The holidays are fast approaching and I, like many of you, have travel plans! I belong to a number of online support groups and see a lot of anxiety about flying with an ostomy so I thought maybe I could ease some of your concerns. Here’s my collection of tips for flying with an ostomy.

PACKING

Bring extra ostomy supplies.

I always bring two to three times as many supplies as I would typically use in the time I’ll be gone. It might bulk up my luggage a little bit, but the peace of mind knowing that I’m prepared for the unexpected is totally worth it. Speaking of luggage…

Bring other ostomy-related comfort items.

I am pretty active and almost always wear some type of hernia prevention or support belt while I’m exercising, so I always bring one with me when I go on vacation as well. I also make sure to bring any bag covers, wraps and high-waisted spandexy shorts that I might need for the outfits I’ve packed. Sometimes I also bring a travel size of something that smells good in the bathroom because I often feel self-conscious about how stinky the bathroom smells after I use it (3oz or less, in a clear plastic bag with all my other travel liquids).

Pack supplies in multiple pieces of luggage.

If I’m bringing a carry-on and checking a bag, I’ll pack supplies in both pieces of luggage, making sure that there’s enough to last my trip in each one. If I’m traveling with someone else

and I’m not checking a bag, sometimes I’ll ask if I can put some supplies in one of their bags. Usually I’ll pack my supplies in a little travel bag so everything stays together and is easy to grab when I need it. Having supplies in multiple places is helpful because it means I’m still covered if something happens to one of my pieces of luggage. Speaking of carry-ons…

Keep your emergency kit easily accessible.

I may not bring my ostomy emergency kit with me everywhere I go when I’m at home, but I do bring it with me on my travels. I keep it separate and easy to get to in my carry-on or purse so that I can get to it easily on the plane if I need to, scissors and all (see the next tip below).

AT THE AIRPORT

Bringing medical supplies through security

In the USA, medical supplies (including ostomy scissors), are allowed to be in your carry-on (meaning you can take them through security). I used to be really afraid to pack my scissors in with my carry-on supplies, but it’s never been a problem because they’re less than 4” from the pivot point. I usually still pack my scissors in my carry-on if I am in a different country and don’t know their rules, BUT I also make sure to have pre-cut wafers with me and more scissors in my checked baggage just in case the scissors get confiscated.

You can also bring medications and medically necessary liquids (even in excess of the standard 3oz rule.  I tried this once and was so anxious about it that I forgot to pull my laptop out of my backpack and got a closer screening because of that.  It’s easier to put that anxiety in your back pocket when you’re informed so here’s the TSA policy on bringing medication and liquids:

“Medications in pill or other solid form must undergo security screening. It is recommended that medication be clearly labeled to facilitate the screening process. Check with state laws regarding prescription medication labels.

You are responsible for displaying, handling, and repacking the medication when screening is required. Medication can undergo a visual or X-ray screening and may be tested for traces of explosives.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer that you have medically necessary liquids and/or medications and separate them from other belongings before screening begins. Also declare accessories associated with your liquid medication such as freezer packs, IV bags, pumps and syringes. Labeling these items can help facilitate the screening process.

3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption

You may bring medically necessary liquids, medications and creams in excess of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag. Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You are not required to place your liquid medication in a plastic zip-top bag. If a liquid, gel, or aerosol declared as medically-necessary alarms, then it may require additional screening and may not be allowed

Accessories

Ice packs, freezer packs, gel packs, and other accessories may be presented at the screening checkpoint in a frozen or partially-frozen state to keep medically necessary items cool. All items, including supplies associated with medically necessary liquids such as IV bags, pumps, and syringes must be screened before they will be permitted into the secure area of the airport.”

TSA Precheck

SO WORTH IT! I have TSA Precheck and it has totally been worth the registration cost and the time it took for me to go do the little interview they make you do. Not only does it save a ton of time because the lines are usually shorter, I don’t have to take off my shoes and I get to go

through the metal detector instead of the body scanner. I usually go to the bathroom to empty my pouch before I go through security, but it’s more out of habit and old anxiety (bathroom urges while waiting in a TSA line were horrifying back when I had a colon and an IBD flare). The metal detector doesn’t notice my ostomy bag because there’s nothing metallic in it, so having TSA Precheck usually allows me to skip a pat down and conversation about having an ostomy.  I’ve gotten the pat down at Precheck a couple times because they still try to randomly select passengers for optimal safety, but it’s been very non-invasive. In fact I think last time I got selected, they just tested my phone for explosives by wiping it down and testing the wipes.

TSA has their official screening policy for folks with ostomies listed clearly on their website (select “ostomies” from the dropdown toward the middle of the page). The portion related to TSA Precheck passengers says:

“Passengers with an ostomy in TSA Pre✓® lanes can be screened without having to remove, empty or expose the ostomy by advanced imaging technology (if available), metal detector or a pat-down.

If the ostomy alarms during screening, you will be required to conduct a self pat-down of the device outside of your clothing, followed by testing on your hands for explosives.

If you are unable to conduct a pat-down of your device, TSA officers will test your hands for explosives. TSA officers will resolve positive tests using other screening methods including a full pat-down (without touching the ostomy) and inspection of your property. Pat-downs are conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender.

Screening involving a sensitive area may be conducted in private with a companion or other individual of your choice. You may request screening in private at any time.”

No TSA Precheck

Without TSA Precheck, the body scanner it is. My experience has been if I tell the body scanner agent that I have an ostomy BEFORE I put my hands up and let them scan me, then they just have to do a little basic wipe test on my hands when I get out and I’m on my way. If I don’t tell them I have an ostomy until AFTER I’ve been body scanned (because inevitably it shows up on their little detector thing), I get a full pat down plus the hand wiping test.  I’m happy to report this, because it shows that my experience is consistent with their policy (listed below).

