Getting Ready for Travel with MC

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am

Its been almost 4 months since being diagnosed with CC and Crohns and I can say its been an interesting roller coaster ride with more ups and downs than I expected. All in all though I am feeling pretty positive about events to date and am now even looking at some international travel to Australia in another 6 days. I can say last May when the possibility of this trip came up, I was quite nervous about even attempting a trip like this.

This will be my first international travel in just over 10 years and after reading some of the other members experiences I was getting a bit nervous, but in taking the advice and experiences of others on this board into account, I think I am quite ready and looking forward to this trip. Whats the right word to use here 'chuffed'

My plan is to bring several foods with me for the plane trips which lasts for 28 hours (total) going and 32 hours for the return trip, these include:

Bananas (GF/DF/SF/YF)
Hard boiled eggs
Rice Cakes with almond butter (GF/DF/SF/YF)
Cereal - Rice with oats & honey Whole Foods Inc (GF/DF/SF/YF)
Vanilla cookies (GF/DF/SF/YF)

I am not putting much faith in the airline GF meal but will see if there is anything worth picking at.

For drinks, water and apple juice will be the standards. I do have a doctors note outlining the need to carry these foods and an outline of this note can be found under the section:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=62

As far as any medications, besides the Entocort I am planning on taking the Questran at least once several hours before departure and will have some Ambien available to help get in sync with the local time.

Once in Oz I have one day of work and after that its time to relax and visit with some friends for about a weeks vacation.

Thanks to all on this site who have made dealing with this disease quite a bit easier. I feel pretty confident in saying that without the help that the members on this site provided, I doubt I would even be up to taking this trip.

Certainly any additional travel tips are welcomed.

Thanks Again!

--Joe

PS: I plan on updating this thread a few times over the next couple of weeks.

Tanya Lynn · Post by **Tanya Lynn** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:57 pm

Hey Joe,

I'm also planning a trip next week to the east coast, hopefully the temperature will be cooler than it's been the last few weeks... It's a trip that's been planned
before I had another flare up and I was looking so forward to getting to eat
Carolina BBQ, shrimp and grits, etc. Now, its not looking so good.

I've been on the Endocort for 16 days, and after day 13 my headaches went
away. Yeah!! But, I still have the muscle aches. They are waking me up at night
and I don't know what to do about the pain.... Tylenol doesn't do a thing. I don't
even know what medicines to take with me on my trip.

Sounds like your gonna have a much nicer trip than I am. I hope you have
an uneventful trip on the plane... You have a well thought out plan, the dr.s excuse, that's awesome...

I hope you have a great trip and all goes well.

Tanya

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:08 pm

Thanks for the reply Tanya. I'm glad the Entocort is working for you and the headaches are dissipating. It was simialr for me with the headaches, after a couple of weeks they stopped. As far as the muscle pains for me it took a strict GF/DF/SF diet to eliminate them.

As far as a medication for the pain, my doctor has prescribed tramadol which is a non-narcotic pain reliever that works quite well for aches and pains without knocking you out. I also take Questran which works well to slow the D down, I use this as a preventative now that the Entocort has controlled the D, it is also helpful during a flare-up. I plan on using this just before the flight.

Really most of the planning comes from reading the experiences of and talking to others on this site, I was initially a bit concerned on how I would tolerate this long of a trip, but thanks to all the tips I believe this will be a good trip.

A good place to reference some information on traveling with MC can be found at:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=62

Tanya I hope your trip goes well, be careful about the foods to help with the aches and pains.

Best wishes

--Joe

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:33 am

joe
before i forget

when you get to brisbane - you will notice that 'ekka' is happening

Ekka is qld slang for royal exhibition show (i have no idea how the shortening of ekka came about, it is a brisbane thing no other states use this word)

there will be quite a few cowboys around town, and fireworks of a night, the location of ekka is on the fringe of the city. the public holiday on the wednesday in the brisbane area is 'ekka' holiday.

harma · Post by **harma** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:36 am

good luck on your trip joe. Have a great time in Australia. I hope you will survive on GF,SY,DF, YF food package in the plane.

harma

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:19 pm

Harma based on the experience of others, I will probably at best pick at the airline GF meal. Overall I do not trust the food they serve.

I will be planning on carrying my own foods. Fortunately I can tolerate bananas. I would hate to start my trip with a flare.

--Joe

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:53 pm

Good luck, Joe. Your in-flight foods look lean, but hopefully they will keep you from starving.

Gloria

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:21 pm

Gabes thanks for the note on the Ekka event. In looking that up it seems like a lot of fun, I should be somewhat human by next Wednesday (arriving on Tuesday) and hopefully can get over to the fairgrounds. From what I have read it seems similar to a state fair, albeit a large one. Thanks again

Gloria thanks for the note. The foods I am carrying are really for snacks only. I think can hold-off on a good meal until I arrive. Fortunately I do tolerate the bananas quite well and a couple of those fill me up pretty good.

