Travel Tips for New Ileostomates Visiting Hot Climates

Hi Guys,

New ileostomate here. Planning to travel to Italy in June. Looking for recommendations on how to prepare myself and have everything I could possibly need. 

First things first I bought one of those L L Bean fanny packs that I've been wearing everywhere with a full change worth of stuff in it. Works amazing. Haven't actually needed it yet but it gives peace of mind.

It's going to be hot there (Amalfi region). Any concerns about sweating or heat breaking down my appliance? Advice to combat this?

I'll be bringing my electrolyte mix obviously too.

Any advice is welcome!

If you are flying, bring supplies onto the plane with you as well as packing them in your suitcase; that way, if you get separated from your luggage, you still have supplies. I don't think heat will affect your seal, but I am not sure; maybe someone else can voice an opinion on that. It is really hot in the summer here in IL, but I have never had a problem with that. I suppose you could bring some wafer extenders to use. The fanny pack is a great idea for when you are traveling; that way, you have a change wherever you go. Definitely keep hydrated when you are in the heat. If you can, bring your electrolyte drink mix with you when you go out so that you could slip it into a bottle of water or a glass of water; that would be good. If you can, bring individual packets with you. And above all, HAVE FUN!

Take supplies on the plane with you. Also, if you are checking in more than 1 suitcase, pack supplies in each one in case a bag gets lost. 

If you don't use precut wafers then cut the ones you will take on the plane at home. Obviously you can't take scissors through security. 

I'd pack scissors in your checked luggage just in case. 

Hi Susan,

I'm reading on the TSA website that scissors are permitted provided they are under 4" from the pivot point.

I still use the cut to fit wafers because I'm less than 2 months out from surgery so everything is still changing size wise. Otherwise I hope that by June it will have settled to a final size.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Then you are more informed than me!

Cut 1-2 holes before you go and take those on the plane with you. Put your scissors in your checked bag with your other supplies. The TSA site might say they are okay, but then you run the risk of getting the one TSA agent who's going to save the airlines by pulling your scissors and causing you a headache that can easily be avoided.

Hello,
Great area of Italy to visit.  My favorites are Positano and Revello.  We always travel by cruise ship.  When we were younger, we would arrange private tours from Salerno. Which were great... but bathrooms along the Strada statale 163 Amalfitana were limited.  Our private tour guide had contacts that allowed us to use hotel and restaurant facilities.  When "out and about" on your own, always carry Euro coins for public bathroom admission.  There's lots of stairs and walking.  Sip water mixed with electrolyte.  Don't chug.  Your body needs time for absorption.  Drink too much, too quick.. you'll pee it right out.  

Happened to me at work.  Passed out, hit my head on the way down.  Had an interesting Paramedic ride to the hospital.  Doctor told me... SIP.  Been fine ever since. 

I've flown on planes with my colostomy with no problem.  Been in 100 F weather (Phoenix, AZ) for 7 days, no trouble with wafer adhesion.   

I use Hollister 2 piece system with a Coloplast moldable ring under the wafer.  I like being able to quickly change a bag when necessary.  Plus easier to quickly burp out gas.  Make sure spouse not nearby...(ask me how I know 😇). 

I'm getting ready for a 20 day vacation to Florida/Caribbean.  Flying 5 hours to get there.  A day before flight, I'll just drink Gatorade Fit and 1 Ensure protein drink.  No food.  A day before returning home, I'll reduce food consumption and sip water. 

In a small carry-on backpack:  I'll pack 6 bags, 6 disposal sacks, 3 precut wafers, 3 moldable rings, M9 deodorizer drops, 15 adhesive remover packages, 6 pairs of nitrile gloves, spare IGGIE clip, 10 folded paper towels, 5 toothpicks, small package of Q-tips, small bar of Cetaphil soap in original box.  The backpack fits under the airplane seat.  

If my checked luggage is lost or delayed, or my carry-on gets misplaced... I have enough Ostomy supplies in my backpack for the entire trip.  

On a 12 day Alaska cruise/tour vacation, our checked luggage was delayed due to a plane crash.  All we had was our Carry-On cases.  Didn't receive our checked luggage until the last day of the vacation. 

On a 15 day Canadian cruise vacation, my wife's Carry-On was grabbed by an airport employee who thought it was abandoned.  She had left it at a nearby table while  ordering food.  No one knew where it went.  Eventually we had to board the plane without it.  My wife was pissed the entire vacation.  After returning home, it was discovered in lost and found.   

