly. I also like to bring snacks like homemade cashew ‘hummus’, carrot sticks, homemade almond flour crackers, muffins, unroasted nuts, and self-contained fruit like apples and bananas. Avocados also make a good snack or dip, and are easily transportable. Don’t forget to pack water and other SCD approved drinks like orange juice too. When you get to your destination, visit a local grocery to purchase foods you can cook for yourself for the duration of the trip. When you pack your car snacks for the journey remember to double up on the dry/room temp snacks so you have something to munch on for the way home.

Food by Plane: Since you can’t bring a cooler full of food onto a flight, do your best to bring packaged things that you can have. Dried fruit, unroasted almonds or cashews, bananas, apples, oranges, and homemade grain free ‘granola bars.’ You can also often find fruit and other healthy SCD approved foods at kiosks in the airport, but remember a captive audience pays a high price. Try to rent a hotel with a small kitchenette or use an Airbnb for a more affordable way for access to a kitchen. This way you can cook for yourself during your stay. I really have found this is the best way to travel when following a strict diet.

Tips for Traveling in General:

Pack extra medication, supplements, and vitamins. If you end up needing them you will be eternally grateful you did! It can be hard to find the same brand when traveling and additives in things like vitamins need to be carefully checked. I usually bring an extra 3-5 days with me just in case.
Don’t forget to take your food journal if it’s not on your electronic device! If you do forget it, just record your food intake and fill it in when you return home.
If dining at a restaurant look for recognizable foods like vegetable sides and ask for them plain and steamed. Meat is also another good choice. Whole pieces of antibiotic free salmon, beef, or chicken cooked only in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Salads can often be easily modified for SCD regulation, dressed with oil and vinegar. Just remember to do the best you can with what you have. Speak to the manager, to ensure your specific needs are met. Don’t forget to ask about what oils they use!
Don’t let traveling stress you! Stress will always make symptoms worse, and that’s not good for anyone. Go with the flow and remain grounded. I recommend meditating when experiencing anxiety while traveling. You can do it anywhere, and in my experience helps immensely!
Lastly, if you are experiencing active disease and uncontrollable symptoms, wear an adult diaper. If you have an emergency and can’t make it to a bathroom in time, using a diaper for its intended purpose is less embarrassing than all over your clothes. I know it’s an uncomfortable thing to talk about, but I hope this helps someone who has to travel while experiencing severe symptoms.

Follow these tips for seamless traveling, no matter your symptoms! Happy exploring!

Note: * This is NOT an affiliate post. I do not receive anything for promoting or recommending products or services. *