Traveling with an Ostomy

When you travel, one big concern for ostomates, is the best way to do it when driving or flying. There is the security issue, privacy, and of course hygiene that you have to worry about.  This travel ban does also bring other problems, but once it’s lifted, you might want to plan how to travel so it doesn’t limit the experiences. 

While it isn’t ideal to travel currently, you might want to consider shorter trips from home, and here, we’ll highlight what you can do.

Here’s some general information on what to do for drying ad flying.

First, your GP will tell you when you can drive once again. Until then, have someone else drive you.  You need to be able to control the vehicle effectively, and not be under the effect of medicines that’ll make you tired. You should feel comfy when you drive and be able to stop with confidence. You should also let your car insurance company know about this, so they can tell you how long you should wait before driving.

You may have to wait for your follow-up which is in about 4-6 weeks before you can fly out. If you need to fly sooner, you should wait minimally 10 days after surgery, depending on what you did have. This is because of the air pressure causing the intestines to expand, which does cause pain and might stretch the wound. You also might be at a higher risk for blood clots, so make sure to wear compression stockings, and move your legs around more.

So how do you get through TSA? Well, first and foremost tell them you have an ostomy pouch and letting them know which areas are painful to touch.  You should also arrive early, so that the liquid medicines that you do carry are screened and tested early on before anything else.

The big thing you’ll want to do is plan ahead.  Create a checklist on your daily routine, and pouch changes in order to remind yourself on what you need.  You’ll want to consider pouches, a skin barrier, skin protective wipes, stoma collars, disposal bags, and whatnot.  Also, don’t forget to take different-sized pouches, such as a smaller one for bigger activities, or a bigger one for longer periods of time.  You should  count your pouch changes you’ll make, and make sure you have the right number on hand, so you’re comfy and prepared.

For those with ileostomies, there is a chance that leakage might occur at night.  If you need to, consider a plastic mattress cover or sheet in order to prevent damage.

There is also the dehydration aspects, so make sure that you drink a lot of fluids, in order to maintain proper hydration.

If you have a colostomy, there is a chance that the change in wind or cabin pressure can create wind.  This is a big problem for those with a colostomy. Try to avoid anything with excessive carbonation or eating too quickly.  Try to void swallowing air as much as you can.

Finally, for those with urostomies, make sure you drink a lot of water, and keep up with the skincare, especially if it’s warm.  If you do feel ill, see a doctor, since a urinary infection might be happening.  You might want an overnight drainage bag, or a leg bag with you, since that can be used for extended periods of time.

All of this will make traveling much easier, and you should always consider it before you begin the process of traveling, since it’ll make things much better for you too.