Camping for Ulcerative Colitis Sufferers: How to Do It

Any trip away from home poses challenges for those who have ulcerative colitis. Camping is an activity that has some very unique challenges, especially if you are camping in a tent instead of a cabin or recreational vehicle.

Preparation for a camping trip when you have ulcerative colitis starts well in advance of the trip. The first thing that has to done is changing your diet. About a week before the trip, start eating a bland diet like you would eat if you were in the midst of an ulcerative colitis flare up. By doing this, you will lessen the chance of having a flare up during the trip.

There are a few items that I consider essential when I am taking a camping trip. A portable toilet, tarps, rope, a lot of toilet paper, heavy duty black trash bags, a trash can with a lid, adult incontinence pads, a bucket to do laundry in, feminine spray or spray deodorant, soap and baby wipes. All of these items help to lessen the impact of an ulcerative colitis flare up during a camping trip.

On the day when we are setting up camp, I wear comfortable clothing with an adult incontinence pad so that if I have an accident before the bathroom is set up, it is easier to clean. I always look for a campsite that is close to water and that has some privacy.

The first thing that I do when I get to the camp site is locate a place to put up a bathroom. I use the rope and tarps to enclose a space for the portable toilet. I line the portable toilet with a trash bag. I make sure that there is enough room for the trash can within the tarp's confines. The trash bag in the toilet allows me to dispose of any waste by simply tying the trash bag and throwing it in the trash can.

I keep a plastic box next to the portable toilet. I keep the toilet paper, feminine or deodorant spray and baby wipes in the box. This makes it easy for me to clean up any messes that may happen. The spray helps to make me feel fresh after using the bathroom since there is no tub or shower in the woods.

Make sure that you take along friendly foods for your trip. The others may be able to eat certain foods that will trigger a flare up for you. While it is usually alright to have a small taste of some foods, it is a good idea to stick mostly to the safe and friendly foods.

I will usually avoid going on a camping trip if I am in the midst of a flare up or if I fell like one is imminent. The tips in this article are the things that I do to make me feel comfortable during a camping trip.

I try not to let my ulcerative colitis stop me from doing things. I hope that this information helps other ulcerative colitis sufferers to be able to enjoy camping as much as I enjoy it.