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Flying while in a flare, am I crazy?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/2/2010 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I've been going through a rough patch lately. I am supposed to get on a plane tomorrow and am a bit scared. I am going to take it very easy on my diet today with just soup and crackers. I was in so much pain last night I thought there is no way I'll be able to make the trip tomorrow but today I feel ok. I ate too much last night, chicken and baked potato. Ha! Ha! When I flare, I get so inflammed that I can't go to the bathroom even though I feel like I need to and get horrible cramps! I was able to pass some stool today and feel so much better. I started on rectal meds on Friday. I think they are starting to work.

I just hope being in a pressurized plane won't make my stomach start hurting. Has anyone ever experienced that? I am gonna take some xanax for sure. At least it isn't a long plane ride.
Posted 8/2/2010 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Wear a poise pad. It's amazing how it would calm me just to know it's there.

Good luck!
Posted 8/3/2010 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I fly quite a bit for my job and just try my best to not take early morning flights, which is when I have the most BM's. Also, I will skip breakfast if I do fly in the morning and am feeling not entirely safe. Lastly, I will take immodium if I'm particularly concerned. And always get an aisle seat!
Posted 8/3/2010 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I didn't make the flight. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning vomiting with diarrhea and in pain. Sigh.... This flare up is a really bad one, perhaps the worst I've had since my diagnosis and horribly painful. I just didn't think I could travel like that. thanks for the advice. I did have an aisle seat too.
Posted 8/4/2010 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry you are suffering, I hope you get some relief soon.
Posted 8/4/2010 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Peety!
Posted 8/4/2010 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Aw, I flew to Germany and back and made it. I had Bentyl with me which helped. But for future reference, the pressure change didn't affect my stomach too much, maybe helped me not poo? But it realllllly hurt my knees on the first flight, I felt sick to my stomach. On the return trip my stomach was worse but my knees were better.
Also my allergies got going on both flights. I took half a Benadryl and a Bentyl on the return flight and actually slept =p
Posted 8/4/2010 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I was too sick to fly today, had to cancel our plans, so I am angry and depressed that this disease has done this to me. I am calling my doc to get a referral to a colorectal surgeon. I've had it.
Posted 8/4/2010 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Oh wow. Well good luck then!
Posted 8/4/2010 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Talking about flying. How do you transport the enema med while flying? I wouldn't think you can carry them on board as it more liquid then is allowed due to TSA regulations....I woudln't pack them as the pressure and change in temp may affect the meds.

Anybody have any experience with this?
Posted 8/4/2010 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
I wasn't sure about that either?
Posted 8/5/2010 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Oh I'm so sorry that it affected your flight :( During my most recent flare, I was worried about an upcoming flight and bought travel insurance just in case (luckily I was feeling better and able to go). I think it's definitely something I will do again in the future, just to be safe.

Regarding traveling with enemas: I just pack them in my checked baggage. My GI doc said it would be fine, and it was. I was (and always am) paranoid about them bursting, but I take them sealed in the package and still wrap all that in a plastic bag, just in case. I've never had any problems and I've taken a fair number of flights with them.

Another alternative would be to take them in your carry on. Since they are medication, they are exempt from the liquid restriction. I've never actually done it this way (I just do not want to be standing in line answering questions about enemas... ugh). But if I were to do it, at the bare minimum I would have the prescription label on them with my name on it. Back when I was considering taking them in carry on, I had my doctor write me a note about them, just in case they tried to give me any trouble.
Posted 8/5/2010 9:52 AM (GMT 0)
I am FREAKING out... I have a cruise that I'm leaving for on the 19th. I live in Portland, Oregon and we have to fly to LA and then to Miami. All in all.. it's like a total of 10 hours each way!! Thank GOD I have a colonoscopy like two days before hand so I'll be cleared out, but I am still nervous. I am hoping Bentyl and Xanax will help me, but I don't know as I've never taken either and wont until the flight. All I know is the ONLY thing that has helped me get through the airport and plane ride is hydrocodone. My new GI says NO NO NO... not good. So we'll see what the Bentyl and Xanax do for me.

I really just am so nervous though.
Posted 8/5/2010 10:26 AM (GMT 0)

Peace&Harmony said...
Talking about<strong></strong><strong></strong> flying. How do you transport the enema med while flying? I wouldn't think you can carry them on board as it more liquid then is allowed due to TSA regulations....I woudln't pack them as the pressure and change in temp may affect the meds.

Anybody have any experience with this?

I have taken them on board and also packed in my big bag. Never had any problems. I tore the prescription info off the box and kept it with them. Took them through customs a few times with no problems either. It's really not an issue. Pressure and temp in an airplane has no effect on these.
Posted 8/5/2010 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have no idea why this works for me, but it does. I noticed that when I take Claritin-D (24 hour), it completely slows my bowels down - no mucous, no D, etc. My doctor is baffled as to why this works. Unfortunately, I can't take it often because of high blood pressure, but I have used it when I know I have to sit through a long function, dining out, etc.
Posted 8/5/2010 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I really don't get the concern. I am a commercial pilot and the pressurization is just to make the air pressure more like it is on the earths surface since we would all pass out at cruising altitude pressure without it. It is not greater pressure than we are already used to. Probably slightly less.

What I would be concerned about is the seat belt sign being on, remain seated etc during turbulence, take-off and landing. I would inform the stewardesses at the start of the flight you have UC and basically it means there are times you need to go immediately and cannot hold it.

I would not want to be walking around in turbulence and hit my head on the ceiling and die like the woman did on the flight to Japan on UAL so I would 'FAST' for 24 hours before the flight so I don't need to go - period.

I saw that performance artist guy, cannot recall the name but he was saying before he spent a week underwater he fasted for like 72 hours or something so that he would not have to go at all.
Posted 8/6/2010 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
The Bentyl will probably be helpful. I don't know about fasting but eat light. I forgot what the site was but you can get one of those medical cards that say you have UC and can't hold it so maybe that would make things less embarassing so you don't have to explain in front of other passengers.
Posted 8/6/2010 1:39 AM (GMT 0)

aguywithuc said...
I really don't get the concern. I am a commercial pilot and the pressurization is just to make the air pressure more like it is on the earths surface since we would all pass out at cruising altitude pressure without it. It is not greater pressure than we are already used to. Probably slightly less.

What I would be concerned about is the seat belt sign being on, remain seated etc during turbulence, take-off and landing. I would inform the stewardesses at the start of the flight you have UC and basically it means there are times you need to go immediately and cannot hold it.

I would not want to be walking around in turbulence and hit my head on the ceiling and die like the woman did on the flight to Japan on UAL so I would 'FAST' for 24 hours before the flight so I don't need to go - period.

I saw that performance artist guy, cannot recall the name but he was saying before he spent a week underwater he fasted for like 72 hours or something so that he would not have to go at all.

yeah I don't have any issues in relation to pressure.

I've never been on a flight that's 10 hours long... It's really nerve racking. I've been pretty lucky with understanding stewardess's and crew, but it does get difficult. If I see that the light is on, but they're walking around or anyone else gets up.. I will to if I need to go.

I don't really see hitting your head and dying as a common occurrence and I'm pretty sure that was a rare case, but that would definitely suck.
Posted 8/6/2010 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
while fasting might work for some, it would not help me. It's just not that simple eat= bowel movements/ no eat= no bowel movements.
I hadn't eaten hardly anything for days when the hounds of hell were set loose in my bowels. For me, there is little prediction. When I have a flare, they actually quit working for a while and when they open back up is anybody's guess.
Posted 8/6/2010 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Actually if I don't eat it's worse.
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