Cruising with an Ostomy: Seeking Advice for Excursions

I'm new to this world, ostomy, and complications last August. I'm on a cruise in the Sea of Japan. I'm afraid to leave the ship for excursions; I have to empty the bag every 90 minutes and feel insecure about finding bathrooms, etc. Any advice? I'm feeling sadder and sadder.

Have done many, many cruises. Don't let having an ostomy define you. Go and enjoy each and every excursion. Carry extra pouches if wearing a two-piece system. Now, just show us amazing photos of enjoying yourself. 🍷

Japan's public toilets are incredibly clean and sanitary, and they are also one of the few countries in the world that has some public toilets designed with ostomates in mind (large sinks and hand-held shower heads). While these ostomy-specific toilets may not be in every port you visit, don't let that deter you from getting off the boat. Japan is a fascinating country; it seems a shame to be missing out on what's on offer on land just because you may or may not have to use the facilities, which I'm sure a cruise director will be able to tell you where they are available.

Below the toilet sign, the symbol with the cross on the abdomen is a toilet designed for ostomates.

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And also, the below link is a PDF article from an ostomate from New South Wales who visited Japan and her experiences with the public toilets (pages 6-8). Good luck, and I hope you manage to enjoy an excursion in the land of the rising sun (I'd be doing the Geisha tea experience if it was me!) 🇯🇵👘🎭🍵🌿😌

https://www.ostomynsw.org.au/docs/2019_Nov/Ostomy_Summer_2018.pdf

Do you have a 2-piece system? The kind where the bag snaps on?

That's what I use. It takes less than a minute to take off a soiled bag and snap on a new one.

I use Hollister. They supply dark-colored disposal bags in each box of pouches. On cruises, I wear a small backpack while on shore excursions. If my bag gets somewhat full, I just get out a disposal bag and a new pouch. As soon as I'm able, I turn away, unsnap the used pouch, and snap on a new one. The used pouch goes in the disposal bag. I tie a double knot to seal it. I put it in a plastic shopping bag, roll that up, and put it in the backpack until I can properly dispose of it.

I just got back from a cruise to Aruba, Curaçao, and Grand Cayman Island. I had no trouble due to my ostomy.

That is so cool. I wish they had ostomy-friendly toilets here in America. That would be so helpful.

How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister

What are you wearing? An ileo? Or colostomy?

Have you tried eating foods to help slow down and bulk up output? Every 90 minutes?

I think I'd be afraid of passing out more than anything else, hon.

I've had my ostomy for 17 years due to bowel cancer. I have had a lot of flights over the years, but never a cruise. So, although not quite the same, we taxied to Heathrow from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK, then had a flight to Oporto, Portugal, to meet our ship to sail down the River Douro for 7 days on the ship, then 2 days on land in a hotel before our flight back to Heathrow. Not one single problem all holiday. Great trip, but I have to say I am one of the lucky ones. I can eat and drink whatever I like and do 😂. You need to build your confidence up, and you will be fine.

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Living the life. 😉

Japan is awesome. I spent 10 days there last October. Long bus rides, short train rides. We pulled into a truck stop, and the gorgeous bathrooms flipped me out. Even the floors were sparkling. All their toilets have digital seat warmers. Even a place to park your baby while on the throne. They are big on accessibility. I had horse meat for lunch. Japanese take pride in their country. Drop a gum wrapper, and they pick it up and hand it back to you.

Talk to your Ostomy RN. 90 minutes if you eat a ton with liquid. Small meals with very little liquid. Sip all day long. You will hydrate better, too.

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I have to give you credit for enjoying the beach without a shirt on. It's been two years since I started this journey, and I still can't take my shirt off in front of people, even family, and I always have my shirt off on summer days. I'm coming to London in a few weeks; how are the public bathrooms there? Thanks, Ray

Enjoy your trip…. Don't worry about a bathroom… they are everywhere. To help going forward, try taking Imodium to slow things down… works like a charm and can take 2 to 3 times a day.

I take 2 Imodiums 4 times a day, per doctor's orders!

I just did my first trip with an ostomy and was also worried. It's hard to do things for the first time. I did take Imodium, avoided gassy foods, and ate bread the morning of my flight. Also, I had a hydration powder in water on the way to the airport. I kept thinking of my friends with small bladders or diverticulitis who need bathrooms more often than I do to empty.
I had a wonderful trip and will go for longer next time.

My first time swimming too! I went in and then realized I forgot the sticker over the filter. No problems. I did wear the adhesive extenders around my bag.
Best of luck, you are doing a brave thing traveling in the first place.

Find reassurance in what others have already recommended. I remember my last cruise prior to surgery. Spending hours both on and off the ship in bathroom stalls as I changed Depends and, occasionally, trousers, sometimes balancing on the metal side handles because the public restroom toilet was filthier than any Andrew Dice Clay limerick. I remember being up to 60 mg of Prednisone with dwindling results while always measuring the distance to the nearest restroom. Pre-stoma cruising was a nightmare at best, bordering on personal tragedy. Post-stoma cruising is, at worst, an occasional restroom pit stop to empty your output. Enjoy your cruise...

I have a high-output ostomy requiring frequent empties. I use a thickening agent like Metamucil or even some Imodium to slow things down and make results more dense. This helps me through countless social occasions. Riva, enjoy your cruise! Eat, dance, and certainly go ashore!

Look into Stealth Belt. That's what I use more for support with my shirt off out in the water and water parks too. I have a hernia, so my bag sits sticking out. No one even gives me a second look shirtless.

Thank you so much for sharing. My wife and I are thinking of traveling to Japan, and your comments were very helpful.

If I may, have you had or do you know what it's like for ostomates in South Korea? Is the experience similar to what is found in Japan?

I haven't been to South Korea myself, but I have heard that the public restrooms are fairly similar to those in Japan.

I found this site that has a link to a map of Seoul's facilities:

https://partners.shuttledelivery.co.kr/blog-posts/seoul-citys-public-restroom-map-the-hidden-resource-you-need

Dave, still trying to get the nerve to go in the water. Nice tan!

Me too. Game changer

Not always great. We do have this cool lad that means any business has to provide you with a bathroom if needed if you have a card to tell them. Mother and baby places are good too, by the way.

I go offshore fishing on small boats with no "head." I take supplies with me but mostly can get by for 8-10 hours. I eat a couple of eggs and maybe 1 toast and coffee an hour before departure. That has small residue. I take sugar energy drinks and eat little to no food until we get back to the dock. This greatly extends my time until the bag is full. I have been on cruises and find most, if not all, places tourists visit have some bathroom facilities. I still manage my intake volume and timing.

I have heard recommendations for using marshmallows to slow down output when you'll be swimming or away from bathrooms for a while. Has anyone tried this? If so, how many, how long before activity, any other tips?

I'm heading out for a long out-of-country trip next month and wondering if marshmallows are a good idea for the long flight or long days on a boat.

Let me know if you try this, Bcongress.