Forums:
Hi everyone,
I've had IC for about 8 or 9 months now and am so excited to have made the decision to fly from Australia to LA to get treated by Dr B in a couple of weeks!
I was hoping some people might have some good tips on how to deal with IC flare-ups should I have one on my 16 hour flight. My IC is not super super bad and I am lucky enough to have some good days but it's unpredictable and I'm trying to think of the best way to try and stop it from flaring up on the flight and am after any other tips for flying with IC.
I guess the obvious one is try get an aisle seat near the bathroom and I'll also scheduled my flight in between periods but does anyone have tips for anything I can take a few days before the trip to try and keep my bladder soothed and calm as much as possible? eg. any supplements I can take? Drink aloe vera maybe?
The other thing is food on the flight. I'm assuming plane food won't be all that IC diet friendly. I've already asked for the gluten free meal but god knows what it will be! I'm flying United and wondering if anyone knows whether it's easy to bring your own snacks on the plane? I know there's the whole liquids issue but I'm just wondering whether it's possible to say pack a little snack pack of raw almonds etc and carry them on? Any tips?
Also if anyone has any tips for IC diet friendly restaurants around the Venice/Santa Monica area in LA I would love to hear them so that I don't have to limit myself to eating grocery bought/cooked food during my entire trip! While the trip is based around seeing Dr B I'd also love to make the most of just trying to enjoy a vacation in LA as I love it there! :)
food and flying
DEFINITELY bring food with you. I doubt any of the airplane food would be IC friendly, and then when you get to LA, you don't want to feel like a starving zombie upon arrival. When I fly, I bring TONS of food with me. It's not a problem to bring food on flights in the US at all as long as they're not soups or something liquid. I guess customs might be an issue, but just eat everything before arriving! There are other threads on good travel food, but I'd say some hard boiled eggs, steamed veggies or a salad, a baked potato, a hamburger, rice cakes with almond butter, anything that you know you tolerate.
I wouldn't try anything new like drinking aloe vera right before a trip given that you don't know how you're going to react to it. Maybe just try to be as rested and relaxed as possible. If you can bring spring water with you, too, that might be good. Matia's office can email you a note that you need to bring the water with you for medical reasons and then they just test the water and let you through with it (at least that's been my experience. sometimes they hassle me a bit, but I've always gotten through.)
Best of luck in getting to LA! I hope you have some good vacation-y time there too! There are other threads on places to eat in LA, I'm no expert since I'm from the east coast.
Thanks Ceb! That's all
Thanks Ceb! That's all really helpful. :)
Travelling from Europe
Hi,
I´m travelling to L.A. on 23th Sept. from Prague. Whole journey (Prague - London Heatrow - LAX) will take between 15 to 16 hours. If you´re travelling later than me, I can send you my experience (I´ll try to keep the boxes with meals to the board, hope it will be possible). I think it´s necessary to eat everything before your landing in L.A.
Good luck!
Hi Michaela, I actually get
Hi Michaela, I actually get there Sept 16th so will be there before you. I'll send you my notes on places to eat and check out if I come across anything good. Good luck on your trip and thanks for your support! :)
Thank you, MissCC
Wish you safe journey. Any notes will be appreciated. Good luck!
flying
Hi, I flew from Brisbane to LA two years ago, up and down to the toilet all the way but made it. There is a good supermarket just past Dr Bs rooms. Also if you jump on the blue bus down to santa monica (only 75 cents and go every 15mins) there is a great restaurant called real food daily - 514 santa monica blvd, also there is a whole foods down near the beach which has a great range of healthy eating options. I did some tours and enjoyed by stay in LA. There are heaps of buses as you come out of the airport whihc will take you to you hotel room for only 16$ so don't worry about getting a cab they are far more expensive. Good luck on your healing journey, I know I was alittle anxious but every thing went well the people are lovely and friendly, try to enjoy it cheers delie
Hi Delie, Nice to meet
Hi Delie,
Nice to meet another Aussie on here and thanks for all your advice. I'll check all of that out. I'm super excited to get there and get started on treatment. I also love LA so am excited to be there for a bit.
Out of interest are you symptom free now after 2 years? Also wondering - was everything convenient for you as far as long distance ordering of herbs and supplements when needed?
:)
hi fellow aussie, I broughts
hi fellow aussie, I broughts some herbs back with me about 5 bottles, However after that I was able to obtain what i needed mostly locally. The natren probiotics I get send over from Auckland packed in ice from the Nicola Johns phamarcy, whose details are on the natren web site. JUst call and place an order you need to be a home when they arrive or leave a message for the courier that you give permission for them to leave the package or they will take them back to the airport.How am I going after two years - pretty good as long as I stick to the diet, yes I have had the odd cheat, christmas and birthday and a couple of times I've come home from work and ate a cake of chocolate. Not very often though, my improvement has been good and I don't regret going for a minute. I have had months in a row where I have felt like I don't have IC and then got over confident and started eating of the list a head of me to quickly or made a silly mistake like boiling tap water for my chamomile tea instead of filtered and bang had symtoms back (always milder then before). However I just go back to list 2 for a while and it settles. I am pretty much leading a normal life these days excersising ect. Still hav'nt braved the sex thing, maybe soon with a bit of luck. You won't regret going. Yes the diets a bit tough and first but you get used to it. Everyone at work gets flus and colds not me all those probiotics and no suger do the trick lots and lots of luck, you deserve to get your life back Miss CC only we know how tough and lonely this illness can be take care delie
MissCC, you won't regret
MissCC, you won't regret trusting Matia with your health. Best of luck and enjoy your time in LA!
Just wanted to send a little
Just wanted to send a little update and some positive rays out to those who are thinking of making the trip out to see Dr B from overseas. I'm currently in LA and had my appointment on Wednesday and am already feeling so much better after starting on the herbs Dr B put me on. I'm lucky enough to have a more moderate case of IC but since starting the herbs my symptoms have really slowed down and I'm feeling great. Dr B and the ladies that work with her are just all so lovely and I've never felt safer in their hands!!
Michaela - good luck with your appointment. Let me know if you have any questions about your stay in LA. The weather here is beautiful right now and I think being here and relaxing with some sun has also helped me feel better!!
Excited to be on my way to healing
:)