Just got to rave! The ostomy association here in Norway is arranging a week's seminar in southern Turkey in September for members with an ostomy or pouch. There are 43 available places and they're giving priority to members who've been operated recently. There's only a relatively small charge and it covers breakfast and dinner each day, all group tours/activities and of course plane tickets and a room at a lovely hotel by the beach. I got given a place!! Yippeee! It'll be strange without hubby and kids for a week, but I'm really looking forward to it. Ironic, though - food poisoning in Turkey started my colitis (or sparked it off, put it that way) in 2003
Anyone take extra vaccines or stomach bug vaccines for places like Turkey? I'm not sure these things get absorbed properly when we don't have colons?

Soph,

Hey congrats on your trip slot, sounds exciting and I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun. I am still stuck with my ailing colon but like you I began my UC adventure with food poisoning.

Just to throw my two cents in: I suspect taking lots of probiotics of whatever sort you already find well tolerated, will be the key. I know studies show they reduce the likelihood of food/water-induced D significantly in normies. That and being super strict about avoiding any exposure to food that isn't well cooked and any non-bottled water, right down to using bottled water for brushing one's teeth for example.

Best wishes-- Christopher

Hi, Thanks for the advice - I'll definitely be extra careful. I thought I was careful last time, but I did eat a kebab in a very rustic "hole in the wall" café. Probably not wise. If only Turkish food wasn't so incredibly tempting....

Oh Soph, I'm soooooo envious!

I love Turkey and Turkish food! The people are just so friendly, and the Bazzars...... Oh heaven! All those rip-off designer labels! My kid's friends could never tell the difference between a Benaton or Channel label and the $2 copy from the Grand Bazzar in Istanbul!

Hope you have a wonderful time and don't have to think about your j-pouch once while there! (well maybe once or twice as you're going with your ostomy society! )

Shell

Thanks Shell
I'm really exited. My son has already asked me to look for Björn Borg underwear! I'm looking forward to meeting other pouchers and ostomates. I hope my pouch behaves, but then again, I was in Greece last year during my all time worst ever UC flare, a week before surgery, and I still managed to enjoy it. Amazing how good you get at locating all the loos within the first seconds of arriving at a place, and sprinting to them afterwards!