Traveling with Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis is a bladder disease that currently has no cure. When you first receive the diagnosis, it can seem like your bladder controls everything, from what you can eat to where you can go. Luckily, once your symptoms are controllable through diet and medication, you won't need to give up your dreams - not even the dream to travel the world. It will, however, take a bit more planning that pre-Interstitial Cystitis travel. Since being diagnosed with IC, I've spent a total of five months abroad. During that time, I've discovered some things that make travel with Interstitial Cystitis a lot easier.

When possible, take a plane or a train

Car rides, with their bumps and turns, are notoriously difficult on the bladder. Travel by air or rail is generally faster and smoother than driving. Interstitial Cystitis patients will also benefit from the on-board restrooms. Ironically, because of this, I've actually found travel over long distances to be easier - I can survive a ten-hour flight to London more easily than a drive between Houston and Dallas.

Stick to the IC diet on the road

The Interstitial Cystitis diet is both a blessing and a curse. It can relieve our symptoms, but it severely restricts our dining options. Avoiding acidic and spicy foods, which is hard enough at home, can produce even more anxiety when traveling. However, you should stick to the diet on your trip, or you're likely to spend an afternoon in your hotel room in a flare.

One of the simplest ways to ensure that you'll be able to eat is to bring your own food. Throw a jar of almond butter and some safe crackers into your pack before you leave - you won't want to waste precious time in Madrid searching for something suitable for lunch.

On the other hand, you don't want to travel to a new and interesting place without trying any local cuisine. Research your destination before you leave to find out IC-friendly local specialties. In Paris, try a crêpe with eggs or butter and sugar. Travel to Italy and experience spaghetti aglio olio - spaghetti with garlic oil. Visit the UK to enjoy (or endure) the sickly-sweet yet addictive taste of Scottish butter tablet.

Shopping at markets can often be cheap and safe for Interstitial Cystitis patients. In most countries, you can get bread, cheese that has not been aged (like feta), and a pear or some dates. This can be a satisfying meal on its own. My best memories of Paris involve eating a pear and a baguette in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Bring a dictionary

Interstitial Cystitis patient or not, no one wants to confine their travel to strictly English-speaking countries. You don't have to learn ten languages to travel with IC - just make sure you have a reference so that you can ask where the restroom is, or whether or not that white gelato is really vanilla flavored. Dictionaries can also help with decoding ingredients statements (although most food in the EU will have a multi-language label that includes English).

Bring plenty of medication - and Prelief!

Last but certainly not least, make sure you have enough medication to last you through your entire trip. Some of the medications used to treat IC (particularly Elmiron) can be difficult or impossible to obtain outside the US.

Also, make sure you've brought enough Prelief. Prelief is a dietary supplement that reduces the acid in food, and it is therefore quite valuable to the IC traveler. Bring it along, but in case you run out, small amounts of baking soda or other antacids may help.