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Thailand with an Ileostomy

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/3/2008 4:51 AM (GMT 0)

Hello everyone!

 I am new to the forum and reading about what everyone has been through makes me realize what a tough bunch of cookies us Crohnnies are!

I am hoping someone can provide me with some advice or input.

   For the first time in 4 yrs I am finally in remission and my doctors have cleared me to take a vacation outside of North America.

   I am headed to Thailand in September for some SCUBA Diving and sight seeing for 3 weeks.

  My last surgery in February 07 left me with an ileostomy.  I have been able to manage it so far but this trip will be something totally new for me.

    

 Does anyone have any advice tips or tricks?

Has anyone been diving with an ostomy?

      I have read a few  books and plan to take triple the amount of supplies, but any tips or hints would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Posted 7/3/2008 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Angela101!


How wonderful for you! I'm so glad you can travel. Go have a wonderful time! I don't have any advice to offer about ostomies, but I am wondering if you have checked out the ostomy forum? I'm thinking they will be able to help you.

Let us know what you see while driving!!
Posted 7/3/2008 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the Tip! I did not notice that Forum...
I will post my question there as well!
Posted 7/3/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hope you have a wonderful trip. Enjoy yourself!
Posted 7/3/2008 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have the personal experience of an ostomy, but when travelling in what I guess you might call the 3rd world, it's good to bring your own antibiotics, just in case you either can't get a prescription when you need one, or don't  trust the purity of the ones you can get.  I'm sorry I don't know what else you'd need for an ostomy.  If you'll be in Bangkok, you should be fine, but other areas  have fewer hospitals/doctors esp. for foreigners.  So stock up on what you might need, just in case. make sure you've had all  your immunizations.  have a great trip! 
Posted 7/4/2008 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Angela, I know its the med we all love to hate but I would not travel without Prednisone-I also agree with Illy about the antibiotics if you can get them I would bring them with you. I would want to be able to agressively treat myself if I flared while abroad.
Sj
Posted 7/7/2008 7:05 AM (GMT 0)
Take alot of the pink swim tape. I think it's called Hydro tape. Any ostomy supply place should carry it. Put it on about a day before you dive to make sure it sticks well.

Have fun.
Posted 7/7/2008 8:01 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have an ostomy, but I have traveled to third world countries. Make sure you talk to your doctor ahead of time and get some medications to take with you just in case. Like the others have said, IF you can get help there, the quality of the drugs would be a big unknown. Also, finding a GI that knew about Crohn's disease in a third world country could be difficult, so being able to take care of yourself would be a priority. US embassies can usually get you in touch with English speaking doctors that are "approved" if worse comes to worse.

It was many years ago but my wife and I went to Hungary to visit with her sister. We did go into Romania and a few other places. In Romania sanitation was horrendous and the ability to get medical help was questionable. Even in modern Hungary, getting medical help from government run health care was considered to be hit and miss. My PCP and GI gave me a number of drugs to take along on the trip, the idea was that it would be enough to get me out of the country and back to the US. I do remember I had extra strength vicodin, one of the top end antibiotics, can't remember which one, I think it was Cipiro or something like that. I also had a bunch of prednisone. the doctors gave me some specific directions on how and when to take the drug. Luckily I didn't need any of them and the trip went well.

I hope it all goes well for you, but it is better to be prepared, just in case.
Have a great trip.
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