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My First Overseas Trip Since Surgery, All Thoughts And Advice Welcome!

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Posted 7/21/2013 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all. So on August 25th I will be travelling from home (UK) to Rome for six nights, yay! As per my title, this will be my first overseas trip since surgery 2 1/2 years ago, so there's a little bit of trepidation. I'm not massively concerned, it has taken a while for me to feel confident enough to do this, but I'm feeling like quite a seasoned "ostie" now! I'm also awaiting a surgical consult to pursue j-pouch construction, so it could be a "one time only" thing with the ostomy, but we'll see.
The flight is only 2 1/2 hours long, so I don't see any problems during it. However, I'm a bit unsure of the whole airport scanner thing.
I'm not going to ask any specific questions, but if any of you have advice from your own travel experiences, fire away!
Posted 7/21/2013 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
If it's just metal detectors it won't matter. If it's the freaky body scanner thing just tell them before you go through it and when you get out they will have you go to the side, touch your bag, you won't have to show it, then put your fingers on some piece of paper that they will do something with, i haven't actually seen what they did with it, to make sure it's not a bomb, and when they see it isn't they will send you on your way.
Now that's how they do it in the US it might be different in other countries. I haven't flown out of another country that had the body scanner things they only had xrays.
Just be sure you keep your supplies with you, if you use paste put it on top of your carry on so that they can easily see that it's not something dangerous.
This is kind of gross, but since airplane toilets don't have water if you do have to empty in it the stuff doesn't go down easily, it's very annoying.
I am very jealous of you getting to go to Rome! I have always wanted to go there and Greece I love the history.
Posted 7/22/2013 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply Summerstorm. All my supplies will be going into my carry on, no way are they going into the hold. Should I be unfortunate and my case go missing, clothes can be bought in Rome, my ostomy supplies are like gold dust! I'm hoping I won't need to empty during the flight, and will take some loperamide before it to help, 2 1/2 hours isn't long if things down there are quite. My last trip pre-surgery was to the southern USA, but I don't think a long haul trip is advisable for the first one post op!
Posted 7/22/2013 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Silent- I took a 2-1/2 hour flight just two weeks after surgery (would have been a week after except that I endes back in the hospital for ileius) and it was a piece of cake. I emptied once before boarding and once in flight, but I could have easily gotten away with not going in flight- just wanted to play it safe since it was so soon after surgery. It is now approaching 3 months since surgery and shortly I will be living the life of a road warrior again, going to the loo no more than any normie- though unlike a normie I will never have to "hold it in" for a no.2.

No one has asked anything about my pouch yet at airport security, by the way. I think they are used eniugh to seeing that at any major airport.
Posted 7/22/2013 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
silent, no worries. I have been on plenty of overseas trip with my various ileos and its really no concern. Last one was from US to UK. Just make sure you carry EVERYTHING (all your supplies) in your carry on. I usually bring about 3X more supplies than I need. And its really not a big deal to empty on the plane at all.

When you go through security just make sure that liquiuds/gels/etc/ like if you use stoma paste, or powders.. are easily accessible if security needs to look. If you get pulled aside for a pat down, just gently tell the person you have an ostomy as they start to pat your front side. You do not need to say more, lift your shirt or show them anything. In the US the last few times, they just have me pat my ostomy area with my hand over all my clothing and then they swab my hand for explosives. It really is very discrete and takes no longer than anyone else they randomly pull aside. However, I don't recall them doing that anywhere I was in Europe.

I usually have my carry ons searched more frequently in UK (could simply be because I am getting on flights back to US) but I don't bother worrying about other passengers seeing all my supplies. It really doesn't affect me.

anyways.. sounds like you are going to have a fun well deserved trip!
Posted 7/23/2013 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
They manually screened me once when I had an ostomy, so I let the guard know before he started. It wasn't a problem at all. Good luck!
Posted 7/23/2013 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I will say that when I went through Orlando, the first time i got screened, they had a solider, in uniform being patted down.
That man was getting much more of a search than I was, it was really upsetting to me, actually. All I had to do was touch a piece of paper. But a man in uniform was being very closely screened, to the point of them looking in his shoes and taking his socks off. In front of everyone.
about the amount of supplies, when I travel to somewhere on land in a developed country, I do carry extra but probably only about 3 extra changes. Because I know that if nothing else I can go to the hospital and get supplies and that in most major cities there will be a place that sells the supplies and my parents could overnight me something also. I would think Rome would be developed enough to have those supplies available.
Now, when we cruise and when we went to Jamicia I took about 4 times as much as I needed. For instance on a 4 day cruise I took 12 wafers and 14 bags. And I only change once a week! Same as when we went to Jamicia.
Posted 7/23/2013 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Haha, I love how close together countries are in Europe... Well everywhere except the US I guess... I went on one trip seven weeks after my colectomy, it was domestic but a five hour flight. As mentioned above I brought 3x the supply I expected to need in my carry on. I was traveling with friends (not family) so I changed up my routine and switched to a fresh bag (2 pc, bag only) every morning after my shower so no one would be slowed down waiting for my stuff to dry.

