Incorporating Ulcerative Colitis in Your Travel Plans

Traveling with Ulcerative Colitis can surely be a stressful experience, especially as I consider the possibility of not having access to a toilet. In addition, not any toilet will do (except for emergency situations); I want to make sure that I'll have a restroom with adequate toilet paper, running water, etc. to accommodate my needs. After all, with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease, such worries that leave others untouched can have me plagued for days, even weeks, before I set off to travel.

When I used to travel by train in Japan, I would practically fall over sick in a crowded train from the pressure of having others pushed up against me (this is during rush hour, mind you) and the anxiety that came from entertaining the thought of not being able to make it to the bathroom in time. The train would come to a slow stop, the people would pile out, and I would have to push and shove, all while my stomach was knotted in agony. Once I got to the bathroom, I would find it in disarray and in utter squalor, with fecal matter, urine and toilet paper scattering the ground. Generally, bathrooms at train stations (in both Japan and the United States) have proven to be unpleasant experiences. Generally, I avoid train travel for this particular reason.

Airplanes aren't so bad, except when I'm stuck in a window seat. I'd have to ask the stranger next to me if he or she could get up so I could squeeze out of the economy seats. Sometimes, the person would be asleep, so I would delay getting out of my seat just to avoid any inconvenience. However, I would invariably suffer. Airplane bathrooms, once I get to them, are one of the better available restrooms when traveling. They are usually clean and soundproof, meaning the explosive diarrhea could go unheard. However, one time, I had an attack after mealtime, which is when the bathrooms are inevitably occupied for the next hour or so. I stood in line, in a panic, but with some deep-breathing and visualization practices, I could calm myself. Soon enough, the line shortened, and I was next to go.