6 Tips for Flying with Crohn’s Disease

Traveling by air with Crohn’s disease can be daunting, especially if you are experiencing a flare. Airports for the most part, are busy, loud, and can cause much anxiety to even the average person.

Just recently, I had to travel on a plane to visit a family member and I was enduring a moderate Crohn’s flare. Mostly, I was dealing with the nuisance of frequent urgency and constant moderate abdominal pain. How did I survive? Here are some tips that helped get me to my destination.

Traveling with a Crohn's flare

Bring safe foods

This is so crucial. Bring your safe foods in the form of snacks. They can be crackers, fruit, maybe even a sandwich or some plain deli meat. Whatever your snack may look like, bring it! You need to have access to safe foods while traveling for the moments that you get hungry.

I suggest bringing a small, fabric lunch box with an ice pack inside to house your foods. Remember that you cannot bring any liquid with you into the airport, even spreads like jelly may be confiscated.

The importance of hydration with Crohn's

Always have water on hand. It may be overlooked, but airplane travel, especially for long hours, dehydrates. So water is important!

Of course, since you cannot bring water inside with you to the airport, prices for water bottles once you pass security are astronomical. Here’s a tip: bring an empty bottle of water/thermos and once you pass security, fill up at the nearest water fountain.

Bathroom essentials for travel

A toiletry bag is absolutely essential. What I mean by “toiletry bag” refers to a make-up bag filled with bathroom essentials that conveniently fits in your purse. For me, this contains the following: baby wipes, peppermint essential oil, pads, extra underwear, and Poo-Pourri.

The baby wipes are for the obvious, the oil is to relieve any nausea, cramping, diarrhea or any digestive nuisance. The pads are for the days that the urgency is intense and I need the safety of a pad to not soil my underwear. The extra underwear is for the unforeseen accident and the Poo-Pourri is to freshen the stall that I am using.

If you don’t have Poo-Pourri, google it! The company makes travel-sized bathroom fresheners which is a wonderful tool for us Crohnies.

Sit in the aisle seat

I highly suggest sitting in the aisle so that you can hop out and access the bathroom on the plane easiest. If you cannot pick the aisle seat while booking your flight, no need to worry. When you get to your gate on the day of your flight, just head to the attendant at the gate and explain you have Crohn’s and need an aisle seat. I have done this before and have never had a problem switching my seat.

Sleeping on an airplane

I know it can be challenging to sleep on a plane, but you should try your best to create an environment in which you can catch some zzz’s while flying. I would suggest purchasing a neck pillow and listening to calming music to help put you to sleep. I even spray a relaxing blend of lavender essential oil on my face to calm and relax me.

Be aware however, at least this is the case for me, after I wake up I usually have to use the restroom. Just have your toiletry bag handy to take into the restroom with you and having access to the aisle seat will make this easy.

Take deep breaths and relax

Overall, as we are plenty familiar with, stressing yourself out only exasperates your symptoms. So if flying and being in an airport amps up your anxiety levels, help yourself out by arriving extra early to avoid any rushing. The more prepared you are, the easier the experience.

One tip I use whenever things may get hectic, or if I’m experiencing high anxiety due to feeling bathroom urgency is; I inhale a big breath for four counts, hold for four, then exhale for another four.  This helps ease anxiety tremendously and is a tool I use often.

Preparing for a flight with Crohn's

Overall, the main tip I would offer is to be prepared. If you are organized and have a plan, traveling won’t be so daunting. Don’t forget your snacks, your water, a toiletry bag, try and sit in the aisle seat, rest while in the air and do everything possible to keep your stress levels low.  You may have Crohn’s disease, but it doesn’t mean you can’t live your life and travel.

Hopefully these tips are helpful! If you have any tips you’d like to add, comment below!