Traveling

Hi Fraser1 

I fly pretty often with 2 stomas-4 holidays last year. We have a thread in the stoma group about this which you might want to have a read through. Is the thought of take off with a stoma what worries you or is it a general worry about take off?

Sarah xx

If you search for travel in the search bar in the stoma group, you’ll find a number of threads where we’ve discussed travelling.

Sarah xx

Thanks for your reply it’s having the stoma part that worries me in case it balloons I have seen on the dr Google about it happening, so was wondering dose it help if you wear loose clothes or tight fitting Tried to search flying with a stoma at the top off the page but didn’t find anything . Can you tell me if you need any paperwork for going through customs thanks again 

Well, as I said I have 2 stomas-neither of them have ever ballooned on take off or at any other time during the flights. Search for the words”travel” or “travelling” within the stoma group specifically and multiple threads should come up as we talk about it quite often. I have never required any paperwork to travel-your bag will show on the security scanner so I have always been taken to a private room with a same sex member of staff to have a quick check over. 

Stoma Group

Im not a fan of dr Google in the slightest for things like this-I prefer to read lived experiences within the community. I don’t know anyone personally whose bag has ballooned. I would never wear tight clothing to fly as it wouldn’t feel comfortable for me, so I go with loose.But that would be my choice on a daily basis anyway. 

Sarah xx

Thank you again can I ask one more thing do they do the same on returning I am flying  back from Turkey have you found you get treat the same 

I haven’t been back to Turkey since my stomas, but my experience on return journeys from the destinations I have been to is that they paid no attention at all to my bags and I wasn’t questioned or given any additional searches. I’ve done multiple trips to Majorca, Lanzarote and also been to the Maldives. My experience on all trips is that they pay much more attention (but not in a bad way at all) on the journey out from UK airports. 

In the UK, airport staff are very used to dealing with passengers who have stomas and are discreet and respectful. I hope you have a lovely trip! 

Sarah xx

 Fraser1 hi. Try typing just ‘flying’ in the box in the stoma page and there’s lots of posts

 Ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy and any other stoma support 

You don’t need any special paperwork but you could download this to your phone if you wanted - there’s a page in Turkish?

https://www.respond.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travel-Certificate-web.pdf

Have a lovely time x

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../holiday-tips-planes-boats-and-trains

Thanks Ann-I couldn’t find it yesterday! 

Sarah xx

You really helped me have confidence Sarah. I also had read of bags exploding. Dr Google has a lot to answer to 

Fraser1

I would recommend loose dark clothing for your confidence taking spare again for confidence and eat light the day before and water when travelling 

Enjoy