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Going on a cruise and am sick of having to worry about uc

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Posted 10/2/2011 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
So, my husband and I and my two boys(my mom is watching my daughter) are going on a 5 day cruise in April.  I am so excited but on the other hand am so nervous.  I am stressing out all ready about the bathrooms on the plane(what if they are full etc.) I am worried about when we board the ship(are there bathrooms around? Or not until we get on the ship).  I think I will be fine when I'm on the ship but we dock in the caymen islands and cozmel and are there bathrooms right there.  I don't want to go in a bad area to look for a bathroom, if we swim with the dolphins what if I have to go. When we walk around town are there safe bathrooms.  There are so many questions and worries I hate uc.  I can take immodium but not for the 7 days we will be gone.  We fly into Tampa and we will check out stuff when we are there and I have that to worry about.  Ugh.  Also, just because I take the immodium doesn't mean I won't have to go to the bathroom it is still a worry.  And like I said I can't take it and not go to the bathroom for 7 days. It just sucks what we have to worry about and no one really gets it.  My husband is understanding but he has went on a cruise before and said there are bathrooms all around. But what if there aren't any around when I have to go? Ugh!!! I am not going to not go.  I refuse to put my life on hold for years but it just sucks.  We have to take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the cruise ship and I also have to worry about that.  I think the day we travel I will take the immodium and the days we dock but then I am taking the immodium like 5 days and I don't want to cause harm or get really backed up.  I HATE uc.  I really do.  Sorry just need to vent.  Why can't I just be normal. 
Posted 10/2/2011 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
WIMOM, I completely understand your frustration. That is just something we are always going to worry about when we have active inflammation. Are you on anything rectally? The cruise sounds like it is going to be wonderful. I don't think you will have problems on the boat. I've been on a cruise and there are bathrooms everywhere. Flying is what always makes me nervous but try not to stress. Hopefully you will have things more under control by April. It sounds like you need to heal a bit more so you aren't experiencing symptoms.
Posted 10/2/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I just took my first cruise 3 weeks ago and good news there are bathrooms on every deck. The first thing I did, even before boarding, was to print out the ship diagram and locate the bathrooms. Cruising is way easy for UC people :-)

about the plane, I was worried about that too because we had 3 and 4 hour flights. I ordered a Medical card from this site, it was free and came within just a couple days. No I didn't need it but it gave me peace of mind.
www.myibd.org/RestroomMedalert/index.php

Sitting in the aisle seat also gave me peace of mind if needing to dash out (didn't need to). All the airports had plenty of restrooms walking from one gate to the next, no worries there.

Now shore excursions are something else. Talk to the cruise director and ask them where public restrooms are for each port you'll stop in. This is something many people want to know so no need to go into explanations about UC unless you want to. If your DH wants to swim with the dolphins let him and jump in if you're having a good day. It's not fun if you dread doing it. Don't pre-pay for too many shore excursions and then feel bad because they are causing more stress than fun. The cruise ship itself is quite fun, it might be hard to convince your kids to leave it.

Shuttle bus, another worry and worry=stress which our colons feel. Consider wearing Depends just for this occasion to lower stress.

about Immodium: for me it has never hurt me even when taken several days in a row, I only ever took one per day however.

