Life with IBD
Planning a trip when you have ulcerative colitis (UC) means thinking through details that most travelers never consider. Where are the restrooms at your layover airport? Can your biologic medication survive 14 hours without a fridge? Will your travel insurance actually cover a flare in another country? These questions are real, and answering them before you leave makes the difference between a trip you enjoy and one you spend managing anxiety. This guide walks through the preparation that matters, organized by when you need it: before you go, while you're in transit, and once you arrive.
Before You Leave: Medication, Insurance, and Your GI Team
The most important pre-trip task is a conversation with your gastroenterologist. Schedule an appointment at least four to six weeks before departure, especially if you're traveling internationally. Your doctor can provide a letter summarizing your diagnosis, current medications, and treatment plan. This letter serves double duty: it explains your medications to customs officials and gives any treating physician abroad the context they need if something goes wrong.
Medication logistics require the most careful planning. Pack enough of every prescription for your entire trip plus several extra days in case of delays. Keep everything in original packaging with pharmacy labels intact. If you take a biologic that requires refrigeration, such as adalimumab or golimumab, you'll need a medical-grade travel cooler that maintains temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Confirm that your accommodations have a refrigerator, and if you're staying at a hotel, call ahead to request a mini-fridge in your room. For flights, biologics should always go in your carry-on. Checked luggage cargo holds can freeze medications, which damages them just as much as heat does.
For international travel, research the medication import rules at your destination. Some countries restrict the amount of medication you can bring or require specific documentation. Your gastroenterologist's letter should list each medication by its generic name, since brand names differ across countries.
Travel insurance is another area that requires extra attention. Standard travel insurance policies typically exclude pre-existing conditions like UC, which means a flare-related hospital visit abroad could be entirely out of pocket. Specialist travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing conditions do exist, but they require an honest medical screening during the application process. You'll need to disclose your diagnosis, recent flare history, current medications, and any hospitalizations. Failing to declare UC can void your entire policy. The premiums are higher than standard coverage, but the alternative, paying for emergency care abroad without insurance, is far more expensive.
Getting There: Airports, Flights, and Road Trips
Airport security screening is a common source of anxiety for UC patients carrying medication, syringes, or ostomy supplies. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers a Notification Card that you can fill out and present to officers, explaining your medical condition and any supplies that may come up during screening. The card doesn't exempt you from screening, but it allows you to communicate your needs without a verbal explanation in a crowded security line. You can also call TSA Cares at (855) 787-2227 at least 72 hours before your flight to arrange assistance at the checkpoint.
Seat selection matters more than most people realize. Book an aisle seat as close to the lavatory as possible. Many airlines will accommodate medical seating requests if you call their accessibility line before your flight. For longer flights, contact the airline to ask about their policy on refrigerating medications onboard, and confirm whether you can dispose of syringes safely if you need to administer a biologic during the trip.
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation offers an "I Can't Wait" card that you can carry and present to flight attendants or staff at any establishment, explaining that you need urgent restroom access due to a medical condition. Having this card removes the burden of explaining yourself during a moment of urgency.
For road trips in the United States, the Foundation's We Can't Wait app maps over 50,000 publicly accessible restrooms and highlights businesses that are aware of and sympathetic to the needs of IBD patients. Before you depart, search your route and destination in the app and save locations to your favorites list so you have them available offline.
At Your Destination: Food, Routine, and Emergency Planning
Dietary uncertainty at a new destination is one of the most underestimated challenges. Unfamiliar cuisines, different food preparation practices, and the temptation to eat adventurously can all trigger symptoms. Research restaurant options at your destination before you arrive, focusing on places where you can order simple, well-cooked dishes. Pack portable, UC-friendly snacks for situations where safe food options are limited. Crackers, bananas, applesauce, and nut butter packets travel well and can bridge the gap when you can't find a suitable meal.
Routine disruption is the other major factor. Research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that sustained high perceived stress is associated with increased odds of clinical flare in UC patients in remission. Travel inherently disrupts sleep schedules, meal timing, and medication routines, all of which compound stress on the body. Maintaining your medication schedule is non-negotiable. If you're crossing time zones, work with your gastroenterologist before departure to create an adjusted dosing schedule that accounts for the shift. Set phone alarms as reminders, especially during the first few days when jet lag makes it easy to lose track.
Build rest into your itinerary. Overscheduling creates physical and mental stress that accumulates over the course of a trip. Planning one major activity per day with buffer time for rest, bathroom access, and meals gives you the flexibility to enjoy what you're doing without pushing through fatigue.
Packing an Emergency Kit
Every UC traveler should carry a small emergency kit in their day bag, separate from their main luggage. This kit should include extra underwear and a change of clothes in a sealed bag, wet wipes, a small supply of anti-diarrheal medication approved by your doctor, and any rescue medications for flare management. Having these items within reach reduces the cognitive load of worrying about worst-case scenarios, which in itself helps reduce anxiety.
Before you leave, establish an emergency plan with your GI team. Know how to reach your gastroenterologist or their on-call service from abroad. If you're traveling internationally, identify hospitals or clinics near your accommodations that have gastroenterology departments. Save these addresses and phone numbers in your phone so they're accessible without a data connection.
The Bigger Picture
UC doesn't have to keep you home. Thousands of patients with inflammatory bowel disease travel frequently and successfully. The difference between a stressful trip and an enjoyable one comes down to preparation: knowing your medication logistics, having the right insurance, planning for restroom access, and giving yourself permission to slow down when you need to. The goal is to travel on your own terms, with a plan that accounts for your condition rather than being defined by it.
Track your symptoms while traveling with Aidy to identify whether travel itself triggers changes in your disease activity. Many patients notice patterns tied to diet changes, time zones, or stress, and having that data helps you and your gastroenterologist make better decisions about future trips.