The rest of my Ostomy supplies are in my carry-on.  Ostomy scissors are in my checked luggage.  I know they are allowed in Carry-On due to size, but don't want TSA to stop me for a peek.  Checked luggage has my spray adhesive remover. 

My experience is with a well behaved colostomy.  An Ileostomy could be different.  I sometimes go 2 days with no output.  Rarely does my bag fill up quickly. 

Happy travels.

Hi -

Take twice the supplies you think you will need for your trip and scatter pack as mentioned above. Coloplast offer bulb-nosed surgical scissors that I've never had a problem with but as Alex says you never know. I would also get the local location / address / phone # of your suppliers (Hollister, Coloplast, Convatec, etc.) in Italy as emergency back ups if needed.

Have a great trip,

Bryce

Good idea about supplier info while in Italy.  Expect.. the unexpected.

Wow. Fantastic write-up! We will be spending most of our time in Sorrento with a long day trip with a tour guide to Pompeii and Vesuvius. Another self guided trip to path of the gods hike down to Positano (no car so all handled via form of public transportation 🤞)

We will probably go to Capri too and the last day in Naples to ensure we are close to the airport but otherwise Sorrento is the home base.

I was always worried about bathrooms when we went to Portugal last year and I was in a very much active UC flare. Did not end up being an issue. The colon was peculiarly cooperative for our day trips (so sad that it had to be cut out 😓(not really)). Hopefully I will be able to time my bag so that I'm not emptying on the side of the nature trail. At least I will not be bleeding and miserable and chained to the hotel toilet for the first 1.5 hours like in PT (I did enjoy that trip very much regardless fyi)

Good advice for keeping a full weeks worth of supplies in the carry on. And even if the TSA website permits scissors, I know how. . . ignorant some of the agents can be, for lack of a more family friendly word.

Hi Bryce,

How does the local supplier thing work? I didn't think of this because I wouldn't expect that there would be suppliers locally in every country. Maybe just a select few.

Hi - If you Google Coloplast or Hollister Locations you can get the contact info for their many branches worldwide. Also, if you email USA Customer Service and tell them what country / dates you plan on visiting they will send a 'Heads Up' to that branch. I was told Customer Service enjoys doing this as it sparks corporate interactions globally. Coloplast did this for me on a fly fishing trip to Argentina, Chile and Patagonia, while I didn't need any extra product there was great peace of mind knowing I was covered.

Best, Bryce 

PS: Coloplast Italy is in Bologna 

Available widely worldwide except maybe in some very remote areas, but usually costs much more than in the US.

I dont know what the temperature and humidity is like in Italy. I live in Indonesia and it is hot and humid here all year round. Luckily I have air conditioner at home but sweating can be a problem if you are out and about. Other than what the others have suggested which are all fantastic, I would also suggest getting portable fans small enough to cool your appliance, and a cool gel pad to stick on your skin if it gets too sensitive from the heat (this is what I do, in fact I have it on everyday when it gets too hot because it is monsoon season here right now and it gets so hot right before it rains). Enjoy your vacation!!

I make packs of supplies. Each pack, in a plastic ziplock bag, contains a cut barrier, barrier ring, bag, two wash cloths, trash bag, and an alcohol wipe. I make these packets when my supplies arrive each month. Because I’m on Medicare, I can only get a 30 day supply at a time. For me that means 10 packs. I carry 1 pack with me at all times in my purse. I’m getting ready to take a cruise so I’ll put all the packs in my backpack and carry on. I’ve ordered additional supplies from Amazon. They carry everything I need. 

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I make up these packs too though I keep a few things like my bonding cement and wet wipes out.

Very handy not to have to pull out my supplies individually  if I have a leak. Also, managing 2 ostomies means I have twice the stuff to keep up with so this simplifies it a bit. 

I keep a small package of wet wipes in my purse with packs for both ostomies in my (now) huge purse. I can go without bonding cement in an emergency, it just reduces my wear time. 

Hi. Yesterday I was on a flight for the first time at having colostomy surgery 5 months ago. I checked my pouch several times in the bathroom to be sure everything was OK up to the time we landed, there was no output,  but as soon as I got off the plane my pouch filled up and burst all over me while I was going through immigration. Has anyone had that problem and does anyone know what caused it?

Never an issue for me. Probably just your nerves, everything relaxed and POW….crap all over yourself.