Having stoma surgery is life-changing, and for many, including myself, life-saving.
I’ll briefly set the scene and give you the background info. My stoma, ‘Stacey’, was formed in 2011, when I was 19 years old. I needed her due to severe Crohn’s disease (a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)) and due to a large, benign tumour on my colon, the size of a watermelon. Surgeons didn’t find this until they operated. If surgeons had left things even a few hours, I was told I wouldn’t be here, so she literally saved my life.
Whether it’s going on a day trip, a city break or a holiday abroad, wondering what to pack with an ostomy can sometimes feel overwhelming. It can feel like a blend between adventure and challenge! Not sure where to start? Here are five things to consider, to hopefully make the process less stressful and help you to feel more confident:
Please note that this is with regards to my experiences living with an ileostomy and using a one-piece, drainable ostomy bag. Let’s get started.
1. Pack more than you need
Overpacking?! It may come as the norm to some of us (including me) but it’s about being prepared.
- Bring extra bags, barrier rings, adhesive strips, and wafer extenders (whatever you feel needs to be in your essential go-to ostomy kit)
- Pack enough supplies for at least twice the length of your trip – better to return with extras than run short, especially overseas.
- Split your supplies between carry on luggage and checked in luggage when flying, just in case your checked in luggage arrives with a delay.
It’s important to remember that this isn’t about fearing the worst; it’s about peace of mind every step of the way.
2. Planning is everything
- Especially if going abroad, travel insurance is a must. Make sure to plan this with plenty of advance timing for that peace of mind.
- Lots of places such as Respond offer free travel certificates that come in different languages so you have a document to present at security and customs if needs be. It’s helpful to have this on hand to promote your travel confidence.
- Look at how medications need to be presented when going through customs and if there are any restrictions or extra things you need to consider.
More preparation now means surprises later become less.
3. Wear ostomy supportwear
Everyone is different but I find wearing ostomy supportwear in the form of a waistband or knickers helps me to feel more confident when travelling. It helps to keep my bag discreet, especially when it’s filling up and it also gives me the confidence to wear what I want. Also, it can help to bide you time if you do have an ostomy bag leak as it acts as an extra layer too. If you plan on using the waistbands, pack two or three in different colours to wear under different outfits and in case they get dirty. For ostomy knickers, I usually wear one pair in the day then normal underwear to sleep which isn’t high-waisted.
4. Don’t switch up anything in your ostomy products
Before travelling isn’t the ideal time to try out new products for your ostomy routine, unless absolutely necessary. It’s natural to expect teething problems with trying new products and ostomy bags so it’s important to be near home/in familiar surroundings in case problems do occur.
Respond’s useful advice and support
Respond have a blog full of posts from other ostomates on their website. They also provide a free, downloadable travel guide.
Travelling with a stoma can feel overwhelming, but it’s absolutely possible and enjoyable for so many who have had stoma surgery. For more experiences on travelling with a stoma, check out Respond’s blog section.
You can message me and follow me on my stoma journey on Instagram: @ibdwarriorprincess
