Absolutely yes I can still travel with a stoma bag. Just like life before an ostomy, with proper planning and forethought, I can do any sort of travel. Short term, long term, short haul, long haul, via boat, train plane, or even skydive. If you’re awaiting stoma surgery you may be asking yourself the same question. I certainly was back in November 2022 when I was waiting for my surgery. This post is for the ostomates, some tips if you’re thinking of travelling abroad with a stoma. Here I’ve covered short term travel, and will soon publish a blog post about longer term travel.
Preparing your stoma bags
- Pack at least triple the amount of bags you’d normally need for that length of time. Going for a week and you change your bag typically every other day? Take at least enough supplies for 12 bag changes. It might be more humid where you’re heading, you might be really sweaty or plan on going swimming a lot. I find when I travel I never change my bag the same amount of times compared to when I’m at home.
- Pack ‘emergency bag change kits’. I generally take one everywhere I go, whether at the shops, at work or around the block. The last core memory you want on your holiday is when you had a leak and had to interrupt your entire day to sort yourself out. I normally pack mine with two bags (pre cut), about 6 wipes, 2 disposable bags and some spray. It all fits into a pencil case I pop into my handbag.
- Pack all of your bags in hand luggage. You don’t want your entire supply to be lost. Keep your prescription with your travel documents to be ready for any questions if they arise. Bonus tip: Carry around a stoma passport that describes your supplies in several languages.
Preparing yourself
- Put on a fresh bag before leaving for the airport.
- Don’t eat anything you’re not familiar with 12 hours before your flight.
- Empty your bag before going through security.
- Don’t wear a dress. Wear something you can easily show your bag and explain what it is so you don’t have to pull up your dress to show them what you’re talking about.
- Be a good passenger through security. Follow all the other rules like taking off watches, belts. I always take off my shoes because the chunky ones set off the scanner. If the scanner isn’t set off you’re so much more unlikely to be asked to go through the body scanner, which has always detected my bag in the past.
- Be prepared for security to swipe your bag if it is identified. I’ve never been asked to explain my bag or strip off or anything but once it’s been identified on the full body scanner it’s always been swiped for drugs and whatever else that little machine looks for.
- Remember: aerosols must go in with your liquids.
- Take an emergency bag change kit with you on the flight.
Extras to think about
- If you feel it’s necessary, call the airline ahead and request an aisle seat. I never do this because I prefer a window seat myself, but if you explain your situation you can request this.
- You can also request extra baggage space for your medical supplies. If you’re travelling with hand luggage only and you need extra space for your bags, contact the airline and arrange additional medical baggage. You will likely require a doctors note (which you may be expected to pay for) and you’ll have to describe what you’re bringing in that medical bag and how much it will weigh.
- There are normally sunflower lanyards at airports you can pick up from the service desk. This will tell people you have a hidden disability.
- If the disabled toilets are locked, then the keys are also usually available at these desks. Don’t be afraid to ask for them if you need to change your stoma bag, because it’s virtually impossible to change it in a normal cubicle.
- Smell can be tackled using scented drops or even a tictac (tip from my stoma nurse in England!). Also, when I’ve got nothing else I use extra soap and believe that scents the toilet a little bit once everything has flushed. Better than nothing!
Happy travels! Make sure to leave a comment about what tips you’ll incorporate on your next travels!
