Hello, I'm new to the group. I have a j-pouch after having rectal cancer. I had my take-down surgery six months ago and was hoping I'd be back to normal, or close to normal by now but I'm not. My question is about travel. Can anyone tell me what experiences they've had with their j-pouch while traveling? I would like to take a one-week trip to the east coast (from California) this summer, but I'm concerned about unpredictable bathroom issues, skin flare-ups, uncontrollable gas...

I have traveled a lot with my pouch and not experienced any problems. Three months from my surgery I traveled through Europe. That was probably the toughest trip as my frequency was still pretty high at that time. But I did find that the trip distracted me from thinking about my butt all the time. Before you take your trip try and work on finding out what foods are causing your excess gas and eliminate them. For me it was anything with wheat in it. You can travel prepared with a tube of calmoseptine and other barrier creams. In the States public restrooms are plentiful so that shouldn't be an issue. Go and have a good time and celebrate your recovery and good health!

Sue

Thank you, Suebear, That is very encouraging! I never thought of wheat being a possible culprit. How did you discover that? What are other foods that cause problems for you? Were you able to enjoy most of the foods in Europe during your travel, or did you have to be really careful?

Bonnie,

I kept a food journal and tracked how I felt after eating various foods. It became very obvious to me that wheat was causing too much gas. I eliminated it (to the point of even checking labels) for six weeks and then was able to add it back in. Other foods that caused me gas discomfort in the early days were onions. I wouldn't have known any of this had I not been writing it down. As for Europe, yes I was able to enjoy all the French country cooking. Some foods still had a high transit time but it didn't stop me from partaking!

Sue

I personally did not travel for about a year after my surgery because I didn't feel comfortable enough at that point, but I've traveled all over the US and have never had any problems. I've taken a 10 hour flight to and from Hawaii twice now with NO problems, although I probably would not have attempted that soon after the surgery. Remember there are doctors everywhere and in the very unlikely event something happens, it's not like you'll be in a place where you can't get help. On the plane, be sure to drink enough so you don't get dehydrated. Other than that, you should be fine.

I had my takedown a month ago and feel pretty good. I travelled to B.C. two weeks after my takedown and am flying back home to Ontario tomorrow. I have managed to do things with the pouch that never would have been possible with UC...and I came out here two weeks post op! The flight out here combined with the stress of travelling caused me to block up alittle and gave me gas for a couple of days but it quickly subsided. While out here I went on an intense 3 hour hike up a moutain, and also went on a 4 hour whale watching trip without thinking about using the bathroom once. I feel lucky I was able to come out here so shortly after takedown!

Hi I had my takedown in May 2005. Eight months later I travelled from my home in the UK to Thailand, Australia and Hong Kong. Last September I visited Israel and next week I’m heading off to Australia again.
I just followed my usual routine whilst away, applied a good dose of common sense and had no issues what so ever.
All the best
Clive

I also had no problems traveling with my jpouch. I took my first trip 4 months after surgery. It was so wonderful to finally walk on the beach without looking for the nearest bathroom. I was actually able to sit at the beach for a few hours. Just be careful what you eat and take a prescription of cipro and some pepto bismol with you, just in case you need it. I have traveled to the islands, and mexico as well as in the states and had no problems.

janna

I had my takedown on July 17, 2007. Three weeks later, I was in Las Vegas, and I had no problems. Three months later, I enjoyed a week in the Caribbean - again no problems. I have also since gone to Mexico on a cruise, where I either got food poisioning or the Noro-virus - which sucked, but that can and does happen to our still-coloned friends so I don't take that as a bad j-pouch experience, but rather an unlucky vacation experience.

I think the key is to just be prepared. I haven't ever had skin issues or butt burn, but I take Calmo just in case. I haven't ever had pouchitis, but I have a perscription for Cipro just in case. And, when I was on the cruise, I paid $100 for an extra "protection policy" which would cover me being helicoptered off the ship if I needed it.

So, I go in prepared, that way I never have to worry and can just enjoy myself.

I had surgery in 2006, TD in 2007, and I travel to Greece once a year. This year has been extra "good" in that we've had a long weekend in Athens, we're going to have 3 weeks in Rhodes in July/August and we got back this morning from a quick trip to Rhodes (one week). (NB: we travel a lot because this is our great passion and we both work full time, so this is our chance to really relax with our kids - and to afford to travel we live in a tiny little apartment and have a very ordinary car. We don't own anything of value, no flat screen TV or good stereo system...all our spare cash goes on travel!) Travelling with a j-pouch means that I try to make sure I have access to a decent toilet, and I bring some standard stuff: imodium, wet wipes, good TP if the hotel stuff is very thin or very rough, cream against BB and Asacol supps just in case. Just as well because on this trip I suddenly bled a lot every time I had a BM. It was a bit worrying, but I remembered Jan's mantra and tried not to freak out! In my experience, travelling with a j-pouch is like travelling for any healthy person, just that maybe you wouldn't tempt fate and eat things that you KNOW will give you BB or diarreah unless you have easy access to a good toilet. I honestly don't think anyone at our hotel would know I was any different to them if it hadn't been for the scars on my stomach. I had the surgery to reclaim my quality of life, and being able to travel is a major part of this. Good luck and bon voyage!