IBS problems at Disney

[eblondie]

I suffer from IBS and it seems to be at its worse when I travel abroad - so Disney is always difficult. Can anyone who suffers with this give any advice to how to make the trip easier? Thanks

 

[rhiannonwales]

Hi, i know how you feel - this happens to me every time i travel whether domestically or internationally.
A few questions though? Do you take prescription medicine? Do you tend to run more to one extreme than the other?Are there certain foods that you KNOW will trigger an episode? I have some tips but they vary depending on your situation.I realise that this is an ahem "delicate" issue so if youd rather PM me feel free.
Sherrie

 

[Haley Whippet]

Some foods effect me worse than others, So I try to avoid them.
I also take a park map along so I know where all the restrooms are
Deb

 

[rhiannonwales]

I have a prescription for Bentyl (a muscle relaxer often prescribed for IBS) but when at disney i tend to go proactive.I often dose up on over the counter aids like Immodium before i have an attack to try and head it off.It often works.I am admittedly not very good about avoiding trigger foods (for me they are coffee, and red meat and certain carbohydrates like onions and garlic.) so this way im not totally sick during vacation.I also make sure i know where ALL the bathrooms are.

Also something i reccomend - listen to your body.If im paying attention, i can usually sense when a problem is imminent, and get myself where i need to be.For me that means back to the room... there is nothing worse in my mind than being ill in a public bathroom.On the occasions that ive tried to ignore it and say oh just a little longer... ive always been sorry.

 

[travelitis]

IBS has been a big problem for me at Disney. It's always worse when I travel, but dh and I joke about the restroom being my favorite attraction. If I eat much park food I'm off to the races, so to say. I recently read that fat content is a big irritant, and park food has plenty of that. If I keep it lean and limit amt. I can comfortably tour. Keeping it lean means even paying attention to the dressing on my salads. I don't eat red meat at WDW unless I want live through the cramping. My family gets Casey dogs, and I take 1 bite from my dh's. If you know your triggers, just be extra cautious, because all the walking will get things going, too. If you don't know, then start paying attention to what you're eating. I have Zelnorm, but that's the opposite of what I need when at WDW.

 

[eblondie]

I dont seem to have found my trigger foods YET! I do take medication and I ensure that I take it regular at Disney as it's definately worse when I travel. I do find that the heat doesnt help, especially as I'm not used to it and it seems to bring on an attack.
We are spending quite alot of time with friends at the park this time so going back to my room is not really going to be an option - especially the latter part of the holiday as we will be staying at their house. If my stomach cramps come on I really dont want it to mean an end of the day for us all.
Is there no where at the parks where the toilets are more private?

 

[Ali]

I think I have spent half of my life in a public bathroom because of IBS issues. Disney has nice bathroms for it in my opinion, they are loud and busy so people don't hear any "noises" from me and people who were waiting in line with me to get into a stall are usually long gone by the time I get out. The worst I have ever felt was when I was waiting in line for the monorail after the fireworks one night in a arge crowd of people and I kept asking myself if I could stay in line or if I needed to somehow get out of the crowd and find an open bathroom outside by the buses since the park was closed and they wouldn't let ahyone back in. I hung in there and made it to the TTC, but I had to use my mental mantra of "EVERYTHING is OK" over and over to be in a meditative state to keep from having an acident.

Don't worry about anything that happens to your body in a bathroom because the people in there are not going to walk up to you and say "man, you sure take a long time and make a lot of noises in the bathroom" They are all strangers who don't matter, whether you have IBS issues or are afrad to wear a bathing suit at the resort.

I do know where all of the bathrooms are and keep very aware of how I am feeling. I would never go all the way back to my room to go to the bathroom.

Alicia

 

[scojos]

i too have IBS, i only pop over here as ds has aso, why do we always look after our kids interests more than our own
i too have onion as my trigger, as there anywhere we can get ingredients from? if we ask will they tell us??
at ts restaurants i just intend to them but what about cs?
thanks
tracy

 

[tiggerUK]

Hi all,

i also have IBS. i take solgar L-Glutamine - its an amino acid. i get it from the health food store, it helps to normalise the gut and i have found i don't have as many problems when i take it as i do when i don't take it.

hth

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a thread that might be helpful. A poster named Timon made a WDW Restroom website, with pictures and everything. There are some things in the thread that are not on her website.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Everyone has different ways to cope.I go back to the room because for me alot of time an attack is an all day event.I'm not going to enjoy myself in the park anyway so might as well.I dont expect my family to leave with me they stay.

I have been told by my Dr. that dehydration can also mess things up so stay hydrated!

 

[If You Had Wings]

On my last trip I waited what felt like a thousand years to get on Peter Pan's Flight, which I hadn't gone on in years, & then I had to just pop the bubble and head for the restroom. Bummer! Of course afterwards getting back on line with my buddies (who wanted to kill me) would have been a joke so I didn't get on Peter Pan's Flight.

