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Altitude and UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/31/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
So, this is sort of a strange question. I'm traveling to Boulder in 2 weeks, and being a midwest girl, I have no experience with high elevation. My question is two-fold: 1) Any general tips for dealing with changes in elevation besides stay hydrated? and 2) Has a change in elevation ever affected your UC?

Thanks!
Posted 1/31/2011 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
Quite a niche question - guess there aren't too many that have experience of altitude + UC.

The only thing I can compare it to is skiing - I always found the air much cleaner and my BMs became much firmer. In fact I think it was good for my UC being in a more healthy enviroment.

I only stayed at altitude for 10 days though and I'm not sure how high you are going to be. The average altitude I stayed at was approx 8000ft

Post Edited (wavey) : 1/31/2011 9:35:16 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2011 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
during a solid remission I went hiking in the Canadian Rockies for a week. No effect at all on my colitis but as I say, I was in a solid remission and on maintenance drugs. (like wavey, highest I went though was around 8000-9000 ft)
Posted 1/31/2011 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
I am from Michigan and I went to Flagstaff, AZ last summer. I traveled with my husband, two kids and my mother in law...we all ended up with bloody and stuffy noses but we adjusted after being there for 3 days. However, my Uc did not. It affected my Uc majorly, not only was I bleeding from the nose but I was bleeding from the tush. Luckily I brought along my enemas because it kept it in check for the most part. When I got back to MI the bleeding slowed down.

So my recommendation, bring your rectal meds and drink lots of water.
Posted 1/31/2011 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
I went on a long trip to the west this summer into some high elevations but not Denver high. Staying hydrated is very important. I found my BM's were much better, in fact when I got home things got worse for a while. Out west I found I could eat food I can't back home (yogurt, fruit). I was much more physically active on vacation so maybe that was part of it. Or was it being in a great mood?

Drink a gallon of water a day if you can. I hardly had to pee lol.
Posted 1/31/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I am working in Boulder right now and I lose 3-5 lbs of water every night while sleeping. I drink water constantly per doctors orders. I have a gallon of arrowhead water on my desk. I am skiing Breckenridge with out of towners in a few weeks and I will constantly be hydrating as it will be even higher and dryer.
Posted 1/31/2011 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
I just returned from Vail for medical reasons, went to Steadman Hawkings; I live at sea level. We purposely started out in Denver and after a week went up to Vail. It's best to ski/explore high and sleep low, meaning go to a higher point during the day and back down at night. The altitude did not affect my UC but I stayed on maint rectal meds/canasa.
Posted 2/1/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh, when we travel to the mountain area around Boulder, my gut gets so BLOATED and gassy!
Plan to take lots and lots of Gas-X.
Posted 2/1/2011 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Elevation has never bother my uc but a changed diet while traveling does. Try to eat light relatively low residue meals. No red meat, no broccoli, no nuts--nothing that might scrub your intestines! Have fun!
Posted 2/1/2011 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, thanks for all the responses! This was very helpful. Definitely going to invest a new portable water bottle before my trip. And bringing along some Gas-X sounds like a good idea. Thanks!
Posted 2/1/2011 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had a problem. Went from 350m to 2400m and stayed around 2100m each night for about a week. Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine!
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