flares and vacations

My last two vacations went very well for me.  I had an "action plan" for each trip which meant packing my prednisone along with me as well as my regular meds.  However, I found that if I stayed well hydrated and ate small, frequent meals of food I tolerate well, I did exceptionally well even with very little sleep and did not need the prednisone either time.  For me, stress is a huge contributing factor to my flares so staying calm is key for me. 

Good luck and have a safe trip.

I'm about to leave on a 2 week trip (driving, hotels, eating out...) and hoping to maintain some semblance of balance in my life and health.  I think the above suggestions are good ones, especially as it pertains to eating out - remember that you don't have to finish what's on your plate.  Eat what makes you feel good.  It's not worth over eating and then getting sick.  Ugh.  I paln to take some time out at the end of each day to just sit quietly and relax.    Safe travels and be well!

 

I have been on 3 vacations in the last 2 months and I have done really well.  I contribute it to the fact that I am more relaxed:)

Well, last summer before I was dx I was flaring I just didn't know what I had.  We went on our summer vacation anyway and it didn't get any worse or better, just the same.

This past Feb I went on a short trip and my flare was improving but not totally better and it got a little worse on the trip, but I started my period too so that's a bad combo.  I just stuck with my meds, tried to relax and always knew where the toilet was.

It might kind of depend what your triggers are.  I do hope you have a good vacation!

I find that traveling can make a minor flare worse. I think that just the added stress of traveling can cause the flare to worsen.

What I find helps is to try to continue eating the same way I am at home. Whenever it is possible we try to arrange to stay in a place where we can prepare our own food (for example, a cottage) rather than relying on what is available at restaurants (it cuts down on food costs too, but isn't quite so convenient).

We have a trip to Hawaii scheduled, leaving in the next week. I actually purchased travel insurance in case I needed to cancel the trip due to a flare. There is no way I am flying east coast to Hawaii during a flare! Luckily I am well controlled right now with prednisone, so I'm hoping that sticks :)

Thanks! We started today..... we're almost half there, about 350 mi from home, in a hotel. A rapid visit to the lobby bathroom before I even checked in, but otherwise OK so far.
Waving at Dr. A and I go by,,,
Effexor? I miht look into it.I have ativan for nerve emergencies, but it makes me sleepy......

Hotel lobby bathrooms are your best friend(s) when traveling. While I don't have the UC diagnosis, I use a bathroom all day long. On one of our family trips we stayed at a very lovely Ohio state park, near Toledo - Maumee Bay State Park. We had an ordinary 2 bed lodge room with balcony. But the staff treated us like we were staying at a pricey resort. That entire lodge is huge, all connected, with wings, and in the center facing Lake Erie is their outdoor pool area. It's just a huge lodge and even though I was sharing 1 bathroom with our two children (at the time, they're 20 and 23 now) and hubby, I managed to find no fewer than 4 areas with more bathrooms. Near reception hall rooms that were not being used or near the restaurant, pool area, etc. As we'd walk by I'd try the women's restroom door and if open, I smile. They laughed - another bathroom for Mom to use. Let me just tell you, it's sheer heaven when you can find back up bathrooms to use when traveling with your relatives.

As our trip continued my oldest would say - I don't know how you find these off the beaten path bathrooms Mom but you always do!

We all have our priorities checking into hotels/cabins, vacation rentals but anymore I prefer large state park lodges like this. Why? Because of all the bathrooms placed through out the facility! Years ago our family probably would have taken a cabin with 1 bathroom. Not anymore.

And I also sleep in sweat pants, wear a bra with a long sleeved T (even in summer), sox and then have my gym shoes next to the bed. Because there have been many times I've taken the hotel room key at 2 am to use a bathroom down the hall. I know I could use our room's bathroom but I hate to tie it up for long periods of time. That dreaded knock on the door - can I use the bathroom? - I hate that!

I will end this reply with - it's just not easy traveling with bowel issues. Whatever they may be. It's a challenge.

Havent had a good vacation for a while now. Vegas is pretty much the only place I can go and lots of restrooms available there. Leaving the home gives me anxiety now due to long term pred use and anxiety makes my uc act up.

If I take 1/2 an immodium in the mornings when I'm doing something different, it gives me some peace of mind which always helps with the anxiety-driven urgency issues.