1. Does travel in general impact IBS? And if so, how?
According to Bridgette, IBS differs from person to person so not everyone will be affected by travelling, however, long haul flights can be dehydrating and make constipation symptoms worse. As well as this, anxiety around finding bathrooms and using a bathroom that isn’t in the comfort of your own home can sometimes be a trigger for anxiety induced IBS symptoms.
2. Do you know any simple tricks/hacks for travelling in the car/aeroplane/boat to help when having IBS?
Dietitian Bridgette asserts that for long travel it is a good idea to bring your own water and high fibre snacks like oatcakes or dried fruit and nuts to prevent constipation. If diarrhoea and urgency are the main symptoms then taking anti-diarrhoea tablets can give reassurance on long journeys or day trips while you’re on holiday.
3. Does the change of climate impact IBS?
According to Bridgette, there is no direct physical explanation for why travelling to a warmer country would exacerbate IBS symptoms. However, in hot weather, excessive sweating can result in dehydration. When our digestive system lacks sufficient water, its functionality may be compromised. Consequently, this can lead to increased bloating, gas, or stomach pains, as the fermentation of food in the gut is affected. Making sure you are drinking enough water is key here.
4. Is there anything you should always take with you when travelling, incase of any triggers?
It’s a good idea to pack laxatives, anti-diarrhoea pills and rehydration salts when travelling so you can treat symptoms as early as possible if needed.
As well as this, Bridgette suggests that soluble fibre helps with both diarrhoea and constipation so it may be worth packing some psyllium husk or chia seeds. Prebiotic galactooligosaccharides taken before and during travel reduce the likelihood of travellers diarrhoea and so do some probiotics.
5. Can you still try new foods and local delicacies, and if so, what questions should I ask the locals regarding ingredients?
Here Bridgette outlines that eating the food is part of the fun of travelling so yes do eat the local cuisine. If you know what your specific trigger foods are it might be worth writing down the name of that food in the local language or learning how to ask to not have that in your meals. If you have certain restaurants in mind, then it would be a good idea to check the menu beforehand so you can analyse the ingredients, this will take a lot of stress off too.
In addition, many tropical destinations do have different foods or different food hygiene standards than we are used to. You may need to be careful about food washed in tap water or ice cubes in drinks as these can also carry infectious microbes that can lead to tummy bugs and IBS flares.
