Travelling with a stoma
It’s that time of year where you might be going on holiday. It might be the first time since stoma surgery or it might be the second or eighth time but you name whatever time it may be and it’s natural if at some point you’ve had worries (or still do get apprehensive) about travelling with a stoma.
I’ve flown a few times now with my ileostomy & I’ve thankfully experienced no problems, but today, I’m going to share with you a few things about how I’ve found travelling with an ostomy and some of the things I’ve thought about when doing so and also in the run up to doing so.
I flew to New York nearly 4 years after stoma surgery
In 2015, nearly 4 years post-surgery, my brother & I flew to New York. I’d always dreamt of going to New York and when my Grandad sadly passed away, he left me & my brother some money to go & live out that dream. It was an amazing experience and definitely a learning curve (with everything) and it was the first time I’d ever been on a plane, so it didn’t look like I was aiming to do things by halves. I threw myself in at the deep end!
Thinking about what to pack, planning for the holiday and ordering and organising my stoma supplies etc was really quite daunting and the first thing I did was go on to Google & search for blog posts like this to point me in the right direction.
Going through the airport was no problem for me and I didn’t get patted down either on the departure or coming back into the UK. We did get fast track luggage check-in but I didn’t contact the airport regarding my stoma, but a lot of people feel better if they do. It was just something I didn’t know about at the time.
On the flight which was around 11 hours there, I emptied my bag probably 4 times and American Airlines were amazing. We got quite a lot of food during the flight and it was all things I could eat. The flight itself was so smooth. It was very hot when we went in July and I drank so much Gatorade and electrolyte rich drinks. Looking back now, I don’t quite know how I managed the 10-day holiday without a glitch, because I do struggle with heat now if I’m exposed to it for longer periods of time.
Planning ahead
Planning ahead & organisation is vital in my experience to make travelling flow as smoothly as possible. It will also help you to feel more in control, especially when it comes to having an ostomy.
A good thing I found that helped me, if you are able, before travelling abroad with an ostomy is to do a few trips away from home in the country you live in to build your confidence. This helped me to build my confidence massively after surgery, especially in the early years.
It is important to only travel when you feel ready enough and also, of course, when you have had clearance to do some from your medical team.
Some good tips for travel planning include:
- Working out the number of ostomy bags and supplies (ie wipes and adhesive remover) you use in a day then from this, working out how much you are likely to use in the period you are away. This will be a good guide of the amount to take with you, but usually advice is to take double the amount you may need to account for any issues you may have abroad such as experiencing more leaks or skin irritation in hotter temperatures, although I thankfully haven’t had any issues with this.
- Contact the airport directly to enquire about facilities you can use and regulations on extra baggage allowance which you should be granted for needing to take medical supplies with you.
- Make a list of all the ostomy supplies and equipment you need to take.
- Consider if you may require different size ostomy bags ie for flying or on a night if the climate is particularly hot or if a change in diet may increase output. Some people, such as myself, generally use the maxi ostomy bags each night regardless of travel or not, as a lot of people find their stomas can be more active at night.
- If you used closed ostomy bags, definitely consider switching to drainable in case a change in diet etc affects your output and you need to empty more. This will also help to ease your mind if you don’t feel comfy to change your bag away from your accommodation or are unsure exactly where facilities are to change your bag completely.
- Request your prescription with plenty of time to spare. Giving yourself at least a month before your holiday is good notice, especially to avoid any last minute panic or if your delivery company needs extra time to obtain any of your supplies.
- If you usually cut your own bags, either get them cut to size when you order or do all your bag cutting before you go on holiday. Scissors can be classed as dangerous items, and although they are sometimes allowed in your main luggage, some would prefer not taking the risk. There are travel certificates you can get from different ostomy companies such as this one from Respond, that can help ease your nerves about going through security.
- If you use sprays or liquids, it might be a good idea to change these for wipes where you can and keep liquid to a minimum (in line with the airline’s requirements which are usually found online). I have taken small bottles of ostomy deodorant with me on my travels without any issues.
- Ask your stoma nurse or GP where you can obtain a travel certificate which will explain that you have an ostomy and why you need your supplies (I mentioned one from Respond above). These often include translations in several different languages too which can be super helpful. This can also help ease anxiety about having to explain yourself in front of other people. Also, ask your stoma nurse about medical contacts or stoma nurses in the country you’re travelling to should you need a contact.
- Try & book seats on the plane that are relatively close to the toilet (but preferably not right next to them… I don’t think many people want that, but needs must! Aisle seats are also more accessible than window seats but you may be that person who enjoys the window view, it’s just a thought!
- Separate ostomy supplies in your main luggage, hand luggage & a smaller discreet bag for the flight – This way, you will have your supplies on hand should you need them, and if the worst comes to worse and your main luggage gets lost, you still have ostomy supplies to use. Generally, packing the majority of your supplies in your hand luggage is a good idea, but still is good practice to divide it between all your luggage.