Tips for traveling with intestinal problems. If you’ve ever traveled long distances with IBD, you know that it’s certainly no walk in the park! For me personally, eating on the go is the most stressful and frustrating part of traveling, as it can be difficult to find options that won’t trigger an outbreak of illness. And you know that added stress isn’t good for our symptoms either!
Jini has written about this topic before, but I recently went on a road trip and decided to document all aspects of it – the preparation, the trip, and the preventive measures I took.
Today I want to share with you all the tips I’ve learned…
Preparation – What to bring with you
One of the biggest lessons I took away from my trip is to do what makes you feel good. If you feel like you need to bring five pillows to sleep to feel safe, then do so – and don’t be ashamed of it!
Many of us feel embarrassed when we take too much with us, and lugging around a lot of stuff isn’t exactly fun. Because of our inflammatory bowel disease (or any chronic illness in general), we also have to bring things with us that most others don’t, and sometimes feel ashamed of what others think of you.
Here’s what I learned from this ruling:
Whatever your body wants or needs, respect it.
Because when a body feels safe, that usually means fewer negative symptoms. This is just ONE of the biggest benefits of bringing everything you really need with you on your trip, even if it seems like a lot. The “just in case” points are important!
It is also very important to travel with people who make you feel safe. Although I had a different sleep routine during my trip and ate out a few times (not my normal), I had done so in every sense of the word NO stomach problems.
I also noticed the difference in how I felt with my travel companions. They made me feel comfortable where others had made me fearful – and that was nightmare travel! The people who understand when you need to go to the bathroom every 15 minutes are the people who truly love, understand and support you.
Make sure you surround yourself with people you feel comfortable around. This too prepares your mind, body and gut for the best situation. The gut is the second brain, so safety is a HUGE part of healing! Jini has addressed this many times, most clearly in this presentation and in this video with Tami Hay.
Set yourself up with all the comforts you need so you can feel safe, which in turn will allow your bowels to relax and rest. One thing I personally like to bring is a salt lamp as it purifies the air and has a very calming, warm glow. The device I have with me is small and easy to connect, allowing me to create a warm and cozy environment in seconds.
Gut-friendly food choices
I took a lot of time preparing food before my trip, but there were a few meals that I wanted to eat out too. It can be difficult to find restaurant foods that are good for your stomach. So I’m sharing with you what I’ve found to be extremely helpful when it comes to eating outside of meals.
How I tackled outdoor dining
#1.) I brought my Natren Healthy Trinity capsules with me for convenience (and because I can’t live without them!). Healthy Trinity capsules are not powdered and therefore cannot be mixed in water like the others. They contain 3 strains individually encapsulated in an oil matrix formulation. Therefore, they must be taken with food to help break down the capsule and distribute the good bacteria. I took my food after the first two bites – shortly after I had eaten, but early enough to be able to start work as quickly as possible in case the food was contaminated in any way.
#2.) I then took two TriEnza capsules in the middle of my meal. If you’re familiar with it, you know that the label on the bottle says to take it at the beginning of the meal, but since I was taking Healthy Trinity, I decided to spread it out a bit – that way the probiotics helped with any bacterial issues surrounding the food, and the enzymes helped break down the food. I had never done this before but I have to say it worked wonders for me!
Pack an ice chest
The nice thing about a road trip is that you can pack a cooler full of dry ice. Then, when you get to your destination, you can put everything in the fridge! Dry ice doesn’t leak like regular ice, so it won’t get on your food.
This is a list of gut-friendly foods that I brought with me and used as a basis for preparing my meals:
- Plus absorb
- Organic honey (or Manuka honey)
- Bananas
- Almond butter (if tolerated) for GF bread/toast (I like to use it for Jini’s banana bread)
- Frozen fruits/vegetables for smoothies, such as blueberries, mangoes, ripe bananas or avocados
- Distilled water for netipot (if used)
- Previously made and frozen bone broth
- Oats, organic white jasmine rice (against diarrhea)
- Mineral water or Travel Berkey for the water for the shakes
- LTYG blender bottle or blender bottle of your choice
- Lemons that help with constipation
- Avocados for smoothies and toast
- Udos oil or linseed oil for shakes or salad dressing
- Spray water and white vinegar into the bottle to spray all of your fruits and vegetables before eating
I also packed some distilled water for my netipot, aloe vera for cramps, pain or to sip in case my stomach feels unwell, and some cucumber slices with a homemade salad dressing. These are great, quick meals that you can make ahead of time in small bags or Tupperware containers and then just pop in the cooler. And if you don’t like cucumber, you can substitute any well-tolerated vegetable such as sautéed pumpkin or properly peeled celery.
