Travelling with long-term treatment effects

Your stoma nurse can give you advice about issues such as:

• your diet and fluid intake while you are travelling
• activities such as swimming
• managing your stoma during long journeys or flights
• how high temperatures can affect the glue used to secure the stoma bags.

Make sure you have stoma supplies to last throughout your trip. If you pack about twice the amount of your normal supplies, this helps you be prepared. You may need to change your stoma bag more often than usual, or you may be away for longer than planned. It is especially important to take extra supplies if you are going somewhere hot.

It is a good idea to split your supplies between different items of luggage, in case any get lost. Pack essential supplies in your hand luggage, where you can reach them easily. If you are flying, remember there are rules about carrying scissors and liquids. Always check and follow the advice of the airline you are travelling with.

Some stoma suppliers deliver abroad. Check whether your supplier offers this service before you travel. Store stoma bags in a cool place, away from direct sunlight. Use bottled or boiled water or wet wipes to clean around your stoma.

If you have a colostomy or an ileostomy, it is important to be careful about what you eat the day before you travel.

Avoid spicy foods, fizzy drinks, alcohol and foods that cause wind. If you are travelling on a plane, the changes in air pressure may cause increased wind in the stoma bag. It may help to add an extra flatus filter, which helps wind to escape.

Your GP or stoma nurse can advise you on medicines you can take if you have diarrhoea. These may include anti-diarrhoea medicines and rehydration powders. You can buy these in a pharmacy or supermarket. Or your GP can prescribe them.

If the diarrhoea is severe while you are away or continues for more than 48 hours, it is important to see a doctor.

A travel certificate includes details of your medical condition. It can help explain your condition to travel officials, such as airport security staff. The certificate includes your name, address and passport number, and is signed by your doctor.

You can get a stoma travel certificate and find more information and advice from:

• IA (Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association)
• Colostomy UK
• Urostomy Association
• your stoma care nurse.

These tips may help you prepare for your trip:

• If you need any vaccinations before your trip, avoid having injections in the affected limb if possible.
• If you are planning a more active holiday, talk to your lymphoedema specialist before you travel. They can give you advice to help you protect the affected area.
• Ask your specialist for information about lymphoedema and air travel. If you are flying a long distance, you may need a compression garment. This should be measured and fitted properly for you by a trained specialist.
• Ask your lymphoedema specialist if there are exercises you should do while you are travelling. These may help prevent a build-up of fluid in the affected area. When booking travel, you could ask for an aisle seat. This gives you more room to move around.
• Ask your GP or lymphoedema specialist if you need to take antibiotics with you. This is in case you develop a skin infection called cellulitis. Cellulitis can become serious if it is not treated quickly. The Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) has guidance for healthcare professionals on using antibiotics to treat cellulitis when you have lymphoedema. They also have factsheets called ‘What is Cellulitis?’ and ‘Management of Cellulitis in Lymphoedema’. You can download an order form on their website.
• Ask your lymphoedema specialist, pharmacist or travel health clinic for advice about protecting your skin when you are on holiday.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of getting lymphoedema or making it worse during your journey:

• Avoid sitting in the same position for the whole journey.
• If you have lymphoedema in your arm, try to move it as often as you can. Carry shoulder bags or heavy luggage with the other arm if possible.
• When you are travelling, move around and do gentle stretching exercises regularly. While you are sitting, circle your ankles, move your arms and legs, and try some deep breathing.
• During long car journeys, stop regularly to get out and walk around.
• Try to give yourself plenty of leg room when travelling. To allow space to stretch your legs, do not put anything under the seat in front of you.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and shoes.
• Wear compression garments or stockings if your lymphoedema specialist advised this. Follow their instructions about when and how long to wear them for.
• Use a wheeled suitcase you can pull, to avoid extra strain on your muscles.
• Ask someone to help you with luggage – especially if you need to lift bags into overhead storage.
• Drink plenty of water, but not too much caffeine and alcohol, to avoid getting dehydrated.

There are things you can do to help with lymphoedema when you are away:

• If you have lymphoedema in your arm, be careful lifting and pulling heavy bags with the affected arm. Take care not to put more strain on your arm than usual. Ask someone to help.
• Take care of your skin by keeping it clean and using moisturiser every day. Avoid getting sunburnt, as this can increase swelling.
• If you have lymphoedema in your leg, do not walk barefoot on a beach or around a swimming pool. This reduces the risk of cuts and possible infection in your foot.
• If you get a cut, scratch or graze on the affected limb, clean it straight away with soap and water. Put on antiseptic cream and cover the affected area.
• Swimming or moving around in water is good for lymphoedema. You do not need to wear a compression garment while swimming because the water creates enough pressure. After swimming, shower and put moisturiser on your skin – sea salt and chlorine make the skin extra dry.
• It may be best to avoid saunas and hot baths in case this increases swelling. Keep the affected area as cool as possible.
• Protect yourself from insect bites and tell a doctor straight away if you have any signs of an infection.

It is helpful to plan what you will do if you need help while you are away. Find out where the nearest hospital will be and take their contact details with you. Check if they have an ear, nose and throat (ENT) department.

Make sure you have everything you might need and think about how to pack. It is a good idea to split your supplies between different items of luggage, in case any get lost. Pack essential supplies in your hand luggage, where you can reach them easily.

You should look after your stoma as usual. But if you are travelling somewhere warmer or colder, ask your doctor or nurse for advice. Your body may produce thicker or stickier mucus (phlegm) and you may need to take extra care.

Air on planes is very dry and can irritate your lungs. We have more information about flying with a breathing stoma.