@squeakyandliza

Is the concern that you won't have access to supplies?

If so, I would always suggest taking way more than you need (like 3-4x more if you really don't have access to order supplies while abroad).

Keep those supplies split up, just in case you are separated from your luggage.

I only travelled with carry-on, so it was easy to keep supplies with me.

When you are at your hotel, keep the bulk of your supplies there and carry enough for a day or two when you explore. The only time that I was caught off guard without my supplies was at a dinner event where I left everything in the hotel. Murphy's Law!!!

Depending on your destination, you might also want to research where any medical supply shops are, and double-check that you can purchase supplies without requiring a prescription.

I'm a fan of being self-reliant when it comes to supplies, so I'd rather assume that I will not have access and bring everything I need, rather than be caught in a situation where supplies aren't available.

Much of the planning will revolve around where and how long you plan on travelling.

Either way, have fun wherever you go!

I haven’t flown since my surgery 8 years ago, partly due to the surgery, but also due to Covid and caring for elderly parents. So now that I’m looking to travel again, I have concerns too. Like using the bathroom on the plane, for starters. I will probably irrigate before the flight away, but I won’t take my irrigation kit with me - so I will need to use the plane bathroom several times on the way home. It often has a long lineup 😕. Eric’s suggestion of bringing more appliance items than you will probably need is a good one, but I want to bring other items in a carry on too. Are ostomy appliances considered medical equipment that can be brought in a separate carry on?  I wish we had a Star Trek transporter so we wouldn’t have to worry about this!

Laurie

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I really like the idea of finding where I could get supplies in an emergency and if I need a prescription. 

My biggest concern is an emergency, either losing my supplies somehow, or a medical emergency with my ostomy. I know anyone could have a medical emergency in another country, but I feel like my risk might be higher than the average person. 

When we went to Hawaii, I had a small rolling suitcase as a carryon full of ostomy supplies and ended up only changing 3 or 4 times in the week, but better safe than sorry. 

Thanks again friends!!

@tigerlily

a transporter would be amazing!!  And that is a great question about if you can have another carryon with medical supplies. And I need to research if the rules are the same in the US as in the other countries we may go to. 

We are thinking about about a two week trip to Europe, including a River Cruise, and a couple extra days in Prague. There are so many places I want to go, but our best friends we travel with are set on Prague. And hubby has sold me on the River Cruise idea. Stopping in different cities every day and having the time to explore. Of course these same friends just got home from Scotland with another couple, so we might have to go there just the two of us. I’d love to do an England, Ireland and Scotland trip too. Plus added benefit—still a foreign country but at least we speak the same language. More or less. 🤣

Hi,

I have not yet traveled international but recently took a 2 week trip to the East Coast of the USA from the west coast.

We took only carry on bags so my supplies never were out of reach. 

TSA was no issue, on the way home I was pat down but it was done quickly with out fuss.

We traveled by plane and train.  Regarding using the bathroom on planes / trains I just make sure not too wait too long, I usually need to pee long before I need to empty my pouch.  

I use the Coloplast two piece system (one click) and it was always secure, no issues.   I packed quite a bit more supplies than I needed, my ostomy supplies probably would have easily lasted a month.  

I stayed a few days at friends house and on the first day just told them briefly that I had an ostomy reason being wanting I could leave my rinse water bottle in the bathroom with out them tossing it into the recycling.

It was a bigger issue transporting my track and field equipment, the ostomy concerns were non issues.

Regarding emergency services, that is a bit trickier and probably depends on the country.  I was traveling in Italy once and need to see a doctor and the biggest issue was communicating with him.  Fortunately my travel partner spoke German and they managed in German.

Travel insurance is a consideration as well as medical evacuation insurance. I like Medjet https://medjetassist.com/   but I have not read the fine print on their service yet.

I plan to sign up for medjet or a similar service when we travel next year.

Enjoy your travels!

cygo