My friends and I are planning a 3-4 day horse ride in the Snowy Mountains of Australia. We will probably be staying in cabins at night with bathrooms and toilets. Phew!
My question is... how do I manage my ileostomy while riding all day through the bush with no toilets? Do I take a small shovel and dig holes?
I wonder if anyone has other ideas. Thanks.
First of all, good on you for getting out and amongst it, a sort of thing I have often thought of doing. I would consider small biodegradable rubbish bags and a small collapsible bin/bucket type of thing to put the rubbish bag into, to empty into, then discard the bag. I have one in the car. It doesn't take up much room, and you may be able to hook it to a tree at an appropriate height for convenience, then bury the bag.
Giddy up
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A small shovel will do the trick; it's quite easy to unload in the bush with an ileo. You don't even have to drop the dacks like the bowel intact do!
I can hear the whip cracking now, and I'll have that theme song running through my head for a while. Enjoy the snowies! 🐴🏞️🐎
https://youtu.be/3NBhLkavRFk?si=CuhGIfwHs6vTTdJq
What is your friend without an ostomy going to do? Are they going to dig a hole and go into it? If they can do it, you can too. I agree you can bring disposable bags and bury them. However, an ileostomy is usually liquid, so it's easy to empty, and you can pretty much dig a very small hole if you choose to go that way. Remember to bring plenty of water and other fluids to drink, such as electrolyte drop-ins or beverages. Keeping hydrated is important.
G-Day Jo,
The mountain men up in the Snowies are some of the best riders in the world, and that is my favorite film.
IGGIE
Love that film too; my grandpa could recite the whole poem of Banjo's "There was movement at the station for the word had passed around that the colt from Old Regret had got away"! 😊
Whenever I hear that theme song, I want to hop on the nearest horse! 🐴🏞️🐎
Totally agree, Jo. I liked the first Man from Snowy River with Kirk Douglas better than the second one.
IGGIE
3-4 days on a horse? Ouch, my "little buddy" would be miserable. 6 hrs on a mule in the Grand Canyon was painful. As a hiker and veteran, I've dug a few toilet pits. I invented a device to handle my off-the-road issue. Posted all the info to Henry and Iggy a while back. Use Doggie Park or Hollister bags, tie off - dump later.
I am tall and have difficulty bending over or squatting, so I must empty my pouch standing up. On Amazon, I found a flushable and biodegradable doggie bag (Petbro). They have never plugged up a toilet, and when spending time outdoors, I find some privacy off the trail, dig a hole, and use the biodegradable Petbro bag. Whenever I travel anywhere, I carry a backpack with complete changes, wipes, gloves, etc., anything I may need. Hope that helps, YAHOO rideumcowgirl! Terry
My Illeo spends many hours in a kayak - and as a full-time wheelchair user, I can't get out and wander behind a tree. I have, in the past, just emptied over the side of my boat, then rinsed things thoroughly, but I now travel prepared with the 'doggy bags.' I pre-prep a few with a scoop of cat litter granules and a few bits of toilet paper. Emptying onto the bag, wipe tail, drop paper into the bag, and tie off. Dispose of later. The kitty litter kind of solidifies, and you're less likely to spill anything! I now keep a plastic screw-top jar with a couple of these ready in my car, my kayak, and my trailer!