 TRAVEL WITH IBD
A few tips for travelling with IBD Always travel with insurance and check your policy covers existing conditions. Many Travel Agents, who are selling their own insurance, tell you it does. Twice I have checked with the respective insurance companies to find it doesn't, then been offered a ridiculous premium on top of the original quote. It's advisable not to pay for your insurance when booking your holiday (as encouraged) as in the event it does not cover IBD getting a refund is a nightmare Also make sure the policy covers your partner to stay in the event you can't fly home on the due date and has a procedure for obtaining medication in the event of a theft. Go Travel ------ 0870 2436006---- who will cover you - pre or post op. Also Club Direct ---- 0800 0839509 ------recently quoted a member 18.70 for a 2 week stay abroad only 2 months after major surgery. MediCover Limited ,Direct Line , Tesco's and Most Credit Card companies will also cover IBD. Visit your doctor a couple of weeks before and plan for any contingencies. Obtain enough medication to last you the full duration of your stay. If it is permitted obtain two prescriptions and split the medication between luggage in case of lost or stolen bags. Obtain the necessary cards to inform customs you are travelling with steroids, pain relief, needles etc. Also an E11 form from the post office. Find out the status of medical facilities, medical knowledge, and general hygiene in the place you are travelling to. If you're going to a developing country, it’s a good idea to take disposable syringes in case you need to be hospitalised. Buy a medical kit that include these sterile dressings, water etc as they might not be sterile in some places. Learn how to ask for the closes restroom or toilet in the language of the place. When flying, pre book your aisle seat relatively near the bathroom. Keep in mind that the lines for the bathroom are worst after a meal, after the movie, and when the lights go on in the morning (on overnighters). so if you can go at other times, do. If you have a Can't Wait Card - take it with you. (Given to you by NACC upon joining). Most British air lines are now aware of this card. Flight attendants are very sympathetic and may get you to the head of the line or let you into off-limits bathroom like first-class. Remember that the contents of your intestines will expand when the plane descends, so keep an eye on the time and make sure to get to the bathroom before the seatbelt sign goes on . Upon arrival find the local hospital and be aware of the facilities your hotel/complex have for a doctor call out. Be very careful when eating foods abroad. Drink bottled water only (preferably a brand name) Never eat salads, food from the road, raw or long standing buffets .Do not have ice with your drinks. When out - keep some cash in your pocket. This way you'll be able to pay entrance to places to use bathroom or be a legitimate customer at a shop with a bathroom. If you are suffering with an upset stomach make sure you have salt drinks and stay out of the sun . Make sure you have your IBD Contact for the Country you are travelling to: | USA
CCFA- The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor,
New York, NY,
10016-8804,
USA.
tel: 1-800-932-2423 or 212-685-3440,
fax: 212-779-4098.
e-mail: info@ccfa.org
http://www.ccfa.org | | The Paediatric Crohn's and Colitis Association
P.O. Box 18,
Newton, MA 02168-0002,
USA.
Tel: 617-290-0902 | | Canada
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada,
21 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 301,
Toronto, Ontario,
M4T 1L9,
Canada.
Tel: 1-416-920-5035 or 1-800-387-1479.
e-mail: ccfc@cycor.ca
http://www.ccfc.ca/site.html
| | EUROPE Austria
Osterreichische Morbus Crohn/Colitis Ulcerosa Vereinigung (OMCCV),
Obere Augartenstrasse 26-28, A-1020
Wien, Austria.
Tel: 00 43 1 333 06 33.
e-mail: crohn-colitis@oemccv.or.at
http://www.oemccv.or.at/crohn-colitis/index.html
| | Belgium
Crohn en Colitis Ulcerosa Vereniging vzw (CCV),
Schalmei 2 B-2970 'S,
Gravenwezel, Belgium.
Tel./Fax: 00 32 3 385 2719.
Secretary Tel/Fax: 00 32 16 56 83 69 | | Denmark
Colitis-Crohn-Foreningen (CCF),
Birkegade 11,
2200 Köpenhavn N,
Denmark.
Tel: 00 45 31 35 48 82
Fax: 00 45 31 35 47 82
e-mail: ccf@ccf.dk
http://www.ccf.dk | | Finland
Crohn ja Colitis ry (CCAFIN)
PO Box 44
02101 Espoo,
Finland.
Tel: +358 (0)9 148 5784
Fax: +358 (0)3 241 2561 (Chairman's Office)
e-mail: ccafin@sci.fi
http://www.sci.fi/~ccafin | | France
Association Francois Aupetit(AFA),
Hopital Rothschild,
33 Boulevard de Picpus, 75571,
Paris, Cedex 12,
France.
Tel: 00 33 1 40 193 425,
Fax: 00 33 1 40 193 436.
http://www.afa.asso.fr | | Germany
Deutsche Morbus Crohn und Colitis Ulcerosa Vereinigung, e.V.(DCCV)
Paracelsusstrasse 15
D-51375 Leverkusen 1,
Germany.