Other than that it was a totally uneventful trip, ostomy wise. My bag was fairly empty each time I went through the back scatter machine so I don't think they even noticed it... If they did, no one said anything and I didn't do any extra screening.

My one bit of advice would be to empty in the airport right before boarding and boarding as late as possible, because you never know when you might be stuck on the runway for quite a while w/o access to the airplane lavatory.
Posted 7/23/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I flew to France after my reversal, but just the same, my health insurance company gave me several phone numbers (of English speakers) for anything at all. I would think that not only your health insurance company but also your supplier can give you contact numbers to take with you -- and that's only for just in case you lose the bulk of supplies and need more. Just so you know how you're going to get more if you need to. You will probably be fine. Enjoy yourself, Rome is great fun and full of truly beautiful things and places to see.
Posted 7/23/2013 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've done a lot of traveling with my ostomy.  I live in the US and did a two week tour of Italy.  Fantastic, by the way!  I always took nearly twice the appliances that I needed.  I have to cut the hole in the wafer so I did that ahead of time.  Be sure to put your appliances, paste, etc. in your carry-on bag.  You definitely don't want them lost and they are sensitive to heat, too.

 

I always rinse out my pouch after emptying it so I always carry a 1/2 pint bottle of water in my purse.  I do this even when I'm not traveling.  This gives you enough water to add a little to the pouch, swish it around and then empty it.  Much of the output slides out easier.  Then I add the remaining water to the pouch and that gets the rest of the residue out.  Then I refill the bottle at the sink.   

 

Other than that, I had no problems.  I didn't even have to change the frequency that I needed to change my appliance.  I would get up extra early on the day I needed to change the appliance and was done and out of the bathroom before my roommate even woke up. 

 

I also carried plastic bags to put the used appliance in and that help prevented odor.  Plus I carried paper lunch bags to put the plastic bag with the used appliance in so it wasn't offensive to my roommate.  She couldn't see anything except a lunch bag in the garbage.

 

I absolutely loved Rome!  I'm jealous!  You will have a wonderful time and see all that you are learned about in school.  Enjoy yourself!  Oh, I almost forgot!  They charge you to use the bathroom.  Yep!  So carry change...euros.  They call it "pay to pee".  And, many of the bathrooms are co-ed.  Men and women use them so be sure to read the name on the door. 

 

I also went to Walmart and got travel toilet paper and carried that with me, too.  I'm not sure what store is like Walmart in the UK.  The travel toilet paper is a small roll of toilet paper in a plastic container.  Any store that carries travel supplies...things like plastic bottles, soap containers, travel size shampoo, etc....usually carry the toilet paper.  If you can't find any, I'd put some toilet paper in small plastic bags and carry a couple with me each day.  You may never need it but you sure would hate to be without it. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 7/23/2013 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Many thanks for all the replies. Things like emptying before boarding and carrying toilet paper are actually things I already do when "out and about" here in the UK.
One question I have is, do any of you take bedding with you when using Hotels/ B & B? I haven't had an accident in bed since my post surgery "teething problems", but do find it a worry. I am planning to take my waterproof mattress cover, mattress cover, and blanket, and then make up the bed with my own stuff each night. I have done this before in the UK. I don't think I'd get any sleep if I didn't do this, even though the chance of night leakage for me must be about 0.1 %!
Posted 7/24/2013 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
never ever took bedding. "touch wood" as you say in england (my hubby is a brit!) I have never had an accident in bed. think positive .. you will be ok. you are going on vaca.. let your mind and body rest.
Posted 7/24/2013 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I don't take that much bedding, but i do take my small waterproof pad. I traveled one night without it and couldn't sleep at all. I ended up going to the bathroom and wadding towels up to lay on.
Posted 7/24/2013 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
I have two waterproof pads I take with me. I actually use one at home, too. If you did have a problem these make it a snap to clean up.

Sherrine
Posted 7/24/2013 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Wow are you guys fastidious.. I've never traveled with bedding, a pad, etc. I slept over at my SO's apartment like nine weeks post-op without a pad or anything special... I know accidents happen once in a while, but it's been 2.5 years already!! You're probably about as likely to "poop the bed" as a person with a colon.
Posted 7/27/2013 9:48 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck firstly on your - trip do not go with any preconcieve thoughts - it really is no difference with or with out as all the Security is a pain whether you have an ostomy or not
I now have started long haul as I live in the Philippines and have to return to the UK so I have amny hours of fun - Tell the security that you have an ostomy - tell them that you have in your hand baggage a small amount of fluids to clean if required - show them - I can tell you they pull away quite quickly as they are far more embarrassed than you - try to sit in an aisle seat near the loo that gives you more confidence should anything happen - tell one of the stewards/stwardess in ase you have to move when the seat belt sign is lit - I do not have a Radar Key so have to use the public convenience but I just get on with cleaning and treat it as a natural part of my life and smile at anyone who pays me to much attention - if need be ask the toilet attendant to open up a private are if you are embarrassed
Really do not panic - smile at all the security - as long as you have prepared you will be fine - enjoy the trip and say hello to Rome for me
Cheers
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