Going on a trip... what can help me not flare?

[jenjen05]

I'm flying out of Tampa on 04/04 and returning 04/06. I'm going to Houston for Wrestlemania 25 with my boyfriend (this will be our third one in a row).

Is there anything I should bring or anything I should do?

Definitely:
-Taking Prelief
-Wearing loose clothes on plane
-Bringing Xanax and Vicodin for emergencies.


And on a side note... I'm a theme park junkie and haven't been since my birthday weekend (Jan 25 & 26). I had pain after Disney day but not after Universal Studios day. I have an annual pass to Universal since I live only an hour and a half away, and I wanna go play! lol Do you all find that theme park rides aggravate you?

And I read somewhere around here chlorine pools aggravate IC? Doesn't this disease know I live down the road from the Adventure Island water park, my favorite place to spend the summer??? Ugh. What can I do to still go in chlorine without flaring? And what about the beach? Just went there yesterday but didn't go in the water in fear since I am on day four of no IC symptoms! Yay! Can I do the Gulf of Mexico or what?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses, they are much appreciated!

[dyno]

Drink bottled spring water. I also find that the stick on heat pads help when I travel. I can do ok on rides, if I wouldn't get dizzy!:dizzy:

As far as swimming, if you go, take off your suit right away and shower to help wash off the chlorine. We all react differently and I am afraid you will just have to try things to see how you react.

It sounds like you are going to have fun! Enjoy yourself, there is life with IC, you just adapt a little where you have to.:)

[L. Thomas]

You may be surprised at the things you will be able to do. Personally I don't have problems with chlorine, swimming, or ocean water. At first some people keep a log of activities, food, # times to the bathroom so they can identify patterns that may cause flares.

I am not food senstive and have no problems with decaf coffee and sodas. I do have a horrible time during allergy season...Most of the time I need about 2 instills a week but during allergy season I need one almost everyday.

Have a great time on your vacation.
Louann

[kadi]

Take IC friendly snacks for the plane trips & to hold you if you get stuck somewhere waiting for flights. I always take pear bars (for sale in the ICN shop), pringles, and a homemade sandwich or two. You can get steamed milk in most airports, which can stretch a meal further.

If you take thermacare or bodiheat heating patches, do NOT, I repeat do NOT try to wear them through airport security! I did and we had a fun dance in the Paris airport with 10 minutes to the next flight & my jet-lagged brain trying to figure out why the metal detector was going off over my stomach. I ended up unzipping my pants & ripping the patch off in front of security, God & everyone in the airport. Not my finest moment.

If you take instillation meds & syringes through airport security, make sure your medicine bottles are clearly prescription labelled & have a letter of medical necessity from your doctor listing everything in your kit, including the KY lubricant for the catheters. A male security agent raised an eyebrow at that & a female agent asked why I had it. I pointed it out in the medical necessity letter & said that catheters need lubricant to be inserted into the bladder. I think the male security guard went a little pale... Plan extra time for just such explanations if you carry instillation meds.

Have a great trip! It sounds like you will have a wonderful time!

[jenjen05]

Just an update. Had a great trip but both airports didn't have ANYTHING IC friendly in them. Ended up drinking white milk in Houston with vitamins added and had a small flare. Bah. Houston itself was great, bought a 6 pack of Evian when I got to the hotel from the nearby convenience store.

Had a bit of a breakdown when it came to Wrestlemania though... there was all that tasty arena food.... and beer.... I ended up taking three Prelief and downing a salted pretzel and half a Corona. No flare, but quite a booze buzz since I hadn't had any in 6 months. Stopped me from worrying about flaring. Never did flare. Yay?!? I'll still never try it again though. Thanks for the hints, I definitely used them!

[SharonA]

I'm glad you had a good time and did not flare. :):):)