Here is my short and sweet dressing recipe:
- Two avocados
- 1-2 lemons (depending on what you like/can tolerate)
- 2 cups organic olive oil or avocado oil
- Pinch of salt (or more to taste)
Add all ingredients to your blender and blend! The avocado makes it really thick, so add more oil or lemon juice as needed.
During my trip, I also drank a lot of whole food smoothies and added Absorb Plus to them for an extra vitamin and mineral boost. I found it useful to put all the smoothie ingredients in a bag, one for each day.
Also, if you find a bag of frozen, sliced, organic potatoes/yams, you can bake them in advance, season them, and then have them as easy-to-eat chips on the go! You can simply warm them up in a pan with olive oil before you head out. I’ve found that these stay fresh for quite a while!
Jini’s Banana Muffins are another great make-and-go option. I like to eat mine with some nut butter and honey. And if you have a sweet tooth like me, this Chocolate Chaga Slices recipe is AWESOME.
Supplements
Everyone has unique nutritional supplement needs, so be sure to pack what you think you need! Below is a list of supplements that I have used regularly and that have helped me tremendously.
Additional packing list:
Even if you don’t bleed or have hemorrhoids, even sitting for long periods of time can harm the rectum. This is where comfrey can be really calming! I like to use the water wipes after a bowel movement because they only contain two ingredients – 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract. I would then use the comfrey ointment for additional irritation by applying it with water after wiping.
Jini’s Castor Oil Pack with Heating Pad is also AWESOME for stomach pain. I also pack bed companions for any sore body parts to combat pain that comes from not sleeping in your own bed or for awkward sitting positions like in a car/plane for long periods of time. You simply heat it and apply it to the area!
I also use my mucous membrane healing tea to promote healing at night and to help me sleep better, as I find it very beneficial.
Additional articles I found helpful
Besides the above additions, here are some other things I found helpful during the trip:
- This seat cushion and/or bolster was also very helpful when sitting while traveling when your butt or rectum got sore while sitting!
- For road trips, camping, etc. the Travel Berkey is really cool for water purification on the go! It is one of the best water filtration systems Jini and I have ever seen.
- Portable charger so you can view and perform Jini’s meditations while traveling. This can be used with a cell phone and/or laptop!
- In case of accidents, it is always good to have enough underwear with you. If your destination is in a hot place, a good tip is to buy breathable or sweat-proof underwear. This will prevent irritation or heat rashes caused by excessive sweating. Jini recommends making sure that the substances are natural, as the xenoestrogens from synthetic substances should not get into the skin. Cotton is a material that Jini recommends.
- BPA free 1 gallon water jug. This one also has a straw! What I like about it is that you can fill it up with clean water before your ride and use it for your smoothies on the go.
- This sunscreen from Doctor Mercola is great and toxin-free! My mother has a sunscreen allergy and can tolerate it. So this is a great option for sensitive people!
- The Young Living insect repellent oil that I am OBSESSED with. Because of the essential oils in it, not only does it smell amazing, it really helps repel insects – even ticks! I applied this oil to all exposed feet, ankles, legs and arms during my travels to repel any insects as I was outdoors a lot.
If you decide to travel, I hope these recommendations can help make traveling easier for you! There is no feeling in the world like the freedom to see new places and sights without the pain of IBD.
What are your tips and tricks for traveling with IBD? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Until next time, have fun along the way… and always listen to your gut! 🙂
Linsy is Jini’s assistant. From a highly sensitive/reactive case of ulcerative colitis to a fully medical and surgical treatment using all-natural methods, Linsy truly understands first-hand the interplay of mind/body/spirit on the healing journey.