My cruise experience was super positive even though I don't think I'm the cruising type, prefer less eating lol.
Posted 10/2/2011 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I understand your concern, i'm feeling similar about my upcoming study abroad trip to Paris in March! But you know what? We dont have to live this way, sometimes when you're busy, you're mind tapers off the day-to-day knowledge of even having to be resourceful about looking for bathrooms. Its happened to me thankfully, where i'll be in class and yes i get horrible stomach pains, but if i'm very in tune with whats going on around me at the moment instead of my UC, i usually dont have to deal until i get home or leave school, try to let your mind be at ease, and enjoy your trip.
Posted 10/2/2011 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I went on a cruise before I had surgery, and oddly even though I was feeling badly before we went I was fine on the cruise. I didn't get to eat like I would have liked to though. As for the shore excursions, read about them and see which ones have bathrooms, it will say something about it. I still look cause I don't want to have to pee god knows where.
I just came back from tampa, the airport is really small so you will never be far away from a bathroom. Fly first class, there are fewer people and you get a seperate bathroom.
Have fun!
Posted 10/2/2011 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and I would take like 4 to 8 immodium a day while I still had uc.
Posted 10/3/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Relax.  You'll be fine.  The plane will be a crapshoot. :-) But you won't have a problem anywhere else.  There will be plenty of bathrooms on the ship.  You've got your private one in your stateroom of course.  Plus there are usually bathrooms outside of every gathering place.  Restraunts, dining rooms, theatres, pool area, etc.  Another plus is that most people return to their room to use their own bathroom, so the public restrooms are usually empty.  I haven't been to Grand Cayman, but you will find plenty of bathrooms in Cozumel.  Cozumel is loaded with restaurants and shops, all of who will let you use their bathroom.  If they give you a hard time, you can always buy a soda or something.  English is widely spoken and understood, so language shouldn't be an issue.  Cozumel is not scary at all and you won't have a problem with wandering into an unsafe area. Have a wonderful vacation!
Posted 10/3/2011 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I feel for you! My husband and I travel a lot and I stress out about it too.

In addition to the other suggestions, I found wearing the Always large night time pads is a little more discreet (and less embarrassing) than Depends, and work pretty well. I always have extra pads on hand as well as panties, and they have been a lifesaver for those times when I don't quite make it. Sounds awful, but just knowing that I have a plan B is reassuring.

Also, as soon as you can, book your seat assignments on the plane so you can be as close to the toilet as you feel is needed. That's always comforting.

As for swimming in the ocean, I wore bikinis, and when I did have to go (and there was no way I was going to make it to the bathroom in time) I swam away as far as I could and took care of business. Sorry, it's gross, wish I hadn't done it, but at least I really enjoyed my vacation and made the best of my lousy situation.

You'll be fine :)
Posted 10/3/2011 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Also, be aware that when you do excursions on smaller boats you can't flush much down the toilets. Not even toilet paper. You may want to skip any excursion which requires you to spend time aboard another boat or bus. You'd be safer to just wander around the ports or hang out on the beach if there's one close. If you're not feeling well, send your family off and stay on board. There's lots to do while in port but you'll still have total access to bathrooms. Also, try to refrain from over eating(it's really hard!!) I found that was the hardest for me. I totally overate and felt bloated afterward:)
Posted 10/3/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone.  You guys are making me feel alot better. I am on remicade and I have had no accidents(knock on wood).  I usually have to go after I eat breakfast and after I eat lunch and maybe once after dinner.  I always go in the morning right when I get up about twice.  The problem is that when I get the urge to go I need to find a bathroom right away.  I also am alittle scared because I have heard horror stories about some of these places and I don't want to end up in a bad area or situation when I am looking for a bathroom.  I am lucky that I have never really felt sick(knock on wood lol). I get alittle nauseated after I eat but that is it usually.  I have never cancelled stuff because I am sick it is usually the bathroom issue. I have extreme fatigue all the time though and I guess I just live with it and am use to feeling like that.   I know I will be fine on the ship, the airport and plane and where we dock is what I am worried about. Oh, and when we board the ship and get off the ship. Are there bathrooms when you board and get off or do you have to wait until you get on the ship?  This is my first time traveling far since I have had UC.  We went to Chicago but that is only like 2 hours away from here. I was fine I think the worrying is what gets me and I tell myself not to worry but then I start thinking what if I have to go I just ate and there are no restrooms.  You all know how that goes.  Thanks guys.  When I do take immodium I have taken up to three a day and have only done two days in a row and I didnt have to go except once and that was in middle of the night.  The second day I took it I kind of started getting stomach cramps so I'm worried that if I take it three days in a row I will be VERY uncomfortable. 
Posted 10/3/2011 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
I did two cruises this year and the first one I began flaring, it was for my 5 year anniversary and ya know what.... I let it ruin some of my trip and that is what I don't forgive myself for. I spent a ton of dough and did not have as much fun as I should have had and I regret that I did that. That also happened to me on my trip to the Dominican Republic....it seems every vaca I go on I flare up.

