I have an ileostomy and wondered if anyone on here has been to a music festival post-surgery?
Sorry if this seems like a silly question, but I was invited to one today and didn't feel confident enough to say yes because getting a spot close enough to the stage to see my favorite band would mean arriving at ten in the morning and leaving at ten at night, e.g., a twelve-hour day spent in a muddy field contending with using portaloos decorated by thousands of other music lovers. Then there's the worry of fighting my way through the crowds to get to the portaloos in time should I get a proctitis attack (which I get at least once a day).
I've tried quite a few things since my surgery as I told myself in the hospital that I didn't want to let this make me miss out on things in life, so in a sense, I feel like I let myself down in saying no, but on the other hand, I'm not going to enjoy the festival very much if I'm on edge all day because of the poor facilities.
Have other ostomates braved music festivals? Am I worrying unnecessarily?
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When you get there, scope out the loos more so you know where they are. You don't have to be super close to the stage if you need insurance in case you need to make a quick trip.
I go to shows all the time and I don't let my colostomy stop me.
As one ostomate previously said, don't let your ostomy define you or your activities. Enjoy the show!
How to Manage Emotions with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister
If they don't play ball with you, simply drop your kegs and empty your bag in front of them.... They'll listen and take action then.
Aside..... I have a RADAR key for UK disabled WC's (about 7000 of them) that subscribe to the RADAR scheme. Key entry helps to keep bogs cleaner. However, I went to the O2 in London last year and had a run in with an idiot who questioned my level of disablility when accessing a non-RADAR disabled loo, i.e. "Your not disabled, you don't have a wheel chair!"). My son tore him off a strip while I went to the disabled loo. I wrote to O2 recommending they make ALL their disabled loos RADAR key. They replied that they would remove RADAR locks to make access easier !!!!!!!!!! What idiots....
Anyway, go for it for your festival, but ensure you take double supplies, and spare clothes, and a couple of black bin bags. You may need them,
Go and have fun. Just be sure to take tissues with you in case there is no TP in the portable johns. That's usually the only problem, if any.
You can do anything you want! That's why you had your surgery...
The facilities are basic but to be honest I got on ok with the portaloos, if anything I was probably getting on better than the colonistas because I didn't have to sit down and come into contact with the dirty things.
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Plus the looser ileostomy output flushed away fine (sorry to be graphic!).
Provided you have spare supplies with you, maybe take your own loo roll etc I would recommend this to other ostomates who want to see live music. You shouldn't have to miss out.
Thanks to everyone on this thread who encouraged me to go, it was a day in my life I really wouldn't have wanted to miss out on.
There's no such thing as graphic when it comes to output.
Glad you went! And that it was such a good time.
Looks like your months of plotting paid off.
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Hi Scott, I was wondering the same thing too! I went to see Machine Head back in May, but it was indoors and I had seated tickets - I didn't want to chance a mosh pit just yet! But I will be going to a concert in September which is outdoors, so thanks for the heads up! BTW, totally jealous you went to Download!!
Go, you only live once! I went to Creamfields last year; it was amazing. I actually forgot about my bag, well, until I needed the loo! Haha! ☺
Although it's a ways away, it will most likely be before my reversal surgery (if recovery time would mean missing the concerts, I'll wait until June!). I'll be going to see The Brian Jonestown Massacre two nights in a row near the end of May. I'll be meeting up with some local fans from a BJM Facebook page for dinner or drinks before and would also like to be up near the stage during the shows, which means not having a set position. I'm feeling nervous about my bag as it's not really feasible to have a tote with a change of clothes and supplies up there with me. I should find out if the venues have a coat check. The majority of the time I've only had problematic amounts of output earlier in the day but the last three nights I've suddenly had such a large amount that I could not ignore it in the middle of a show. I recently canceled a couple of volunteer opportunities for live theatre because I'm still nervous about navigating social events and those would have been my first with a bag. I will have a seat at the Henry Rollins show next month, though, so it should be good practice and I might gain a bit more confidence about tackling the upcoming lengthier and less-structured events.
I have done a few music festivals since my Ostomy in March of '17. It was so much easier than in days past where I'd have to trek (run!) to the porta-john! I did very well, even drinking a little too much one night, I navigated dumping in a porta-john. With a little preplanning, it's super easy.