TSA has a notification card you can print out and hand to the agents if you’re uncomfortable with verbally disclosing your ostomy to them. You can also call TSA Cares 72 hours before your flight and arrange for a TSA Supervisor to meet you at the airport and escort you through security if you’re concerned.

The TSA screening policy for folks with ostomies who do not have TSA Precheck says:

“Passengers with an ostomy in standard lanes can be screened without having to remove, empty or expose the ostomy by advanced imaging technology, metal detector, or a pat-down. If the standard lane does not have advanced imaging technology or if you are eligible for expedited screening, you may be screened by a walk-through metal detector.

The ostomy pouch is subject to additional screening, and may require you to conduct a self pat-down of the ostomy pouch outside of your clothing, followed by a test of your hands for any trace of explosives. You may also undergo a pat-down of areas that will not include the ostomy pouch. Pat-downs are conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender.

Screening involving a sensitive area may be conducted in private with a companion or other individual of your choice. You may request screening in private at any time.”

They do ask that you inform the TSA officer of your ostomy, including where it’s located, either verbally or by providing the TSA notification card before your screening begins.  Communicating with them up front gives them the opportunity to do their jobs in the best way they can while offering us the same level of kindness and discretion they offer to everyone else.

Bathroom break!

Airlines are pretty good about letting you know what time your plane is scheduled to board, it’s about 30 minutes before your departure time for domestic flights and an hour ahead for international. I try to go to the bathroom one last time just before my plane is going to board so that I’m starting my flight out with an empty pouch.

ON THE PLANE, YOU’RE FLYING WITH AN OSTOMY!

Overhead Compartments

A lot of us use overhead compartments on airplanes, but lifting a bag from the ground to up above your head and then shoving it into an overhead compartment can use all kinds of muscles you might not be used to using.  It’s important to be really careful when lifting things as a method of hernia prevention. Some ways to be careful are to wear a hernia prevention belt and to be sure you’re bending and lifting with your legs, not your back.  If you’re more recently out of surgery, or don’t know much about proper lifting form, ask for help. Asking for help can be hard, but your health and wellbeing is way more important than what you think any airplane stranger might assume about you. Plus, you don’t have to tell whoever is helping you WHY they’re helping you, just say “excuse me, do you mind helping me put my bag in the overhead compartment?”.  So listen to your body, if your lifting your bag makes you hold your breath or just doesn’t quite feel right, it’s probably too heavy for you to be lifting. Trust me, no hernia is worth trying to do something on your own instead of asking for help.

Aisle seats.

I used to be a window-seat girl. I would sit as far back in the plane as I had to just to get a window seat. Those days are over. I’ve come to really appreciate aisle seats. Often they’re available closer to the front of the plane which means you get to get off the plane faster, and they also give you easier bathroom access. It’s little things like not having to ask two people to move out of their seats to let you use the bathroom that take a little anxiety out of flying with an ostomy.

Bathroom Break!

Airplane bathrooms can feel a little cramped and the toilets definitely function differently from the ones I’m used to. An anxiety I’ve had has been that not all my poop would get sucked down by the toilet vacuum, it’s rare that my poop is liquid enough to just swish down. To combat this (are you ready for some TMI?), I put a couple pieces of toilet paper into the toilet bowl and stand to empty, aiming to have my poop land on the toilet paper. Next, I sit down/hover to pee, and I try to aim my pee to hit any poop that might have missed the tp first and then I try to saturate the rest of the poop. Last, I flush. Thankfully, this method has worked pretty well.

If you’re concerned about the smell, you could bring a travel size poo-pouri or some other type of deodorizer on the plane with you. I always feel a little bit bad for whoever goes in after me, but we’ve all got to poop and poop can be smelly so…

I’ve seen some questions about whether ostomy pouches fill with air on the plane and I’m happy to report that anecdotally through myself and friends, they don’t fill any more than they would on the ground. It doesn’t seem like there’s any real affect on my ostomy or pouch from flying.  But, you’ll be sitting in an aisle seat so you’ve got a straight shot to the bathroom if you feel like you want to triple check!

Enjoy your flight.

I’ve always enjoyed flying, and flying with an ostomy is not really different. The hardest part is getting through security (and, it’s not hard). One common concern seems to be about getting extra air in your pouch. I can only speak for myself, but this has not been an issue for me.

You know how your body reacts to food and beverage consumption, so be mindful that it will probably react similarly on the plane. Example: If brussel sprouts give you gas and you’re worried about excess air in your pouch on your flight, you probably don’t want to eat brussel sprouts in the day/hours leading up. If you feel like your pouch is filling with air and want to burp your bag, a quick trip to the bathroom can solve that pretty quickly and is much kinder for your neighbors.

Sleeping on the plane.

I have been blessed with the ability to sleep nearly anywhere regardless of noise and brightness and planes are no exception. One thing I liked about window seats was the ability to lean sideways to support my body while I slept.

Since I’m an aisle sitter now, I either try to sit up straight and hope that I don’t fall over, or more often, I put my tray table down, cross my arms on it and rest my head on my arms. The disadvantage to sleeping in a forward bend like this is the anxiety that comes with wondering if I’m going to give myself a leak by blocking the way for my output.

Usually before I fall asleep like this, I go to the bathroom to empty my pouch and then make sure there’s a little bit of air in my pouch to make way for more output. I also try not to eat a ton right before a long flight, so that I’ll have less output to worry about. When I’m anxious about leaks, I’m keep my ostomy in my awareness and stretch/move/press on my pouch periodically to make sure there’s still room for output to move around.

I hope these travel tips were helpful for you and that you feel way more confident about flying with an ostomy.

Have any tips about flying with an ostomy to add to this? Share them in the comments!