Thought I should say hello to you all and introduce myself. I have a colostomy and a urostomy, Boris and Donald, and have been living with them both for what seems like forever but is actually less than 2 years. Generally get along with them both, with the odd exception, but as they are both bags for life I need to! Humour has been a good way of coping I’ve found...so I do try my best to laugh at the sometimes unfortunate situations which can happen being a double bagger!
Haha! A few folk would have trouble with Milngavie! I’m from way up north-Dornoch-but I’ve been living in England for almost 10 years now. I’m glad to now be living close to an excellent specialist cancer hospital...funny how things turn out. I must have a read of the life and times today to see your story.
Hi Artsie Ann
I’ve managed 2 holidays since restrictions lifted, first one to Spain to test how easy it would be, and just back from the Canaries.
It was a huge learning curve with two bags, but I’m glad to have coped. Biggest tips would be:
Carry a change of clothes in your hand luggage, along with more supplies that you think you would need for the journey.The first time I travelled my colostomy bag burst on the way to the airport and so I needed a change of clothes as soon as I got in the airport and it was only 5am! It burst again on the transfer bus to the hotel in the resort. Nightmare.
The bags do not blow up on the plane-I had wondered about this!
Make sure you can change your bag in a very restricted space, ie the plane loo. It is possible-I managed it.
Take loads of supplies. Airlines will allow a free “medical bag” allowance, which I’d used the first time I travelled, but it was extra hassle so didn’t bother the second time. I took 3 times as much as I thought I might need and split it between my luggage and my partners. My partner also took a change of clothing for me in hand luggage along with some supplies. Having 2 bags means having quite a lot of stuff-my urostomy requires more stuff than the colostomy.
I travel with special assistance, so am in a wheelchair nowadays but I coped-there was a bit of snapping between us due to stress but overall it was fine. It’s given me more confidence to travel now, and in fact we have another 4 trips booked. My bags behaved well on holiday-not a single leak or burst-and i was able to go swimming and basically eat and drink whatever I wanted. If you get the chance to travel, go for it! I didn’t want my stomas to stop me doing what I love. xx
Hi Sarah
Thank you so much for the advice. You’re my hero, on a plane in close contact with Boris and Donald would be a nightmare shutting them up! Both would be tweeting and bubbling. It’s good to know they behaved themselves and you had a lovely time. it’s actually really funny you’ve got great sense of humour. Thanks for making me smile
I haven’t seen my Grandchildren in the flesh since Christmas 2019 as it’s been one thing after another, my son works in critical care in, my daughter-in-law equally was on twelve hour shifts in Hospital.
Ireland had very strict rules about travel and rightly so as there’s less hospitals than here. From door to door it’s ten hours travel by car!
Plane is an hours flight and couple hours drive Tipperary is a long way like the song says.
We loved to take our van using it like Santa's Sleigh.
Usually we go to Ireland December and June and Spain April and October. Furthest we’ve been in two years is Exeter. We spend most of our time going for hospital appointments.
So thank you so much for your posting. I will try and arrange a trip for next year now. I want to make sure that this new variant is okay first.
Ann
Here they are arguing as to
who’s Left and Who’s Right
Ann
Well done Sarah A lot of people have been thinking about that ..There a a only one way to find out .Respect to you I have a friend who went up 5 Munroe,s
...
Alaine
Boris is a popular choice of name Glad you're using your Scottish humour Ramsay .Can you imagine what it would be like at the Stoma Clinic All the wee Boris full of 
...Alaine
Hi Artsie Ann
If you get the chance to travel, take it would be my advice. If something happens with either bag, I just have to get on and deal with it. No-one knows me, and I will never see these people again who may have seen me dashing to a toilet covered in poo!
I always said I didn’t want my stomas to dictate how I lived my life. I love to travel and didn’t want to give that up, and although it is a daunting prospect, it is very possible to enjoy going abroad much in the same way as before. You just need to be prepared. Having gone abroad twice now, I feel way more confident about it and glad I pushed through my fear of it.
We actually have another 4 holidays booked, and I hope you can get something arranged next year. It’s worth it! xx
