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Traveling to central america with UC

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Posted 1/10/2010 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

In 6 months, I'll be leaving for Central America for 8 weeks. I have UC, and it's currently a bit active, I'm not in full remission. I'm afraid that I might not be in remission when I leave.

This won't be an ordinary trip in a resort. I'll spend 8 weeks doing humanitarian work in third world conditions.
I have a 100% chance of getting travelers' diarrhea.

I have a couple questions:
1) Have any of you traveled in those conditions with UC? How did it go?
2) Did anybody ever get travelers' diarrhea on top of UC? How did that go? :)

I'm just looking for insights on managing the risk.

Thank a lot!
Frank
Posted 1/10/2010 6:35 PM (GMT 0)

I no longer have UC so I can't answer your questions but I do advise that you take a long an Rx of Flagyl or Cipro and either lomotil or imodium.  Have a great trip!

Sue

Posted 1/10/2010 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Suebear,

For sure I will! It's probably going to be Cipro in my case.
I'll be talking to my GI about that too, cause I'm afraid of Cipro in the context of a UC flare.. We'll see :)

Thanks
Posted 1/10/2010 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
My son, when he was 14, traveled from where we are (NE USA) to Central America for a workcamp experience about a year after he was diagnosed with pancolitis. He was only there for 10 days, but still....

He was one of two in the group of 40 who did not get any kind of traveler's diarrhea! He obviously was more careful than some of his traveling companions.

The group brought prescription Cipro, pepto-bismal tablets, lomotil and immodium. They obviously drank bottled water, but they also had bottled water in the bathrooms for toothbrushing. They were taught to remember to keep their eyes and mouths closed in the showers....

On a previous trip some kids opened their mouths while frolicking in a waterfall: bad Traveler's D.

I will ask the woman who was the group leader, who had done this a dozen or so times, any other tips.
Posted 1/11/2010 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Frank again -
I talked to my friend who led the trip my kids went on, and she said:

asking one's own doctor for a course or two of a good general antibiotic which will work on disentary is a good idea. Yes, take a supply of Lomotil, Imodium, something like Tagamet, plenty of Tylenol, also a good antibiotic eye drop for conjunctivitis and a skin antibiotic or hydrocortisone cream, maybe a course of a lice treatment and also a scabies treatment. We carry all of these with us. And one should have vaccinations for Hep A and B, an up to date tetanus shot and if you are going to be there in wet weather, Yellow Fever. And of course a complete course of malaria pills like cloroquine.

I'll be interested to know how all this goes for you! I am intrigued with going at some point......
Posted 1/11/2010 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Songlady,

I actually went to Central America twice. I spent a total of 6 months there in the past decade. But it'll be my first time with UC! :)

When I went there the other times, I eventually got travellers' diarrhea for a good 2-3 days and then I was OK for the rest of the trip. I'm just worried with UC.

But good news, I went to see my GI today and he said that he wasn't concerned with the use of Cipro over any other UC med.

(He also said he wants me to try infliximab (Remicade) to try to get the UC under control... so we'll see how that goes..)

See you
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