Travelling with a stoma

Can you go on holiday with a stoma?

Yes. Once you have recovered from surgery and are comfortable with your stoma care routine, you can travel almost anywhere you like. Airlines, hotels, cruise operators and airport security staff are used to travellers who have a stoma, and none of it should stop you going where you want to go.

What does change is your packing list and the amount of forward planning you do. Most of the advice on this page is simply about being prepared, so that if something does not go to plan you already have what you need with you.

Planning your holiday

If you are planning your first trip, it is only natural that you may be feeling apprehensive about travelling for the first time following your operation.

It is sensible to start with short trips away from home to build up your confidence. Once you feel reassured, and as your confidence builds, you can start to venture further afield.

When is it safe to travel after stoma surgery?

If you have recently had surgery, or have spent any time in hospital in the last six months, speak to your consultant or GP before you book anything, to check you are well enough to travel. It is worth doing so early, as insurers will often ask about it.

Plan ahead

What to pack when travelling with a stoma

The simplest way to pack well is to work backwards from your normal routine. Sit down and go through a full bag change in your head, or physically, and write down every single item you reach for. That list becomes your checklist.

How many stoma bags should I take on holiday?

Work out how many bags you would use on an ordinary day at home, multiply that by the number of days you are away, then double it and add a few more on top. It sounds excessive, but heat, different food and a change of routine can all mean you change your bag more often than usual. Spare supplies weigh very little and are worth their space in peace of mind alone.

A few other things are worth considering:

• If you normally wear a closed bag, pack some drainable bags too. Stomach upsets and diarrhoea can happen anywhere. If your output becomes loose, a drainable bag can be emptied instead of changed, which is kinder to your skin.
• Different sizes suit different days. A larger capacity can be reassuring on a long flight, while a smaller, more discreet bag may suit the beach or the pool.
• Take enough additional products to cover the whole trip, including anything you use for skin protection or adhesion.
• If you use cut-to-fit bags, cut them to size before you leave. Scissors are not permitted in hand luggage.
• Ask your Stoma Care Nurse whether they can put you in touch with a Stoma Care Nurse in the area you are visiting, so you have a contact if you need one.

Where should I pack my stoma supplies?

As a rule, keep the bulk of your supplies in your hand luggage. That way they stay with you, they are easy to reach, and they are not affected if your hold luggage is delayed or goes missing.

It is still sensible to split your supplies, though. Keep a reserve in your suitcase, or in a travel companion’s bag, in case your hand luggage is ever mislaid or you are separated from it.

Putting together a small travel change kit

Alongside your main supplies, make up a small kit holding just what you need for one change: a bag, wipes, a disposal bag and any accessories you use. Keep it somewhere easy to grab. It means a trip to the toilet can be quick and discreet, without unpacking your whole bag in a cubicle.

Do I need a travel certificate for my stoma?

A travel certificate is not compulsory and no airport can insist on one, but many people find it makes life easier. It is a short card or letter explaining that you have a stoma and that the supplies you are carrying are medical items, and most versions are printed in several languages.

Its real value is at the security checkpoint, where it saves you having to explain yourself out loud in a queue, particularly abroad where there may be a language barrier. Contact Salts Healthcare or speak to your Stoma Care Nurse and we can supply one. It is also worth carrying a copy of your repeat prescription showing your product codes, in case you need to source replacements while you are away.

If English is not your first language, our translated stoma advice may also be useful to keep with your travel documents.

Stoma travel insurance

Once you have chosen where you are going, sorting out proper travel insurance should be near the top of your list. You need cover that takes your medical history into account, not just a basic policy.

What happens during the insurer’s medical screening?

Before an insurer will offer you cover, you will be asked to go through their screening process. This is usually an online medical questionnaire, though some insurers prefer a phone call with a medical adviser.

Be completely open at this stage. Declare your surgery, your stoma, any underlying condition that led to it, and anything else in your medical history. Withholding information, even accidentally, can invalidate a policy at exactly the moment you need it.

• Compare several providers rather than renewing automatically. Premiums vary a lot, and the first quote you get is rarely the best one.
• Specialist brokers who deal with pre-existing medical conditions are often more competitive than mainstream comparison sites.
• Colostomy UK, the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association (IA) and the Urostomy Association can often point you towards insurers who understand stoma care.