I did a second cruise right after remi but had my period which I still get diarreah from for a day or so and there are bathrooms everywhere on the ship and plenty at the ports too. You will be visiting places that cater to people, they want you to spend money and so there are accomodations everywhere. Also, who goes on cruises??? Old people and I know my Gram has to pee all the time

I am going to be very blunt, you will not enjoy your vacation if you are this worried about it, really and truly because it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It's not worth it to be this worked up about it now, especially when you have another 6 months of waiting to go, it will only get worse.

You need to accept the fact that you may crap your pants and if you do then you change into a spare set of clothes, you will never see those people on the cruise ship or plane again.

Also you can stay on the ship at the ports if you don't feel comfortable going ashore or are having a bad day.

I'm sorry to have been so blunt and you have always been there for me on this board and I appreciate that so much. Sometimes I need someone to just lay it all out and then I get it, so I am trying to help and if I did offend you I am very sorry. I just wish someone had said those things to me.
Posted 10/3/2011 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Are there bathrooms when you board and get off or do you have to wait until you get on the ship?

We were in line for 2 freaking hours to board the cruise ship because we had to go through security and Customs (Vancouver BC). Yes, there were bathrooms available and because you are traveling with your spouse he will keep your place in line while (if) you need to use the bathroom. Tampa will probably not have that long of a line, probably just Security not Customs.

I will probably never get out of my 10 year habit of always locating the restrooms wherever we are just in case..
Posted 10/3/2011 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
the port in Miami was less than 15min to board the ship (Norwegian Epic). The port in Seattle, took about 1.5 hours (Norwegian Pearl). There were plenty of bathrooms.
Posted 10/3/2011 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Beth75- I understand where you are coming from and I am not hurt in the least.  I do have the mind set that whatever if I go in my pants it is just embarrasing.  I don't worry about it all day and night and all the time. when I go on trips I try not to think about it and I tell myself to calm down and not worry.  I did have fun in Chicago until we went on a boat with a bathroom you could only go number 1 on then my husband said if you need to go go in there and go.  You will never see them again. Believe me I would have.  I didn't need to go.  I think everyone with UC worries about the bathrooms. Everyone is making me feel better it sounds like there are alot of bathrooms around.  I will also enjoy myself but will be keeping my eyes out for the bathrooms. lol yeah Immodium will be my friend also. lol
Posted 10/3/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
thanks WIM! You will have a great vacation!! I like GuateGirl's idea about just going in the water, all the fish do and btw Dolphin poop looks like guacamole diarreah. How do I know this, my husband and I did a Dolphin excursion and it almost pooped right on us, it was laying on it's back in the water and we squealed when the green stuff came out of it......the guide laughed and told us it was dolphin poop.
Posted 10/3/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to share that if I can get through my vacation this weekend you will be just fine on your cruise.  I went up north to my family cabin with my sisters and boyfriends.  One bathroom for 8 people, however that didn't matter because a wind storm knocked the power out for the weekend so we couldn't use the toilet because the pump was electric.  I had to go outside or drive to the closest gas station which was like ten minutes away.  We also did a lot of hiking where there were no bathrooms.  Needless to say I was a bit stressed out about it but I went outside a few time and it was fine.  I also recently started taking a really low dose antianxiety meds for situations like this.  I take them when I fly or am in a long car ride and it really makes you relax and not think about it so much.  I did let UC ruin my vacation to Las Vegas last year because I was so worried all the time and I think it ruined my husbands time a little too so I have learned to relax and not worry about something until it happens because in most cases you can deal with it just fine.  My husband always tells me worrying is like a rocking chair you go back and forth but never get any where, it is pointless. Then I tell him that's easy for you to say but there is some logic to this.  I hope you have a fun trip!!!
Posted 10/4/2011 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Two weeks after my dx, I was on a plane from the west coast to the east coast, 4 airports. I was scared to death because I wasn't even able to make it through the night yet. I had Lomotil, just in case. Bu,t I found, that when we got to the airport/s, I located the girls rooms. Just knowing where they were made me less anxious. I even ate, as long as I knew where the bathrooms were located. Airplane bathrooms have always disgusted me and I put it in my mind that not even this disease will make me use one.

I agree with your Husband...if you gotta go, go for it if your behind closed doors. I flush 20 times while in public. Just bring some matches and have a fun vacation!
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