Going abroad

Evening Seymour,

I understand your concerns. However, having flown three return trips to Spain and the Canaries now you really have nothing to fear. I have two stomas.

Thinking it through I decided not to need to use the aircraft lavatory by avoiding excess food and drink before boarding. Use the conventional lavatory in the airport (a 'disabled' cubicle is more comfortable) to drain your systems before boarding. Ask the cabin staff for a seat belt extension if the standard one is too restrictive. Keep all of your stoma supplies in your hand luggage under the seat so you don't lose them. Tell the airport security team - without fuss - that you have a stoma before allowing them to pat you down if the scanner alarm should sound. They are very considerate. Be prepared for your hand luggage to be set aside once it has been scanned and remember that you can request a private room to answer any questions. Again, I have not had to do that and I carry round-nose scissors, hypodermic syringes, needles and insulin with me as well. Remember to make an honest declaration to your travel insurer. I did and they seemed to appreciate it by treating me most fairly. By the way, cabin pressure doesn't cause the pouch to explode!! Print out the foreign language advice note to security teams that you should be able to download from your supplier's website and take a recent NHS prescription with you to show that you are genuine.

The heat didn't cause a problem but remember to dry your skin completely before applying a new pouch. Sweat can affect adhesion. Treat swimming like a shower and don't immerse your pouch in water for too long.

Finally, relax and enjoy your holiday and repeat the actions for the home journey!

Best

Dulac

Hi Seymour 

Lots of good advice there from Dulac .

I travel abroad frequently with 2 stomas (urostomy and colostomy) and it can be much easier than you might imagine. I don’t find the heat affects either stoma in terms of adhesion, and if I am staying somewhere with my own pool I do tend to spend quite a lot of time in the water. 

I’ve found airport staff to be discreet and respectful-they are very used to people travelling with stomas. Sometimes I am patted down, and other times I’ve been taken to a private room with a female member of staff for a quick visual check.

I travel with more supplies than I think I will need-it’s better to have more than potentially run out. I have asked for an additional baggage allowance only once and received it with no issues. I do take some of my extra supplies in my case in the hold, but take most in my hand luggage to be sure I have them with me. 

I do have a coffee at the airport, and I eat and drink on the plane. I have only once needed to change my colostomy bag on the plane, but make sure before every flight I have empty bags before boarding. 

Being anxious, as I was before my very first flight, increased my output, but now I’m not anxious it’s much easier.

I hope you enjoy your holiday-I’m doing 4 this year-2 down and 2 to go and it becomes easier with each trip.

Sarah xx

Good morning Dulac

Thank you so much for your kind response. All the information you provided has really put my mind at ease and I’m grateful for all those tips you supplied regarding the flight.

kind regards 

Seymour

Hi Sarah

Thank you so much for replying.

Getting this advice and reassurance has really helped calm my anxiety.

Enjoy the rest of your holidays

Seymour x

Hi Seymour

I’m glad you’ve been reassured by our replies to you. I understand your anxiety on a first trip, but hopefully it can be the first of many for you. I’ve gone as far as the Maldives without incident, and love my holidays! I’ve been determined not to let stomas stop me, and they don’t. 

Sarah xx

Hi Dulac i'm very pleased to hear about your experience . I was shocked recently at Schipol airport where I have been many times. I was stopped after going through the scanner - told them I had a stoma ( I have a RIG and am enteral fed). They made a fuss which everyone else in the queue witnessed , then they called another security officer - took me to a cubicle - told my husband who is my carer he couldn't come ( I have speaking difficulties) - They were all speaking Dutch so I didn't know what was going on. I was led to a cubicle by two officers and had to show them my stoma and dressing- they then asked me to remove the dressing pad ! I was so upset, vulnerable and really feel that this was a disgraceful way to be treated. Do you have any advice or info as to how I could  avoid this type of treatment in the future? My husband has made a complaint to the airport but I am feeling so upset about it all it makes me feel like I don't want to travel abroad any more.

Hello michellek4,

How unpleasant that must have been for you. 

Many airports now have adopted a green lanyard scheme where those with disabilities or conditions requiring special treatment (like us) can obtain - from the airport information or special assistance desk - a lanyard to wear. The lanyard is a signal to airport and security personnel - who have been trained on the subject - that the wearer might require particular assistance when negotiating security clearances and the like. In fact, if you look at Schiphol Airport's website there is a useful section regarding this, written in precise English. I fear that you were just unlucky in this instance. The security people have a difficult job: lots of tense passengers anxious to get through as quickly as possible and yet having to filter out ingenious ways of smuggling drugs or explosives through the scanners.

In the half dozen times I have passed through the security checks in English and Spanish airports the English have always taken me to one side to discuss my health issues following scans and have always been polite and understanding. No fuss at all. The Spanish authorities just wave me through. I do inform them of my personal circumstances before the process commences and undergo a body search the same as others who have been selected after the bleeper sounds. It is fairly easy to download a standard letter from your stoma supplier, written in several European languages, describing the nature of your medical requirements.

None of us want to draw attention to ourselves and I would have to decline if asked to remove stoma pouches or my glucose sensor on cost grounds and the lack of an immediate replacement being available. I hope it never comes to that. At Gatwick my insulin vials were once taken away to be analysed, but only after I received assurances that the insulin would not be contaminated and would be returned to me quickly. All done, no trouble and smiles all round  It hasn't happened since and I guess we all learned from it. I now keep all of my supplies in one cabin bag that doesn't leave my sight until I reach my destination.

Don't be put off from travelling otherwise the terrorists and smugglers have won!

Dulac