Travelling to Europe: GHIC and EHIC cover

If you are heading to Europe, a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) entitles you to state-provided medically necessary healthcare in EU countries on the same basis as a local resident. It covers treatment for pre-existing conditions that flare up while you are away, which makes it genuinely useful if you have a stoma.

A GHIC is free, lasts up to five years, and you should apply for it only through the official NHS website. Several unofficial sites charge a fee for what is a free service, so avoid anything that asks for payment. If you already hold an EHIC, you can keep using it until the expiry date on the card and then apply for a GHIC to replace it. Those with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement can apply for a new UK EHIC instead.

One important point: a GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. It will not cover private treatment, getting you home in a medical emergency, or a cancelled trip. Carry both.

What the new EU border checks mean for you

The EU Entry/Exit System now records UK travellers electronically instead of stamping passports, taking fingerprints and a facial image the first time you cross a Schengen border. You do not need to apply for anything in advance, but the checks can add time at passport control, especially in peak season.

For anyone with a stoma, the practical implication is simple: allow more time, use the toilet before you join the queue, and keep your change kit where you can reach it rather than packed away.

Border rules do change, so check the current position on GOV.UK shortly before you travel.

Flying with a stoma

Flying is the part that worries people most, and it is almost always less eventful than expected. A little preparation removes most of the uncertainty.

Getting through airport security with a stoma

Aviation security rules limit what you can carry into the cabin. Scissors must go in your hold luggage, and restrictions apply to liquids, gels and aerosols. These rules differ between airports and change from time to time, so check with your airline and your departure airport a few weeks before you fly.

Your hand luggage may be searched, and the scanner may pick up your stoma bag. If it does, you can expect a swab or a brief pat-down. You should not be asked to remove clothing or show your bag in public, and you are entitled to ask for the search to be carried out in a private room. Mentioning that you wear a stoma bag before you step into the scanner usually makes the whole exchange quicker and calmer.

Many UK airports also run a lanyard scheme for passengers with hidden conditions. Wearing one signals to staff that you may need a little more time or understanding, without you having to explain why. Ask at the assistance desk when you arrive.

Choosing your seat and managing wind on a flight

Arriving early gives you the best chance of getting the seat you want. An aisle seat close to the toilet is worth asking for, either at check-in or in advance through your airline or travel agent.

Cabin pressure can leave some people feeling a little windy. In the 24 hours before you fly, it can help to eat smaller meals more often and to steer clear of anything you know disagrees with you, along with rich or heavily spiced food and fizzy drinks. Our dietary and nutritional advice covers this in more detail.

Will my stoma bag balloon on a plane?

Changes in cabin pressure can cause a bag to fill with gas more than it would on the ground. It is uncomfortable rather than dangerous, and a bag with a well-designed filter will usually handle it.

Confidence BE® has a filter designed to keep letting wind escape, which helps reduce ballooning and neutralise odour. If you have a colostomy, some people prefer to wear a drainable bag on a long flight so gas and output can be released without a full change.

Travelling by car with a stoma

Long drives are much easier when you have thought about where you will stop. Plan your breaks around places you know have decent toilet facilities: service stations, roadside cafes, restaurants and hotels almost always do, and you should never feel awkward about asking to use them.

Keep your travel change kit and a spare bag in the car rather than in the boot, and take a bottle of water with you.

Toilet access on UK journeys and the Radar key

A Radar key opens most locked accessible toilets across the UK, which can make a long journey far less stressful. Your Stoma Care Nurse can advise you on getting one, and keys can also be bought directly from Disability Rights UK.

Food and drink advice for holidays with a stoma

General advice when you are abroad

When it comes to food and water abroad, the advice for someone with a stoma is much the same as it is for anyone else. Sensible precautions go a long way:

• Treat local tap water with caution in some countries.
• Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, cleaning your teeth and cleaning around your stoma.
• Avoid ice in drinks unless you know it has been made with safe water.
• Steer clear of food that has been sitting out for a long time, such as buffet dishes left uncovered.
• Wash salad and fruit before eating it.

Staying hydrated in a hot climate

Heat and humidity mean you lose more fluid than you would at home, and dehydration can creep up quickly. Drink regularly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty, plan fluid stops into your day and carry a drink with you.

If you have an ileostomy, water on its own may not be enough. Oral rehydration solutions contain the right balance of water, salt and sugar, so they are absorbed quickly and replace what you lose. In hot weather it is best to combine them with your usual drinks like water and tea, as large amounts of plain water alone can sometimes make dehydration worse. Ask your Stoma Care Nurse which one is right for you before you travel, and pack enough for your trip.

