Travelling with stoma bag products?

Oh Moira, that’s no fun being in so much pain. I could not cope without my hot water bottles-I have nice ones from Boots which retain the heat very well. I even take them abroad! I’ve maybe been the only person in the Maldives and Bali with hot water bottles! I find they really help and are better than my heat pad in the microwave.

I used to be up several times to the loo in the night, and I’ve fallen twice doing this so be careful! One of the benefits of bladder removal is not getting up in the night to the loo but it was a bit drastic!  

To be honest, any break from our own surroundings is a good thing-I get fed up of being stuck inside. We did have a caravan holiday booked last year following my daughter’s wedding but that had to be cancelled as it clashed with my gallbladder surgery. That made it at least 10 holidays cancelled since my original cancer diagnosis and it gets very tiresome! Now, I never actually believe I’m going till I’m sat on the plane! 

I really hope you can get your surgery done and get to the states. It would be fantastic for you to be able to visit your son again I’m sure and not be in pain! 

Sarah xx

Afternoon LenC,

Went to Lanzarote last year and was very apprehensive about security checks, with stoma supplies and insulin syringes, vials, etc. The scanner made a noise (coins in my pocket) and I was frisked after explaining about the stomas, but carefully and with great understanding. Next, the bag scan showed up a variety of horrors and I was called to one side. I explained my health issues and discreetly, without any fuss, the security chap opened my medicine bag to see the contents for himself. There were no concerns and he wished me well. This was at Gatwick and I can only congratulate the security team for their training and understanding over what is a potential security issue. The adhesive remover sprays are only in small canisters and I believe they are permissible now. Don't forget to take a prescription form with you as proof and print out an online certificate from your supplier to explain your condition. Should a situation start to escalate then stay calm and quietly ask to be taken to a private room where you can prove your case. Our medical details are not for public consumption.

The return flight was even easier. Have a good trip and try not to eat and drink too much before boarding the 'plane, but make up for that when you land!

Dulac

I’ve just sent for a couple of hot water bottles from Amazon, hopefully they’ll work! It’s funny, (not) that you take hot water bottles to the Maldives but anyone who has this pain would sympathise! I worry about falling during the night but I’m one of these people who are wide awake instantly, I’ll still be very careful though! I get so thirsty but I’m scared to drink after 6pm, having type 2 diabetes doesn’t help either! We’re all told to drink when we have stomas but then we’re up all night, we can’t win! 
Heavens Sarah, all of those cancelled holidays! I’ve never stopped moaning about one! This year, for all its just a cottage in The  Lakes, I’ve taken out insurance! 
My son and his family came over at Xmas and it was lovely to see them all but it was very hard work to act cheerful all the time! Here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2024 for all of us!  Holidays being fun and days at home being warm, sunny and pain free!
Moira x

Hi again LenC 

Things were very straightforward for my flight the other day. I had my spray in my liquids plastic bag, and they took each item out, looked at it and put it back in the bag. 

In a slight change to what usually happens, they obviously could see my bags on the scanner as I went through and discreetly asked if I had a colostomy. When I said I had 2 bags, the lady did a drug swab round my waistband after patting me down, and that was it-I was on my way. Very easy.

Sarah xx