Traveling With An Ostomy
Packing Your Ostomy Supplies
Running out of ostomy supplies might become one of your travel anxieties, but not when you do a little planning beforehand. That means you are going to have to start packing well ahead of the day you will be traveling.
Amount of ostomy supplies you need to pack
When traveling, you need to consider packing at least 2 – 3 times the amount of ostomy supplies. For instance, if you are planning for a month-long vacation, and you change your appliance every five days, you will need to pack at least 15 – 18 ostomy appliances. You may not know the impact of weather and other conditions on your ostomy. Furthermore, you cannot rule out running the risk of leakage and other reasons leading to ostomy failure.
Packing ostomy supplies for air travel
You can pack your ostomy supplies in the hand-carry luggage. In America, you can also pack your base-plate and cutting scissors along with ostomy supplies and other related accessories. However, there are some limitations regarding the blade size of the scissors. So, the best practice is to cut all of the ostomy bags to size before packing them in the hand-carry bag.
It is normal to have concerns about security checks you are going to have to pass through. That’s when you can consider reaching out to TSA’s passenger support. You need to have a TSA notification card to show to officers if you must disclose your ostomy. The card will save you from having to explain your condition.
If you are planning on traveling out of the USA, you need to be more mindful about packing your ostomy supplies. Do not pack all of your it in the hand-carry bag. Instead, pack only a few that you will need until you arrive at your destination. It is crucial to obtain information about airport security policies in the country you are traveling to. You can also keep an ostomy certificate with you. This certificate will explain your condition in different languages, making it easy for you to just show the document and pass on.
Packing ostomy supplies for car travel
Packing your ostomy supplies for car travel is not as complicated as for air travel. With a few considerations, you can pack your supplies any way you like. Make sure that you are packing in the trunk or a place that receives sunlight in abundance. While you do not need to place your ostomy supplies at a cool place, you shouldn’t place them in a place with rising temperatures either. Placing them in a cooler without ice may be an appropriate option, as the cooler provides ample insulation.