Road Trips with an Ostomy

Tips for Carefree Road Trips

Now that you have an ostomy, the idea of taking long trips can seem daunting. But with a little extra preparation, you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Walt Brilhart and his wife Lallah have certainly not let Walt’s ostomy stop them from taking their annual drive to Hilton Head, South Carolina—or anywhere else! Keep these tips in mind when planning your four-wheeled getaway:

Plan the Route

Several trip-planning websites have tools and settings that allow you to identify rest stops, restaurants and gas stations on your specific route. When planning your trip, it helps to look for routes that offer frequent rest stops, so you’ll always know how far it is to the nearest restroom.

Pack Extra Supplies

Make sure you have extra pouches, skin barriers and accessories so you’re prepared to change and empty your pouch when needed. Pre-cutting your skin barriers can help make pouch changes easier and quicker.

Plan a Road-Trip Menu

If you want to prevent excessive buildup of gas on your trip, there are certain foods that you should avoid. Cabbage, spinach, broccoli and sweetcorn are just a few. For more information, visit our Diet & Digestion page.

Pack an Excess of Essentials

Pre-cutting skin barriers can help make pouch changes easier and quicker. Alternatively, ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ skin barriers can generally accommodate any changes to your stoma without the need of accessories, meaning no scissors are needed.

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