By Robert Stein, M.D.

The world is a big place, full of all kinds of new people, places, and experiences. Having Crohn’s disease should not deter you from taking advantage of life’s most exciting adventures. When planning new trips abroad or within the states, follow these guidelines to make sure your trip is an enjoyable one.

• Locate a doctor. Even though you won’t be expecting to see a doctor during your trip, it can’t hurt to plan ahead in case you may need to. Ask your doctor for names and addresses of reputable doctors in the area where you are visiting.
• Manage your medication.
  1. If you’re taking medications, be sure to bring more than enough, since filling prescriptions (especially if you’re traveling abroad) may be difficult.
  2. Always carry your medication with you on the plane instead of packing it with your checked luggage.
  3. Keep your medication in its original container, so you have all the prescription information handy just in case. Use pillboxes to carry small amounts that you may need during the day.
  4. Let your pharmacist know if you are taking medication out of the country.
  5. Get copies of all prescriptions, including foreign brand names or generic names.

Avoiding Traveler’s Diarrhea

Diarrhea affects one-third of people traveling to a less developed country. To help steer clear of diarrhea, avoid:

• Tap water; instead, drink bottled mineral water
• Noncarbonated beverages, such as iced tea and fresh juices
• Ice and ice cream; raw vegetables and salads; raw or uncooked meat, fish or shellfish
• Uncooked dairy products, unless you’re sure they’ve been pasteurized and prepared under sterile conditions
• Food from vendors’ carts
• Prepared food such as potato salad and canapés
• Food that has been allowed to sit until it reaches room temperature

Watch Out: Danger Signals

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these danger signals:

• High fever and shaking chills could represent a bacterial inflammation that may require intravenous antibiotics.
• Profuse bloody diarrhea suggests marked ulceration of the intestines, caused by a bacterium parasite, or major flare-up.
• Severe abdominal pain or distention could indicate a complication, especially if accompanied by severe abdominal tenderness or nausea and vomiting.
• Dizziness on standing up or an episode of fainting may indicate low blood pressure. The cause could be malfunction of the adrenal gland, which may mean your steroid dose needs adjustment.
• Scanty, concentrated urine, could indicate dehydration.