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International Travel Impact on Crohn's?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/5/2016 6:52 PM (GMT -5)
My husband and I (along with our adult children) hope to hike the Inca Trail in Peru this summer. My 20 year old has Crohn's (dx July 2015). He is currently stable (after several bouts of C- Diff, serious anemia, obstructions and illeo - cecal surgery). He has gained weight (40 pounds - YAY), is being successfully treated with remicade, recently switched to methetrexate from azathioprine (cancer risk for young males) and takes Florastor (Switching to VSL probiotics when done with his current bottle) and folic acid. Is it O.K. to take him to Peru where most likely he will get travelers diarrhea and may be more susceptible to infections (compromised immune system). His GI doctor feels he will be O.K. but warned that he should not get an infection because of his history of recurring C - Diff. Do any of you have experience traveling in countries where food / water etc may impact your digestive system which in turn cause issues with Crohn's and or C - Diff? I want him to go and he wants to go BUT not worth it if it negatively impacts his Crohn's. Thanks for any insight!
Posted 10/7/2016 7:29 AM (GMT -5)
He shouldn't get traveler's diarrhea if he takes the necessary precautions. The most important is to not consume any tap water. This includes things like brushing your teeth and ice in drinks. Use bottled water for everything. Don't eat fruit that has a skin (e.g., apple). Make sure meat is fully cooked. Avoid street food. Take packaged food with you that he can eat within his dietary restrictions. His diet on the trip may be boring but that's preferable to having GI issues.

In the last 10 years, I've been abroad ~10 times, including two trips to Asia and several multi-week trips while in an active flare, and I've never had major issues. If he is doing well healthwise, it's important for him to get to do things like this. It helps show that the disease is not in charge.
Posted 10/7/2016 3:23 PM (GMT -5)
Hello, I went to Machu Picchu 2 years after an ileocecal bowel resection. I actually spent three months travelling (one month USA, one month Central America and one month South America). I had a great time and no problems whatsoever. Never drank water that did not come from bottles and did not eat things like salads. I was stable on no medication at the time.
Enjoy!
Posted 10/7/2016 9:20 PM (GMT -5)
I think the advice above is all great. The only thing I would add is that I really think he is old enough to assess the risk and make the decision for himself. If he feels well and wants to go, and it is in between his Remicade infusions then it should be fine. But certainly it is a bigger risk than staying home.

After having c.diff multiple times myself, I wouldn't go. It just isn't worth it to me. But I'm a 57 yr old lady, not a college kid. This really should be up to him.
Posted 10/8/2016 8:34 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the insights! I know he is weighing the pros and cons and REALLY wants to go. We will visit the international travel clinic in our city (which reviews medicines, places to travel etc) and I think that will help him make the final decision! But these posts are reassuring to know it is probably possible!
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