Travelling

[Kuwabara]

Hey guys, I'm 70% sure that I'm going to book a holiday to Thailand for mid Jan untill Mid-Febraury with a friend. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips regarding their IBD and travelling, or just travelling in general?

Basically since I've been on remicade, I feel pretty much symptomless and kinda normal. I have my third infusion on the 12th of Jan so my next one wouldnt be till March anyway.I only really get mild tenderness in my abdomen now and then, apart from that I feel pretty good. The wonders of remicade I guess.Obviously I have to get all my jabs etc. Thinking about it that might be more complicated than normal given my repressed immune system.

The only meds I'm taking are pentasa and lansoprazorole(gastro resistant tablet
thingies).

Anyway,thoughts,suggestions,opinions welcome. Thanks

[shazamataz]

Oooh, how exciting james! Glad you are feeling well My main concern would be with the major change in diet while you are away. You'd need to be careful with food.
But if you are feeling good and want a holiday, go for it and make the most of having no symptoms!
There may be some issues with travel insurance with the Crohn's, I'd hate you to go without it and need medical care!

[uab grad student]

Have fun! I would suggest being very careful about what you eat and ask your doc if they could write you a prescription for prophylactic antibiotics just in case. Many docs will give you some antibiotics if you know you are travelling somewhere like Thailand.

[Peaches]

Go...for...it!! I can tell you - TRAVEL while you feel well because you just never know how long that it will last! So - I would get a vaccine schedule from your doctor to make sure you don't need to get the shots more than once with the suppression. As well as getting the prphylactic antibiotics (good call UAB!) - I might see if the doc would spot you a bit of pred JUST in case you need it while you are gone. I mean, I guess you could see a doc over there - but I'm like a girl scout - I go all out and am prepared for whatever when I travel. I pack TUMS, Vicodin, Tylenol and Cipro when I travel state side. Have a *great* time and please - take some pictures for us - I'd love to see them!

[imisspopcorn]

Enjoy James.....Definitely consult your doctor about what vaccines etc... you may need. Have fun.

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Ooh that sounds so much fun, yes I agree with everyone else. Go for it while you can. Maybe just talk to your doctor about your worries, maybe your GP. Let us know what you decide and if u go make sure u tell us all about it!
x x x x

[Kuwabara]

Cheers guys,I'll see my doc next week.

To top this going away off, my football team LEEDS UNITED has just beaten the English Champions Manchester United in the FA Cup despite being away from home and being two leagues below. Its a proud day for my people! Yorkshire!Yorkshire!

[fenway1971]

Go Yorkshire!

Good luck with the trip. I travel quite a bit. Just don't get too adventurous with the food and you'll be fine. Stick to bottled water!

[Kuwabara]

Thanks Fenners - I wish I could put our victory into some kind of American context.

You would probably value the Manchester United players who played today at somewhere around 150-200 million pounds. Not one of the 11 Leeds United players cost over 1 million.If you know how about the English Civil War you'd know about the intense rivalry between Manchester/Lancashire and Leeds/Yorkshire Basically David beat Goliath today!

Fenway how did you find the vaccines etc? If you don't mind me asking are you on immunosupressants? Did you have any problems taking medications into certain countries?

[Pirate]

It would be like the the Seattle Mariners beating the New York Yankees in the World Series.

[Mazen]

Check with your doctor regarding vaccinations especially that you are on Remicade

"Do not get “live” virus vaccines while you are taking Remicade®. Live virus vaccines include measles, mumps, German measles, polio, and chicken pox."

http://pfrc.med.nyu.edu/handouts/pdf...c08-000036.pdf

[Kuwabara]

Thanks for the heads up Mazen. I'm booked in to see the doc on Fri.

The Hep B vaccine is the one I'm annoyed about because it takes 3 shots over 6 weeks. That said some people do travel without it. But given our condition I want to be fully armed. although i refuse to pay £150 for a rabies jab. I just going to refrain from stroking anything that's furry.

[crazycanuck]

Good luck with the trip. I suggest on the plan packing extra underwear and pants just incase. I find I feel better when I have a little extra piece of mind. I'd also stick to bottled water in thailand as well. I have friends who visit Thailand every year and love it so I hope you have a great time there.

p.s. Pirate thats like anybody except Boston beating the yankees in the world series HAHA! god I hate the yankees.

