How I Avoid the Flu While Traveling with Crohn’s

Crohn’s is my constant companion. It’s lived within me for three decades and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Regardless of living in remission, Crohn’s has a stranglehold on how I exist. Due to Crohn’s disease and my other auto-immune mediated inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, I use a biologic medication. One side effect is the risk of being more susceptible to catching viruses or developing infections. I’m probably most aware of this risk when I travel. So, I go very much out of my way to avoid catching the flu while traveling (with Crohn’s).

I’ve participated in a lot of IBD advocacy travel, these past few years. Packing for these trips has become routine. I usually set aside two outfits. One outfit is for flights only. The other I use for lounging in my or friends’ hotel rooms or while sitting in the hotel’s lounge. I don’t necessarily sleep in that outfit, either.

Side note, I found out my friends follow the same practice. It’s nice to feel less alone in trying to avoid the flu while traveling with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. I also discovered that they too use lounging clothes at home.

After work is finished for the day, it’s not out of the ordinary to find a group of us gathered in a hotel room or lounge. We try to maximize the time we get together and knock out group projects like podcasts and Facebook Live sessions.

One thing that you’ll find in my or my friends’ rooms, aside from an inflatable T-Rex suit, is cleaning supplies.

Cleaning supplies for travel with Crohn's

Cleaning is one of the first things I do after taking boarding a plane. I sanitize the seat, seatbelt, armrests and the tray. Usually, I use a household cleaning wipe. You can find small, easy-to-travel packs of cleaning wipes in the travel section at your local dollar or drug store. You can sometimes find travel-sized cleaning spray bottles in the section, as well.

Unpacking routine in a hotel room

After arriving at the hotel, I start my unpacking routine. It may sound funny to you, but I create routines for a reason. Having a checklist or routine makes things flow efficiently and can help me spot issues that would be otherwise cumbersome.

For example, I unpacked in a dirty room. I had unpacked my entire suitcase and travel gear and never noticed that the room was not cleaned before my arrival and the bathroom was broken.

Here are my unpacking and cleaning routines.

I place my carry-on bag on a hard surface and place the suitcase on a travel rack. The next thing I do is check the room for anything that could force me to relocate to another room. Like dead or live bugs, signs of bed bugs, and damaged shower, tub or toilet issues. Lastly, I check the air conditioning unit and make sure the room can cool or heat.

After I’ve checked the room out for anything that could pose a problem, I get to cleaning. Door knobs, bathroom fixtures, and toilet, as well as countertop and vanity surfaces, are among items I wipe down. I also wipe down surfaces close to the bed like the lamp switches, phone, and TV remote. Anything you think you are going to touch is fair game for cleaning. If I’m staying in a room with a kitchen, I know it will have paper towels and I’ll bring or get a small disinfecting cleaning spray.

If you’re staying in the hotel for more than a few days, wiping down the surfaces again isn’t a bad idea either.

Once the room smells sufficiently disinfected, I unpack. Just kidding. I try not to bomb myself out of the room with cleaning fumes. I use packing cubes so that the cubes can go into a drawer. Yes, I wipe the drawers down before placing the cube inside. I also hang as many garments as possible to help prevent wrinkling. I also place the placard on the door to forgo the cleaning service during my stay as well.

Lowering the risk of the flu

Avoiding the flu is never foolproof. People sneeze around us. We accidentally touch our eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands. Stuff is going to happen. All we can do is help mitigate the risk as much as possible.

One other thing, I also get my annual flu shot. Unpopular opinion for some, I know. But I believe in it for myself and those who are also at risk that I am around.

I hope these tips help you do the same as it has for me!

Do you do something similar or different? Share with us your tips on how you avoid the flu while traveling with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.