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Vacation in April--How do I do it?

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Posted 2/7/2008 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
My husband & I are planning a trip to Las Vegas in April with some friends of ours.  We were so excited & looking forward to getting away until I started flaring so badly.  I'm going to my dr. tomorrow & hope he has the "miracle" to make me better in the 2 mos. til we leave.  Are my expectations unreasonable?  I planned on eating crackers & very little food just so I could have a normal vacation but now that isn't even working for me with these eating habits.  What have other people done when they go on vacation?  I'm even worried about the plane trip out & back.  I've always been able to take Imodium & it will work some of the time but lately I have to take 6-9 tablets to be able to leave the house.

If anyone has any suggestions, please post.  I need to know what I'm up against & address it before we finalize our plans.

Posted 2/7/2008 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Lindy,

I have Crohns not UC but I'm sure we share the same concerns in this regard. I found Vegas a VERY Crohns friendly place. Everything is open 24/7 and designed for large groups of people so there are just bathrooms EVERYWHERE. There are tons of 24 hour resturants and all hotels have room service. I had no problem getting food that I could eat anywhere. I wasn't doing great when I went and still went out and had fun just stopped at every hotel we walked by (not literally) for a bathroom break. My flight back was really tough because I got very sick (unfortunatly I had starbucks which is a huge no for me) and the drink cart was blocking my way to the restroom. I ended up going into first class and they were super nice about it. Last time I flew I got an rx for Xanax and it really decreased my anxiety about having to use the bathroom during take off or landing. I took my Xanax during boarding (I think I had taken a hyosciamine too but no immodium that day) stowed my carry on, used the on plane bathroom, sat down, plugged into the arm rest radio that stays on during take off, put on a face mask and ignored the world. I was so much more calm rather than looking at all the people in my way, counting the minutes until we were in the air and seatbelt sign would go off, I just tuned out. Mentally went to a happy place. And didn't face the world until the flight attendents were moving around again.

Obviously you are sicker now than I was but Id say book the trip, w/ the optional travel insurance on your flights. I think it is a good choice of destination.
Posted 2/7/2008 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
i've had good results with anxiety meds also. if your doc will prescribe them for you, try them out ahead of time. that way you'll know how long it takes to kick in for you. i only needed half a pill and it was enough of an attitude change to make me not worry as much as i would have been. more than half a pill and i pretty much pass out.

i had to take one trip while flaring and i did use the adult diapers while in the airports. i was extremely nervous about being in lines (like for security) and being many minutes away from a bathroom when i really only had a couple of minutes that i could actually hold it. so the combination of the anxiety pill, the diapers, and i probably ate next to nothing that morning... i did fine and thankfully didn't have to USE the diaper!

sounds like you will have plenty of bathrooms once you get there!

what meds are you on right now?
Posted 2/7/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks friends!!  I never thought of anxiety drugs.  I have lived with anxiety all my life & guess I take it for my way of life.  I will talk to my dr. about Xanax.  Not familiar with hyosciamine but will ask him about it today at my appt.Thanks again!!

Posted 2/7/2008 3:47 PM (GMT 0)

hekela,

The meds I'm on now are Asacol 12/day 400mg., Prednisone- 3-4 day 40 mg Nexium 1/day 40mg, Elavil 1/day, 75mg, Elmiron 4/day 100mg (Interstitial Cystitis) Premarin 1/day, .3mg, Singulair, Fioricet & Imitrex (Migraines) & vitamins.  Also take muscle relaxers & pain pills when needed for neck fusion pain.  I feel like a walking medicine cabinet!

Posted 2/7/2008 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
one more little tip- use LIQUID Immodium!!! It works super fast, way faster than the tabs, & I usually get by with a half-dose.

Posted 2/7/2008 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hyosciamine is the generic form of Levisin I believe. It is used often with patients with IBS and it helps with cramping and spasming and that urge to go when you don't really have to go. My doctor warned me that taking it with the xanax would dry me out and make me tired which it really did but it was nothing chugging water at my destination coudn't fix. I actually enjoyed the break and not feeling like I had to pee on the plane. One other thing that helps me: buy a water after getting through security and bring your own UC friendly snack. That way you won't be getting drink service from the flight attendants. I liked not having my tray table down with stuff on it. I felt trapped w/ the tray table down. Except if you get nervous in turbulence like I do. Then place your water bottle on your tray table and watch it. The water really isn't moving that much so the plane really isn't moving that much either. It just feels worse than it actually is because you are nervous.
Posted 2/7/2008 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Oh one more thing. I had a really small rx of Xanax. I only had .25 pills which is why I took a whole one. When people say they took 1, 2, or 1/2 a pill you need to know at what dosage because they come in .25, .5, and 1 doses I believe. So someone's half a pill could be more xanax than my whole pill if they had a way higher dose pill.
Posted 2/7/2008 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lindy..you're already on Elavil (which is used for depression/anxiety)...I don't know if Xanax is a good idea, but discuss it with your doc.

There's also dicyclomine which is another antispasmodic.

You cannot live on crackers and water...you must start eating.

One suggestion...don't to any tapering of your pred before you leave or while you're there.....tapering can cause some reoccurrance of symptoms.

I would suggest you also try rectal meds.

You could add a signature with the meds you're using as well as where your UC is....we won't keep asking you the same questions then.

I'm sure it will work out for you to travel...make sure you bring your meds and have a prescription in case you need anything filled.

How did you make out at the doc's today?

quincy
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