[imisspopcorn]

Originally Posted by Kuwabara

Thanks for the heads up Mazen. I'm booked in to see the doc on Fri.

The Hep B vaccine is the one I'm annoyed about because it takes 3 shots over 6 weeks. That said some people do travel without it. But given our condition I want to be fully armed. although i refuse to pay £150 for a rabies jab. I just going to refrain from stroking anything that's furry.

How fury are bats??? Sorry James....Couldn't resist...I wouldn't get the rabies thing either....Most of the above vacines you had when you were a kid...I'm thinking maybe things like HepA etc..

[fenway1971]

Originally Posted by Kuwabara

Thanks Fenners - I wish I could put our victory into some kind of American context.

You would probably value the Manchester United players who played today at somewhere around 150-200 million pounds. Not one of the 11 Leeds United players cost over 1 million.If you know how about the English Civil War you'd know about the intense rivalry between Manchester/Lancashire and Leeds/Yorkshire Basically David beat Goliath today!

Fenway how did you find the vaccines etc? If you don't mind me asking are you on immunosupressants? Did you have any problems taking medications into certain countries?

It's like the Red Sox winning the World Series in 2004 after an 86 year drought. A buddy of mine is a huge football fan (Manchester United no less) and was sulking for days.

I got vaccinated through my primary care doctor. Last time I took vaccines I wasn't on immunosuppressants.

Never had issues traveling with meds.

[Kuwabara]

Yeah I think I've had most of the vaccines previously, my mum can't remember what I've had, and if she can't remember I definetley can't- doctors tomorrow will have all the info.

Thanks for all the support guys.

Re - The Sports Teams - I offer you all honourary Leeds United fan status if you haven't already got a team! Espeically you Fenway- purley to wind up your Man U supporting friend!

When it comes to American/Canadian sports my allegiences are just for stupid/weird reasons

Hockey - Vancouver Canucks -my aunty lives in Vancouver and on all the old school NHL games I enjoyed passing between the Sedin brothers simply to hear 'Sedin...to...Sedin...'
American Football - Denver Broncos =South Park
Baseball - Baltimore Oreioles = The Wire
MLS - D.C United - purely because they play at the RFK stadium = HERO

I need a basketball team - On NBA 96 I was always The Bulls,Orlando Magic or Miami Heat but could be swayed away from any of those.

Also,what can you guys tell me about Conneticut? Apart from it being very affluent and the home of Vince McMahon? I've developed a kind of 'Lost in translation' relationship with an American Girl I met through a friend a couple of weeks ago.

[CrohnsHobo]

I have always been partial to Arsenal, mostly due to Thierry Henry. But I enjoy watching any Football when I can manage to stay up that late/early or see a replay and not peek the score before hand.

Excited for the World Cup.

[fenway1971]

Originally Posted by Kuwabara

Yeah I think I've had most of the vaccines previously, my mum can't remember what I've had, and if she can't remember I definetley can't- doctors tomorrow will have all the info.

Thanks for all the support guys.

Re - The Sports Teams - I offer you all honourary Leeds United fan status if you haven't already got a team! Espeically you Fenway- purley to wind up your Man U supporting friend!

When it comes to American/Canadian sports my allegiences are just for stupid/weird reasons

Hockey - Vancouver Canucks -my aunty lives in Vancouver and on all the old school NHL games I enjoyed passing between the Sedin brothers simply to hear 'Sedin...to...Sedin...'
American Football - Denver Broncos =South Park
Baseball - Baltimore Oreioles = The Wire
MLS - D.C United - purely because they play at the RFK stadium = HERO

I need a basketball team - On NBA 96 I was always The Bulls,Orlando Magic or Miami Heat but could be swayed away from any of those.

Also,what can you guys tell me about Conneticut? Apart from it being very affluent and the home of Vince McMahon? I've developed a kind of 'Lost in translation' relationship with an American Girl I met through a friend a couple of weeks ago.

Count me in to the Leeds United fan club. The NBA sucks - can't help you there.

I grew up in Massachusetts. Parts of CT are affluent...parts are not. It's basically an in-between state between Boston and New York. What do you want to know? If you make it over the pond, you darn well better look some of us up.

Speaking of which...I may be headed to London in the next few months. Gonna have to assemble the UK crowd to say hi.

