Grateful for Travel Tips and a Successful First International Trip

I just did my first international trip, and I am pleased to say that it was a huge success, with no ostomy issues in 17 days! I credit luck, and especially all the great tips and encouragement I got from this site and UOAA.

Some specific tips that worked for me are:

1. Using a diaper bag backpack to take all my supplies. I ordered one, and it was a great solution. So many pockets that it made organizing and using all my supplies very easy. And the backpack is stylish looking. I used it as a carry-on bag.
2. Wearing my sunflower medallion to indicate a hidden disability. That let me do pre-boarding.
3. Emptying my bag when I got to the airport, but before going through TSA, so they didn't see anything to stop me for.
4. Using seals over my flange for my spa day, so I had no issues with leakage.
5. Bringing an empty squeeze bottle into the bathroom on planes, boats, and trains to easily add water to the toilet to help flush down my waste.
6. Using the hair dryer in hotel rooms to help the flange stick well when doing a bag change.

Thanks all for so generously offering your hard-won experiences and wisdom!

Congrats, full speed ahead.

Very well organized, well done.

IGGIE

Thanks for the encouraging post! It sounds like you had a great time!

Pouch Potato,

How do you get the sunflower thing you're talking about? I've seen people from the UK reference it in posts, but haven't heard it referenced by anyone in the US (til you).

The diaper bag is what I used for all my ostomy supplies when traveling; you're right, the pockets help so much!

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hey potato. Thought about using a hair dryer to speed up crusting on my "little buddy." Glamping the AT next month. Got a cabin at Smoky Mt NP and has a hot tub. Been wanting to try one. Any advice?

I ordered mine from their site. Here's the link:

https://hdsunflower.com/

Here in the UK, we can get them free from supermarkets, airports, or any business that's signed up to the Sunflower hidden disability scheme. Not sure if it's free in other countries, but you can get them on Amazon.