Why Am I So Constipated All the Time?
About 4 million Americans experience constipation on a regular basis, and what drives this uncomfortable backup can vary greatly. Here, we look at some leading suspects when it comes to constipation.
5 Tips for Managing IBS Symptoms When You Travel This Summer
Summer is a great time to get out of the city and go traveling, but you feel you need to stick closer to home thanks to your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Between 5% and 10% of the world’s population has IBS, and many still hit the road with confidence thanks to some great travel tips.
If you have IBS, gastroenterologist Dr. Sam Weissman and our team can certainly do our part to ensure that you have the resources you need to manage your IBS. Outside of having this great team in your corner, there are a few tips that will serve you well when you're away from home.
1. Be prepared
Before you go, come see us so we can help you prepare for your trip. For example, we might have you take some probiotics before you travel. We can also help you pull together a good list of supplies, such as a stool softener or an anti-diarrheal medication.
2. Be less adventurous, culinarily-wise
We know that one of the joys of travel is to try the local food, but people with IBS should steer clear of introducing new foods to their systems. Just because you’re on vacation, it doesn’t mean that your IBS is, and symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea can quickly ruin your day.
So, instead of trying that food you can’t pronounce, stick to ones you recognize and that you know won’t distress your gastrointestinal tract.
3. Pack your own snacks
If you can, it’s always a great idea to pack your own snacks, which works exceptionally well if you’re traveling by car. This way you have the foods on hand that you know you can tolerate, preventing the need for trying to find something you can eat at roadside convenience stores that don’t offer much variety.
4. Have bathroom access for peace of mind
If you’re traveling by plane, we suggest you book an aisle seat so that you have easy access to the bathrooms.
Outside of planes, you want to access facilities when you need them, so we suggest:
- Learning the words for bathroom if you’re traveling to other countries
- Downloading toilet locator apps, such as Sit Or Squat®
- Mapping out rest stops before you get on the road
Assuring you have access to facilities helps to relieve the stress of travel in a big way.
5. De-stress as much as possible
Traveling can be stressful, which is very bad for IBS flare-ups. Whatever techniques you use to reduce stress-related IBS, we urge you to use them even more when you travel. Meditation, listening to music or an audiobook, deep breathing — these are all helpful techniques for keeping your mind pleasantly occupied and reducing stress hormones in your body.
With a little advance planning, there’s no reason why you can’t travel with IBS. If you’d like to learn more or you have some concerns we haven’t addressed, please call our Brighton Beach area office in Brooklyn, New York, at 609-793-9375 or request a consultation through this website.
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