[Kuwabara]

Not a big basketball fan either -I think there's not value in the scoring - because it changes so often. Some of the best football matches I've seen have been 1-0's where the 90 minutes is just an epic clash that climaxes in one moment of genius.

Crohns Hobo- Arsenal are a good team to pick - very easy on the eye. Thierry Henry was a genius. The World Cup will be immense. The U.S and England are in the same group too!

What do you guys think of Cricket? a sport where you can play for 5 days and still draw. I love it.

I'd love to see some people if I could afford going to the States. New York is the Mecca of Western Civilization IMO. I'd love to go to Washington,NY and Baltimore.Is Boston nice/good? I imagine New Orleans is an eye opening place too.

Fenway if I can afford to come down I'd come and meet you. London is v.expensive.Awesome city though. The best cities in England are in the North though - Liverpool,Manchester,Leeds,York,Newcastle. Edinburgh's stunning too.

RE - CT - Anything that will endear me to her.

[fenway1971]

I never understood cricket. Someone has to please explain to me the rules and how one can score hundreds of runs.

Never been anywhere in UK but London. It's one of my fave cities, though. Any of those places an easy day trip from London?

Re CT: Where in CT is she from? It's a nice state with a very corrupt politician (Senator Dodd). Watch the movie Mystic Pizza which was filmed in Mystic, CT. Maybe you can learn something. KIDDING!

[Kuwabara]

Cricket is a brilliant sport - its just so indepth its impossible to explain without an essay. the best thing to do is watch it with someone who knows the game. the depth of psychology and tactics is huge.

I'm afriad none of those cities are really a day trip away. Its not as if you need them though if you're in the LDN! I'd just say that if people want a taste of the real England they need to look outside London. I'd say its a lot like NY in that it is very gentrified-the concentration of wealth does take away somewhat from its edge.Am I right in thinking places like Hell's Kitchen and Harlem are increasingley been gentrified? Is Coney Island any good?

I remeber David Simon (The Writer of the Wire) saying that there are more murders on the CSI:NY and Law and Order shows combined then they are real murders in New York! Compare that to Baltimore's -230-300 a year body count its a bit shocking.

I think she lives near the boarder with Rhode Island - isn't Providence in Rhode Island? (If my Family Guy geography serves me right). I'll just rib her for having a corrupt senator. At least he's a democrat though.

[Agent X20]

I'm late on this, as usual:

Man U: 0, Leeds 1... it was like all my birthdays coming at once, and I don't even like football.

Leeds is a hell of a city... visit it! Manchester is OK, but it's full of mancs who all have perculiarly flat vowels!

Cricket is a fabulous game, there is always more going on than is immediately apparent from the motionless men on the field, but you have to get used to being rained upon.

[fenway1971]

Originally Posted by Kuwabara

Cricket is a brilliant sport - its just so indepth its impossible to explain without an essay. the best thing to do is watch it with someone who knows the game. the depth of psychology and tactics is huge.

If I make it to UK, you have to take me to a game and explain me the rules.

[Agent X20]

Here we go... the rules of cricket as explained to a foreigner:

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

[Guest1]

Originally Posted by Agent X20

Here we go... the rules of cricket as explained to a foreigner:

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

[Kuwabara]

Quality Steve - I've seen that before in one those Sporting Trivia books. However ridiculous it sounds its true!

[imisspopcorn]

Originally Posted by Agent X20

Here we go... the rules of cricket as explained to a foreigner:

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

Huh? Great googly moogly...What do they exclaim when they knock over the wooden pegs?...Wicket, is that the name of it?

[shazamataz]

Cricket is the most painfully boring sport in the world

[CrohnsHobo]

When I was in Holland and France for work a couple of years ago I watched a bit of Cricket on the toob and I just didn't get it. Football yes! Rugby yes! Cricket, not so much.

[Kuwabara]

Cricket's a sport of conniseurs - I think you really need to watch a good game to get you hooked.

Crohns Hobo - The Dutch and the French probably were'nt doing it right!

Went and saw the docs today about my vaccines. Got an appointment with the nurse on Wed. Looks like Ill have to wait 6 weeks while I have the 3 Hep B shots - LAME.I've got my remicade infusion on Tuesday - I hope that doesnt jepordize anything.