The Caribbean with Crohns

[stevie28]

Hello, im finishing grade 12 this year, and my school's grad trip is too Punta Cana for six nights. My parents are worried now that i have crohns disease (diagnosed last may) i may be more prone too getting sick in the caribbean/it might cause a flare. So i'm wondering, if travelling too the caribbean, are you more potent too getting sick if you have crohns, and if you do, would a stomach flu or something you catch down there have any any correlation too crohns in the way that it may trigger a flare? Are there any precautions also that i can look into as well? At the moment i have a non agressive form of crohns, my medication includes tolerex 5 nights a week and i have not had a flare since my diagnosis.

 

[Nyx]

I never had a problem down there, but I've always stayed at a 4 star resort, where the food was really good quality. I also brought all my meds with me as well as Pepto Bismol (my choice for stomach upsets) just in case. For the most part, resorts offer foods that you're already used to, and if you're worried, don't eat the weird local cuisine! If you're really, really worried you can always get travellers insurance so that you can visit the hospital if you need to. I've never caught so much as a cold when I've vacationed, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. Just make sure you drink bottled water, and watch your diet.

I hope you get to go and have a good time!!! Try not to worry....easier said than done I'm afraid...

 

[Rebecca85]

I went to the Dominican republic a few months after diagnosis. I made sure I had travel insurance (and paid extra so that my Crohn's was covered). The only precautions I took was being very careful about what I ate (checking meat was cooked thoroughly, that set of thing). I did take half a pharmacy with me just in case, but ended up not needing any of it

Oh, and if you do get a stomach bug, it won't necessarily start a flare. I caught something off the kids at school and had horrendous diarrhoea for two days. It took me a little longer than usual to get back to 100% (about a week) but that's all.

 

[PsychoJane]

Here is a link from a study that I read at the beginning of the year:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/ulcerative-colitis/0127/tropical-trip-ok-for-most-with-crohns-colitis.aspx

"Researchers in Israel concluded that patients with inflammatory bowel disease who have not had symptoms for at least three months actually should be encouraged to travel. They noted, however, that compared with people who don't have the condition, inflammatory bowel disease patients have a greater risk for illness when visiting industrialized countries.

"Inflammatory bowel disease patients are often advised to avoid travel, especially to the developing world. However, we found that the absolute risk of illness is small and most episodes were mild,"

Among those with the chronic condition, illnesses occurred in almost 14 percent of the trips to industrialized countries, compared to a little over 3 percent among those without the disease.

During trips to developing or tropical locations, however, the rate of infection was similar in both groups. Illnesses occurred in 17 percent of the trips among the people with inflammatory bowel disease, compared with 21 percent among those who didn't have the condition. The researchers said people with the condition are at no higher risk for intestinal infections, such as traveler's diarrhea, when visiting developing nations than the general population.

Those are the main lines. If you go to a travel clinic to get shots or prescription, it is likely they will prescribe you Cipro in case you get something. You may want to discuss that with the practician and determine is there is anything you could do for better precaution. The first time I went in a resort, I caught a bug but it did not resolve in anything harmful... only the flight back was terrible lol. Otherwise... last time I went I was taking both cipro and flagyl. My boyfriend had it hard a bit, but I did not have the smallest issue. I also traveled for months in a row in tropical location and never had the disease triggered by it so I would not worry too much. It is scarier the first time, I was quite worried it could have been an issue but just be cautious when you are out there, if you want my opinion, the only worry you should have is regarding the mosquitoes bites during day time. Wear repellent even if it stinks and is annoying.
I hope this helps you, and remember, you have one life to live. Don't restrain you from living when you are not flaring (flares will be there to make you regret things you did not do while you were feeling good.)
I hope this helps you
~J~

 

[Rebecca85]

You can buy antibiotics over the counter there. Heck, not even over the counter, they were right there on the shelf next to the sun lotion! Crazy huh?

Oh yes, be prepared for the flight back. The pressure change always messes my bowels up (only back, never there for some reason).

And while we were there my boyfriend got ill, butI didn't even though we ate at the same time from the same grill (undercooked burger was to blame, guess I was more thorough in checking).