Keep an eye on the colour of your urine. You are aiming for a very pale yellow. If it gets darker, or you notice a headache, thirst, a dry mouth, tiredness or poor concentration, try to drink more fluids.

If you like fizzy drinks, letting them go flat first will reduce the amount of gas you take in. Alcohol is worth going steady with as it will dehydrate you further on top of everything the heat is already doing.

What to do if you get an upset stomach abroad

A change of climate, water or diet can unsettle your bowel, so it makes sense to travel prepared. Many people pack an anti-diarrhoeal such as loperamide along with oral rehydration sachets, which dissolve in water to replace lost fluid and salts and reduce the risk of dehydration.

If you have an ileostomy, an upset stomach can dehydrate you quickly. Use an oral rehydration solution alongside your usual drinks, and avoid relying on large amounts of plain water.

Both are available over the counter or on prescription, but check with your pharmacist or Stoma Care Nurse before you travel about whether they are suitable for you and how to use them, as the advice differs depending on your type of stoma. Always read the instructions carefully.

If your symptoms have not settled after 24 hours, or you are struggling to keep fluids down, seek medical advice locally.

How to store stoma products in hot weather

Heat is not kind to stoma bags. If your supplies get too warm, the adhesive can soften and you may notice it does not hold as well as usual, which can lead to leakage.

Keep your stoma bags in a cool bag or a sealed box, and store them in the coolest part of your accommodation, away from direct sunlight. Avoid leaving supplies in a parked car or on a sunny balcony, and take only what you need for the day when you head out.

Swimming with a stoma

Swimming is one of the most common worries and one of the least justified. You can swim with a stoma, and most people find their first time in the water far easier than they had imagined.

Will my stoma bag stay on in the water?

It will. The usual fear is that water will loosen the adhesive, but the opposite tends to happen. Once wet, the adhesive becomes tackier and grips more firmly, so your stoma bag stays secure while you swim.

Changing your bag after swimming

If you want to change your bag straight after a swim, you may find the adhesive is still tacky and peels away stickily, leaving residue behind.

The easy fix is patience. Dry the bag thoroughly, wait a few minutes and let the adhesive settle back to normal before you remove it. Many people also prefer to switch to a smaller bag for the pool or the beach.

Sunbathing with a stoma

There is no reason to avoid the sun. If you are sitting in direct sunlight for a while, it is worth covering your bag with a towel, a sarong or your swimwear, as the plastic of the pouch can magnify heat against your skin. This is about protecting your skin, not about hiding your bag. Whether you wear it on show or tucked away is entirely up to you.

Choosing swimwear when you have a stoma

What works comes down to personal preference and where your stoma sits. A few ideas that people find helpful:

For women:

• If you feel good in a bikini, wear one.
• A swimsuit with a lining or double layer of fabric gives gentle support and helps conceal the bag.
• Bold prints and patterns disguise any outline far better than plain fabric.
• High-waisted or high-legged bikini bottoms may sit over your stoma, depending on its position.
• A tankini top worn with bikini bottoms gives more coverage while still feeling like swimwear.
• A sarong is easy to wear around the pool and just as easy to slip off when you want to get in.

For men:

• If you are happy in swim briefs, there is no reason to change.
• Swim shorts are a popular choice, as they can sit above the stoma and are usually loose enough not to press on it.
• Shorts with a mesh lining give a little extra support for your bag.

Where to buy stoma-friendly swimwear

A number of companies design swimwear specifically for people living with a stoma:

• Aura Clothing: https://www.aura.clothing
• CUI Wear: https://cuiwear.com

Feeling more confident about your first trip

Practical preparation solves most travel problems, but not the feeling in your stomach the week before you go. If you are apprehensive about being seen, about changing your bag somewhere unfamiliar or about being far from your Stoma Care Nurse, you are in very good company.

Our guidance on emotional challenges and body image may help. It can also be reassuring to hear from people who have already done it, and our stoma support groups page can put you in touch with others who have travelled with a stoma and come back with a suntan and a few tips of their own.

Useful resources

The following companies produce swimwear for people living with a stoma:

• Aura Clothing: https://www.aura.clothing
• CUI Wear: https://cuiwear.com