Traveling With An Ostomy. Part 1: Preparing for your trip

Part 1 of my ostomy travel series covers:
- What to pack.
- TSA rules regarding liquids (and your ostomy supplies).
- Bringing medication and supplements.
- Snacks and beverages to travel with (and avoid).
- Which seats to pick on a flight.
Written article with more tips:
www.veganostom...
Part 2:
• Traveling With An Osto...
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[@angelforanimals7809]

Great information as usual. Another tip is to check online or with your supply carrier to see where their stores are located in your travel destination. If an emergency situation comes up, it's always good to know where the closest supplies can be bought. ✌️❤️✌️

[@EmilyParrisVideos]

This came at the perfect time! I'm only a couple months into having my ostomy, but I'm taking a trip across the country here in a couple weeks and really had no idea where to start. One tip people might consider, if you can (I know a lot can't) but I am shipping a bunch of wafers and pouches, an extra bottle of stoma paste, etc. to my destination. Of course if you were staying in a hotel this might be doable, but if you are visiting friends and family you could. I just didn't want to risk my luggage getting lost & having that added stress.

[@VeganOstomy]

Shipping your supplies may or may not be doable depending on the circumstances. If, for example, it's being shipped to a very hot, sunny destination, then I'd worry about the supplies being left in a delivery truck or warehouse for too long. I've had supplies ruined that way (both summer and winter). Nearly all airlines allow for carry-on and/or a personal item (backpack, purse, etc.) to be brought on the flight. I find that keeping them with me ensures that I know exactly what environment they're in. Good luck with your trip! =)

[@donnalanphear3567]

Thank you for the always great information.

[@mikejrexec]

Great tips. I also take along extra ziplock baggies (good for disposing of lots of things neatly) and my own set of old wash rags. I don't like using hotel wash rags to clean up after a change so use my own and throw them away in the baggies. One last thing, don't be worried about the x-ray machines in airports, I've been through tons and have never been asked about my bag. I think the TSA has pretty much seen nearly everything.

[@VeganOstomy]

I use gauze pads for cleaning around my stoma, but that's a good idea to bring your own rags if you plan to use those instead! Never been asked about your bag?? Wow! The TSA always "discovers" mine when I don't say anything =)

[@Astrid591000]

Thank uni Eric. I do travel abroad I never knew about barrier rings were classed as liquid . I always worry about how many appliances and other things to take in my carrier on my flight !

[@VeganOstomy]

+paulette Harris I was surprised when they told me that about the barrier rings! I wouldn't have thought about it.

[@umpintrains7308]

In Canada (and probably elsewhere) consider getting the Ostomy travel card (discussed at 3:47 of the PART 2 video) or it probable replacement, the (5 language) Ostomy "passport". If you are frequent flyer consider having the airline to add the ostomy to your member profile. BTW, since these are trip preparation tips you might want to add them to the written article

[@myfaceback100]

Great video but did you know that under medical guidelines all medical items are excluded from the TSA Guidelines. Also if they want to do a body search you can demand on a medical doctor to do the search around the stoma area and the equipment as they are the only one qualified to handle these devices.

[@VeganOstomy]

Yes, according to their rules, medical items are excluded from most of these rules. However, I find that you'll often find that making that assumption can cost you time and frustration if you have an agent who isn't caught up on the rules. Hopefully this improves over time 😁

[@barbaraferron7994]

What about CAR travel? It's 100 miles home from the hospital. for my husband who just had the surgery.

[@VeganOstomy]

There can be a few challenges with car travel, especially out of surgery. a) He may need to empty the bag before you make it back home. Be prepared to stop along the way. b) He may find that the seatbelt is uncomfortable - I use a foam seatbelt guard that reduces pressure on the stoma. c) It may be awkward for him at first to sit in a car. He may need to experiment with how he likes to wear his bag (i.e over his clothes, under it, vertical, sideways, etc..). Good luck!

[@cindysancinito7945]

Does this information still apply today when flying

[@VeganOstomy]

Pretty much! One thing that I would double-check (because these things tend to be ever-changing) are your airport/flight restrictions.