Has anyone here ever suffered on a long line? I mean, during peak times you can't just slip off to the bathroom and expect to slip right back into the queue again without other families complaining about you jumping over the queue bars to find your spot again. As I recall, the line at PPF was the type where once you are in, you're locked in line for life! And that is if the queue hasn't moved and you can still locate your companions again, if they are not already on the ride.

Am I qualified to ask Guest Relations for a GAC for my situation? I'm just worried that for my upcoming trip I'll be seeing a lot more of the restrooms than any attractions. Has anyone here ever asked for a GAC due to this kind of thing? I wonder if I could be allowed to step off line to go find a restroom & then get right back in line? I'm so embarrassed to ask for one too!

 

[SueM in MN]

As I recall, the line at PPF was the type where once you are in, you're locked in line for life! And that is if the queue hasn't moved and you can still locate your companions again, if they are not already on the ride.

Peter Pan does have Fastpass, if that would help you any. I believe you are right about the regular line though.

Am I qualified to ask Guest Relations for a GAC for my situation? I'm just worried that for my upcoming trip I'll be seeing a lot more of the restrooms than any attractions. Has anyone here ever asked for a GAC due to this kind of thing? I wonder if I could be allowed to step off line to go find a restroom & then get right back in line? I'm so embarrassed to ask for one too!

If you haven't already, check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread for information about GACs. It certainly would not hurt to ask. Just be ready to explain your needs. The CMs at Guest Relations are not likely to understand what IBS is or what impact it has on your ability to wait in line.

 

[If You Had Wings]

Thanks Sue.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think that Fastpass is a Godsend for people with IBS. There is no way I could wait in a 2 hour line. I would worry the whole time that I would have an attack, and that would bring on attack. Sometimes it is all I can do to go into an attraction like Ellen's Energy or HISTA. I feel trapped and worry about how I would get out if I needed to.

I carry Pepto-Bismol in my fanny pack at all times. I usually take it first thing in the morning to help head off an attack too. I also take Buspar to help with any anxious feelings.

Please, try not to berate yourself if you have to leave your friends in line. Your friends will understand, and the rest of the people are, to quote a singer I admire, "schmucks you will never see again."

 

[mickeymedic]

We only go to Disney during the off season. So, lines are usually not a problem. I agree that fast pass is a wonderful thing for those of us who can't be locked into a long line.

Before I was on meds, I was reluctant to travel. Disney is one of the few places I can actually relax and have a good time. There is an abundance of clean restrooms throughout the Parks and Resorts. I used to try to control my symptoms by not eating. (Logic: if I don't eat, there will be nothing to come out the other end.) I'd skip breakfast, eat a little bit of something around lunch, then eat dinner and go back to the room.

My doctor put me on hyosciamine. It worked very well for the first 6 months, since then its been hit and miss. It seems my body builds up a tolerance to meds quickly.

 

[travelitis]

If you want privacy in a restroom, use a family or companion restroom (don't remember what they are called). The drawback is you might have to wait longer to get in, but sometimes a few more minutes of intense cramping is worth it. Also, some restrooms have more traffic than others. In AK we find the one by the former Tarzan theater that is being enclosed isn't as busy. With an IBS attack, though, you might prefer loud and busy. I use multiple flushes to mask noises. No one notices or cares in a busy restroom.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I suspect I have this as well, and I know onions are a trigger, as are fatty foods. DH is on a very low fat diet for medical reasons, so I'm going to call the head chefs at the resort before our trip to find out what DH can eat, or what they can make specially for him. I don't follow his diet strictly, but for the most part what he eats we all eat, so it's been healthier for all of us.

We will also need to know where all the bathrooms are, for myself, DS5 who always lets me know he needs to go "now!", and DS2 who is beginning to potty train. That well may be our 'favorite attraction' as well!

 

[cuucuu4karaoke]

I too have IBS and Lactose Intolerant. I've also recently started taken Metformin which makes me the triple threat

I used to be too embarassed to use the public restrooms but i figure like some of the other posters said, i'll never see these people again.

 

[kellyc32566]

WOW I can believe other people suffer from this crazy problem like I do. I really thought I was the only one. I have put off going to the theme parks ( Disney,Universal) for years now. Afraid I wouldn't be able to make it from the parking area to inside the park.Or the lines to the bathroom would be to long. Anxiety Always makes the IBS worse. But we are going in a couple of weeks to Universal orlando. I am trying to get as much info about entering the park process. Hoping it will diminish some of the anxiety. I understand you have to walk through the city, before getting to the main gate. Geeze I hope there are bathroom there. *sigh " I can do this "