This should be a interesting trip.

--Joe

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:38 pm

Joe

I wish you the very best on your upcoming trip. I love those adventures and have done my very best to not let MC get in the way of mine.

I have found that I do best never to eat a snack or meal that is only carbs but include it least some protein. Your list of foods is great but in my experience I have to have some kind of protein in order that my energy does not flag. I get a rush of energy from all the carbs but it flags quickly if I don't have at least some small amount of protein and I feel so much better because of it .

Perhaps a small can of safe tuna or chicken , a hard boiled egg or dried sausage or nut butter if you can tolerate it might be a great addition and something easy to travel with. Twenty eight to thirty two hours without protien would do me in. Don’t know if you have time to try to find something safe but it is something that allows me to go off on adventures and still feel well.

Well....it is just an idea that has alowed me to ramble about at times with no worries.

Have a great trip

Love

Matthew

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:54 pm

Hi Joe:

Yes, I too was going to suggest that you bring some protein. I know that keeping these kinds of food cold is a concern, but I often travel with double smoked sausage of some kind (if you can find a good gluten free/DF, etc one.) The extra smoking helps keep it from going bad. When we travel in the bush with our horses (and no refrigeration) we use double smoked bacon as well as the sausage or "koulbasa". Keeps days longer. The protein itself can stand a few hours unrefrigerated, just avoid things like mayo. Maybe you could even bring a small container of your meat/vegie cook up and ask them to heat it for you on the plane, for a meal 6 or so hours into your trip.

Wishing you the absolute best on your journey and look forward to reading posts on how the trip is going.
regards,
Linda

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:10 am

Linda
airlines will not heat or keep food for you. they will only heat baby bottles
on my way to europe i had a vacuum pack of rice with chicken, i added hot water to it to warm it up, it didnt work so well.

most of the gluten free meals provided on the plane had plain chicken or plain fish (in business class) the rest of the meal was salad, yoghurt and fruit, so there is a chance of getting some protein. In the economy sectors they provided salad and rice cakes.
additionally when the meals come there is no ingredient label telling you what is in it, so it maybe gluten free but you dont know what else might be in it (preservatives, soy etc)

if i travel again i will take rice milk with vege protein added to it.

using the high carb snacks is not the ideal but it is kinda necessary, after transiting Hong Kong, Paris, and Singapore airports in between my flights, there is nothing within the airports that is suitable if you have multiple intolerances (ie if you are avoiding dairy /soy / yeast) there is only salad and sushi all prepackaged and not prepared in a gluten free environment
i even struggled to find outlets that sold 'clear juice' ie apple with no additives.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:30 am

Hi Linda,

Good luck on your trip and I think I would also carry some protein for myself. As Gabes said, the airlines will not heat up anything for you but a baby bottle. Not a bad idea - take one with rice milk and give it a go.

Hope you have a great time and that is what I would term a really long transit trip. Have never had good luck with their GF dinners and when I was vegan it was GF & Vegan and they never got it right.

Love and safe trip to you.

Maggie

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:30 pm

Joe-----have a great trip to aussisland :mate:

and do enjoy every day of your visit--
One of our family------Liz---resides there also-----we are both wishing we could meet each other----planes sorta scare me and I know if I ever get there it would be *first class* seating-----

Lou and I had the enjoyment of first class when my brother passed away--we were in AZ.-vacationing and the airlines were very kind in sitting us in first class with no additional fees!!

Have U family/friends there? I might have missed a post as to the trip to Aussieland-

JOE----a favor----if its not too much trouble--and no going outta your way---could U pick me up some postcards----my daughter Debbie's friend collects cards from all over--
And I can reimburse U the cost too--

Well peering over my shoulder is Lou(hubby) he does that sometimes and right now is saying!! Barbara how could U ask such a favor--????????
I said---this is my family and we can ask---asking doesnt hurt and if Joe is busy--no harm done~~~~

:noworries:

Barbara
-

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:39 pm

barbara
i have some spare postcards that i got when i was in france, i will pass them onto Joe whilst he is here

I was also going to give Joe some money for the flower fund for him to deposit once he gets home

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:41 pm

Barbara, tell Lou absolutely no problem with me picking them up. It would be my pleasure. PM your address and I will send them to you. Another question do you want them blank or with my chicken scratch writing on them LOL I guessing blank. I will send them to you when I return on the 19th. Are there any favorite types or picture content, let me know I don't mind looking around some.

Again I don't mind a bit

--Joe