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IBS can make travel seem like an insurmountable hurdle. However with careful planning and common sense, you can still go on a much-needed vacation or visit your grand kids hundreds of miles away. This article presents some helpful coping strategies.

If you suffer with IBS, especially IBS diarrhea, you might think that travel is impossible. It may be problematic, but with some solid strategies in place, you should still be able to enjoy a vacation or a trip to visit relatives.

Before you attempt to travel, you must be aware of your personal triggers. This means keeping a food diary and visiting your doctor to arrange tests for lactose and gluten intolerance if you have any reason to suspect that they might be causing IBS flare-ups.

Common IBS triggers include:

• Coffee (even decaffeinated coffee)
• Alcohol
• Sodas
• Fried or fatty foods
• Artificial fats
• Chocolate
• Artificial sweeteners
• Sugars - including fructose, lactose, sucrose, and glucose
• Insoluble fiber
• Stress

Establish what you can eat safely, and do not vary from this diet plan while you travel. Pack safe snacks and be aware of what is available along your route as well as at your destination.

Organize your travel plans in a way that avoids stressful situations:

• Check travel advisories before selecting a vacation destination.
• Be sure to allow at least two hours between connecting flights.
• Research everything before you leave and take printouts with you.
• Know the locations of grocery stores and restaurants.
• Try to get copies of restaurant menus.
• If you rent a hotel room, ask for a fridge and microwave.
• Be aware of bathroom locations at every step of the way.
• Know where to find treatment facilities and doctors.

Understand how to ask for the location of the bathroom in a foreign language if you are traveling to a country where they do not speak English. You should also be able to ask restaurant staff if a meal contains butter, sugar, fat, etc.

Make sure that your mode of transportation has bathrooms. It might surprise you to learn that trains in some countries provide no toilet facilities.

Schedule time to relax during the trip and after you arrive. It is better to have one quality tour or visit per day than to be miserable because you have tried to squeeze too much into too short a time.

Get enough sleep before and during your trip. Fatigue and jet lag may contribute to a flare-up of IBS.

Take time to exercise or go on walks. This promotes the formation of feel-good hormones and a general sense of wellness.

If you are traveling by plane, pack medications, fiber supplements, snacks, prescriptions, herb teas, and bottled water in your carry-on (just in case your checked luggage is lost).

Many IBS diarrhea sufferers take something like Imodium before every trip. If your antimalarial medication causes constipation, try a half dose.

If you plan to travel as a passenger, take along some soothing music. If you will be driving a vehicle, be sure to have some upbeat music with you and stop for frequent breaks.

These coping strategies will not prevent every IBS attack, but they will greatly improve your chances of having a good travel experience.

About the Author:

Be sure to check out Kathy's latest eBooks:

The IBS Compass: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Tips, Information, Fiber Charts, and Recipes. This book will help you set a course to better health.

IBS-IBD Fiber Charts: Soluble & Insoluble Fiber Data for over 250 Items, Including Links to Internet Resources - helping you to monitor fiber intake, no matter where you are.

Disclaimer

The material provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace proper medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Always consult your physician and other appropriate health-care providers before taking any medications, natural remedies, or supplements; or before changing your diet. Discuss all plans, symptoms, and medical conditions with your doctor.

Any use of the ideas contained herein is at your own discretion, risk, and responsibility. The author assumes no liability for any of the information presented. There are no representations or warranties, either express or implied.