Vacation Tips and Advice

This will depend mostly on the degree to which you ordinarily experience urgency. I don’t generally have any urgency unless I delay a bathroom trip substantially, but that’s because I’ve made sure my chronic pouchitis is under excellent control. That being said, I do take several precautions when I’ll be away from a bathroom. I take one or two Lomotil before getting on a boat (for example), and I certainly empty my pouch right before doing so.

Check for availability of portable toilets or other public restrooms on any hiking trails. Stash toilet paper in your knapsack and if needed, shit in the woods like bears do. Take some Imodium to slow bowels as needed. Enjoy your vacation.

Thank you all, most helpful!

I just came back from a 3 week vacation. I took a seat close to the bathrooms on the plane, and it was helpful. I proactively used the bathrooms before each plane flight, and when I expected to be away from one for a long time.

During the entire trip, I did not eat anything that was not served hot that had risk of contamination, for example salads, or fruit smoothies, cold served dishes, etc, except for cheese and yogurt, in order to avoid getting travelers' diarrhea. I had to eat a lot of meats and carbs unfortunately, but could sometimes find hot well-cooked vegetable dishes, soups etc. I did not get diarrhea.

I carried a few packaged snacks in my bag that would not bother the pouch, just in case. Still, I lost 2 pounds, which I am happy about, due to constant physical activity and restricted food options.

Thank you 😊

Oh, I ate breads too. I was mainly concerned about cold served fruit and vegetable meals/drinks.

This is probably late, but we just got back from a tour of Ireland.  For the most part, I didn’t have any restrictions.  However, you never found a banana at breakfast, so I would purchase them at a small convenience market for the next day.  I also brought packets of peanut butter, especially if the breakfast wasn’t good.  Fresh berries were impossible to find, but they would have a fruit salad and some melons and yogurt.  Lomotil helped a lot.  They also had pretty frequent stops where you had access to a toilet.  I found that red wine followed by Irish coffee was not a good idea.  Other than that, I was fine!

Please can you suggest the best hydration drink. I have tried Revive and Dioralyte sachets but thought I would ask any advice please.

iv not been well, Chest infection, UTI and I’m completely drained and need to try and keep on top of my hydration.

thank you so much.

Linzalisha.
j pouch since 1989

Liquid I.V. and Drip Drop are good for hydration. Liquid I.V. is available at Costco.

I put lemon or lime juice  in my water bottle.  It has helped me with hydration when water alone didn't seem to help as much. I know lemon has electrolyte qualities to it. I don't measure, but probably a tablespoon worth. (It doesn't negatively affect my pouch either, which is a bonus

Thank you so much for both replies. 💕

On the travel trips, I am sure it is too late, but I do what the others have suggested and I also chew pepto bismol tablets  several times a day because it seems to calm my intestines down, especially in gas production, which is what can make bathroom urgency an issue for me.

As for rehydration needs, I use something called Vitalyte when I go backpacking. It has elecrolytes but is not as strong tasting as gatorade or some of the other electrolyte formulas. During the work day (not traveling) believe it or not I just sip on hot water. I find it very soothing and it keeps me hydrated.