Is a Weekend Getaway Possible with Ulcerative Colitis?

My husband and I love to go on weekend getaways. So far, my ulcerative colitis has not prevented us from going on those wonderful trips. I simply make sure that I am well prepared for a flare up just in case one happens during our getaway weekend.

If I am having an ulcerative colitis flare up or if I feel that one is imminent, we will make plans to go to a familiar location. This is fairly important because if I know where the bathrooms are located in the places we visit, I will be less likely to have an embarrassing accident because of my ulcerative colitis.

We will go to places that fairly close to our house if I am having a flare up. I can usually stand a couple of hours in the car as long as I eat the foods that I am certain will not cause a flare up for about a week before our weekend getaway.

My husband and I make sure that we do not over schedule our weekend getaway. I have found that if our trip is relaxing, I am less likely to have to make an emergency trip to the bathroom. In my case, it seems like stress causes my ulcerative colitis to flare up.

If we go to a new store or restaurant, I try to find out where the bathroom is as soon as possible. It seems like every time I do not find out where the bathroom is, I get an urgent need to find one fast. Most of the time, it seems like no one is around to guide me to the bathroom.

In the case of a new restaurant, I will usually request a menu before we are seated. I can read over the menu and see if there is anything on it that I can have without fearing a flare up. Sometimes, I have not found anything on the menu but we ate at the restaurant anyway once I was assured that they could accommodate my unusual nutritional needs.

Because of my ulcerative colitis, I usually will not go on any organized tours or trips. I have found that these organized tours usually do not have very much leeway for emergency stops or trips to the bathroom.

No matter the case, it is best not to let your ulcerative colitis rule your life. Just try to figure out things that work for you to make you more comfortable on a weekend getaway.