Having an ostomy should not stop you from traveling anywhere in the world. At first, you might be reluctant to travel with a stoma. You might be worried about running out of ostomy supplies, not finding a proper place to change the ostomy pouch, or facing an embarrassing situation during your journey. But with a little planning, you can be prepared for challenges you might face while away from home.
Here are a few tips which will make traveling with an ostomy a lot easier:
Becoming dehydrated is never fun, especially when you’re on vacation. If you have a stoma, in particular an ileostomy, this puts you at a higher risk. So, make sure to drink plenty of water during your journey.
If you are using cut-to-fit skin barriers, it is important to pre-cut some of them at home. This will make changing your pouch much easier while traveling.
Pack extra ostomy pouches, skin barriers and accessories so that you are never short of supplies and can change your pouch whenever required.
Important Tip: Make sure to carry some ostomy supplies in your carry-on or handbag in case your luggage is misplaced.
Trips can be overwhelming and can often make you eat what you are not supposed to. Make a list of the foods that don’t cause digestive issues and stick to it. Avoid gassy foods like cabbage and spinach to prevent gas buildup.
Knowing where rest areas and restaurants are along the way is a great idea for everyone, but especially for an ostomate. Knowing where you can change your pouch, find the right food or get some bottled water will save you from a lot of unnecessary stress
This card is issued by the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) and contains a brief description of your ostomy. This will help you get through airline security quickly.
If you are headed to someplace warm, the adhesiveness of your skin barrier can be affected. Check the weather beforehand and be prepared.
Avoid storing ostomy products in hot and humid places. If possible, you may want to carry them in a small cooler that you can take with you.
Depending on the type of ostomy there are some special tips which will help you make your trip comfortable and successful.
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