Traveling with a Urostomy: My Adventures and Challenges

Well here goes, my first ever blog, hope someone reads it. I've had my urostomy for 15 years now due to a spinal injury. I try to live life to the full. I love going on holiday; Turkey is my favorite place, having been there for the last 6 years. Last year, we went to NZ, stopped over in Singapore for 2 nights to break the journey. It was a fabulous place, only one problem I had was the fact that because it was so humid, my stoma pouches wouldn't stick, which was bloody annoying when you're on a coach trip and hey, you have a leak. We had 3 amazing weeks in NZ, then back home via Hong Kong for another 2 nights. The only thing I found a pain was the long flights, especially with a stoma. I was scared to take a nap in case I slept too long and got a leak on the plane. But hey, it was okay. I am heading off to Poland at the end of this month, so I am looking forward to that. I think I will need my thermal long johns for that trip.

Be lucky, people. (And please comment)

Hi, this is my first ever comment on a blog, so here goes! I know what you mean about sleeping on a plane. I have an ileostomy which has similar problems with filling up, but I also worry, apologies for bluntness, about the smell I leave behind in the loo! Especially if there is a queue waiting. I still find that embarrassing even after 14 years as 'ladies' aren't supposed to leave a pong! I haven't yet had any leaks but usually empty it umpteen times before I board and put extra tape around the wafer to reinforce it. What we do in the name of stomas, eh? Hope you have a good holiday in Poland!

Oh, and I have never had any problems going through security either, which, judging by other people's experiences, is rare! I always carry my ileo card with translations just in case! Karen

Hi! Just wanted to let you know about a great product I found out about on this site from a fellow ostomate. It's called Just A Drop and you can order it online. It really helps a lot and my non-ostomy family members use it now, too and won't go anywhere without it. Tiny little bottle fits in your purse, plus they are great stocking stuffers!

Hi bmeup, Thanks I will look it up. Most of the stuff I get through my suppliers is a bit rubbish and sort of 'masks' odours so am all for trying anything new. Karen

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Just wanted to add that I spent six weeks in Poland in November/December 1991. It was a great trip and an interesting time to be there right after the communists pulled out and the wall came down. From Poland you can see many other places in a flash which is what I did. A day in Berlin, a day or two in Prague, etc, etc. Dress warmly!!! It is freezing cold there. You must go to the castle in Krakow, Old City in Warsaw. I stayed in Torun and it was beautiful! Happy trails!

About Just A Drop: Don't bother with the room spray. It did not help at all. The best thing for that which I have found is the M-9 spray. That stuff is awesome! And you can purchase a small purse size as well. Most medical suppliers carry it or you can get it directly from Hollister.

Thanks. I am with Amcare, so I will give them a call to see if they have it. If not, I will go online to Hollister. It should be good for home too as I have moved from a house with two bathrooms to only one, which is okay when it's just me and my daughter, but if she has friends over, I get a bit paranoid about it all as I don't want to embarrass her!

Totally understand! I have a 10 yr old boy, but am lucky enough to have my own bathroom. Good luck!

Totally get the plane travel and having to use the toilet. I recently travelled and was glad that nearly all the toilets had an air freshner in them which really helped. I also try to watch what I eat before I travel. Thank you though for the information on the sprays one can get.

Wow, loads of comments! I might carry on with this blogging malarkey. Today it's pouring with rain in wet Central Scotland. I've walked the dog, came home, washed, and changed, and now I'm ready to go to school. I'm not a pupil; I do youth work around the schools in my area. Have a nice day, lucky people!

Hi Gordon, I think I will continue commenting too, as I get some useful info on here. It's cold but sunny in North East England, but I'm sure your rain is on its way here! I just popped home for a cuppa, then back to work. Have fun.

Hi Kazza (what's your first name?) The rains never stopped here today; it's damp and grey, but never mind. I'm done for the day, so it's coffee time for a bit, then dinner to be made. Beef biryani tonight. And hey, it's nice to see someone from the UK on here. Catch up soon maybe, be lucky.

Hi Gordon, I have noticed that there aren't too many uk members, especially on the forums. I am off back to work soon but home around six thankfully. I will probably have a feta and red pepper tart for my meal tonight (not home made though)then quiet night in. I'm Karen. Chat again soon.

A drop of peppermint oil in the bag helps with smell or aromatherapy oils.

Hello Gordon. Thank you so much for your post. I used to go to NZ regularly before the ostomy. But I have been reluctant to consider it since. I also have other medical stuff that I would need to carry and it all seemed like too much of an effort. However, your post has got me rethinking my position and maybe I will consider it a challenge to embark upon for the future. It was good to know that you are from the UK as journeys to NZ from here are so long and if someone else can do it without major problems I don't see why I shouldn't give it a go.Best wishes Bill

Bill, go for it. I informed the airline that I had a stoma, so I got a seat near the toilets (not too near though, as you end up with loads of people standing next to you in the aisle queue). As you probably noticed, I broke the journey up by stopping over on the way there and on the way back.

Karen, I hope you enjoyed your feta tart for dinner last night; my biryani was tasty. I haven't got full membership unfortunately, so I cannot email anyone :(

Hi Gordon, yes it was lovely. Should really have made my own but dont seem to have the time. Have made a stew and dumplings for tonight to warm me up when in from work! I haven't got full membership either lol

Morning Gordon, the weather here is frosty but sunny! My car needed de-icing (groan) but at least the weekend is almost upon us! :-)

Afternoon Karen, hope you have thawed out from scraping your car this morning. It was cold and wet here again this morning. I was up early and away to Perth first thing. When I came back home, I was forced to wash the car as two bloody taxis almost ran me off the road on a narrow country lane! It's a shame we don't have full membership; that way we could email each other :(. I will give this a try though: dbusman@hotmail.co.uk. Put it together and you know what you have. Hope you have a great weekend. I am off to a couple of gigs this weekend, going to see Chuck Ragan on Saturday and Fran Turner on Sunday. Google them; I'm sure you will enjoy! Gordon

Hi Gordon, just googled Chuck Ragan... very good. Reminds me of some of Bruce Springsteen's less raucous stuff! I am off to the theatre tomorrow to see The Woman in Black. Have seen the film version, which was good, but the theatre version is supposed to be a lot scarier! Will let you know if I get spooked by it... my friend has booked us seats near the front!!! Will check out Frank Turner too. Have a great weekend too. Karen

Hey Karen, enjoy the theatre! I love going to it. If I could afford to, I would go every weekend! I can't remember seeing The Woman in Black, but please let me know how it was; it might tour and come to wet Scotland! I was out seeing Greg Davis last night; he was so funny. In fact, I had sore sides from laughing. In my last post, I gave you my email... it was wrong, doh! It's dbusman09@hotmail.co.uk. I know it's normally blocked out, but I will try it. Have a fab weekend, Gordon.

Have given it a try. Check your inbox to see if it works! Karen

got you thanks. Gordon