Tel: 00 49 214-87608 0,
Fax: 00 49 214 87608 88.
e-mail:info@dccv.org
http://www.dccv.org | | Hungary
Magyrarorszagi Crohn-Colitesis Betegek Egyesulete (MCCBE)
Igmandi utca 22. Fzst. 1
1112 Budapest
Tel: 00 361 322 8098
Fax: 00 361 457 9494
Secretary Tel/Fax: 00 361 270 0638 | | Italy
Associazione per le Malattie Inflammatorie Croniche dell'Intestino (AMICI),
Via Adolfo Wildt 19/4,
20138 Milano,
Italy.
Tel: 00 39 (0)2 28 93 673.
Fax: 00 39 (0)2 268 22670
e-mail:bonoldi@microtek.it
Associazione per le Malattie Inflammatorie Croniche dell'Intestino (AMICI),
c/o Ospendale Nuovo Regina Margherita,
Via Morosini 30,
00153 ROMA,
Tel: 06/ 58 33 28 00
http://www.comune.bologna.it/iperbole/amicier/docs/ | | Ireland
The Irish Society for Colitis & Crohn's Disease (ISCC),
Carmichael Centre,
North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7,
Eire.
Tel: (353) 1 872 1416,
Fax: (353) 1 873 5737. | | Israel
The Israel Foundation for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis,
PO Box 5231 Herzlia,
Israel.
Fax: 09 9567628
Latvia
Republic Gastroenterological Center,
Pilsonu 13,
Riga,
Latvia. | | Lithuania
Vilnius University Children´s Hospital,
Center of Pediatry,
Vytauto 15,
2004 Vilnius,
Lithuania.
Luxembourg Association Luxembourgeoise de la Maladie de Crohn (ALMC),
PO Box 648, L-2016 Luxembourg,
Tel: (352) 50 98 28.
Fax: (352) 47 98 20 20. | | The Netherlands
Crohn en Colitis Ulcerosa Vereniging Nederland (CCUVN),
Wilhelminastraat 45, 3621 VG Breukelen,
Netherlands.
Tel: 00 31 346 261001,
Fax: 00 31 346 264974.
http://www.crohn-colitis.nl/ | | Norway
Landsforeningen mot Fordoyelessykdommer (LMF),
co FFO Smagruppe-sekretariatet
Postboks 4568 Torshov
0404 Oslo
Norway.
Tel: 00 47 88 00 50 21,
Fax: 00 47 88 00 50 31. | | Portugal
Associacao Portuguesa de Doenca Inflamatoria do Intestino (APDI),
c/o Mr Alfredo Bastos - General Chairman
Av. Fernao Magalhaes 476 - Apart 404
3002 Coimbra codex
Fax: 00 351 (0)39 82 93 16. | Slovakia
Crohn Klub (VUV)
Vyskumny ústav vyzivy,
Limbová 14,
83337 Bratislava.
Slovakia.
e-mail:cosmex@mail.softline.sk | Spain
Asociacion Nacional de Enfermos de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa (ACCU),
c/ Hileras 4, 4, 7
28013 Madrid
Tel/Fax: 00 34 9 1542 63 26
e-mail:accuesp@arrakis.es
http://www.vlc.servicom.es/accu/espana/alicante.htm | Sweden
Riksförbundet för Mag- och Tarmsjuka (RMT),
Gotlandsgatan 46,
PO Box 20054,
104 60 Stockholm,
Sverige.
Tel: +46 (0)8 642 42 00,
Fax: +46 (0)8 642 11 00.
e-mail: solveig.johansson@magoterm.se | | Switzerland
Schweizerische Morbus Crohn/Colitis Ulcerosa Vereinigung (SMCCV),
Postfach,
5001 Aarau,
Switzerland.
Tel/Fax: 00 41(0) 62 824 8707
e-mail:welcome@smccv.ch
http://www.smccv.ch | | AFRICA
South Africa
South African Crohn's & Colitis Association,
P.O. Box 2638,
Cape Town 800,
South Africa.
Tel: 021 25-2350.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Association for Colitis & Crohn's Disease,
2 Montclaire Close,
Borrowdale, Harare,
Zimbabwe.
Tel: Harare 885556.
| | Australia,
The Australian Crohn's and Colitis Association (ACCA),
P.O. Box 201, Mooroolbark,
3138, Victoria,
Australia.
Tel: (03) 9726 9008.
Australian Crohn's and Colitis Association (Queensland) (ACCAQ),
P.O. Box 548, Maleny
Queensland, 4552,
Australia.
Tel/Fax: (07) 5494 2149
e-mail: help@ACCAQ.org.au
http://www.accaq.org.au | | New Zealand Crohn's & Colitis Support Group Inc.
P.O. Box 52-043,
Kingsland, Auckland,
New Zealand.
Tel: +64 9 6367228.
e-mail: ccsg@clear.net.nz
http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/ccsg | <<< | |
Added June 2002 - Updated July 2003 --- copying of this information by other MSN Sites will be reported unless linked back to this group - copyright CDJ
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