Travel Diaries: Packing my life (and stoma supplies!) into a backpack | by Summer
I’ve made a pretty big life decision lately; I’ve decided to quit my full-time corporate job, sell my flat and spend the next year travelling around the world!
It’s been a crazy few months trying to prepare for it all, including working out how to fit my entire life, and all of my stoma supplies, into a 65L backpack!
So let me explain what’s brought me to this point, how I’ve had to prepare and what’s next.
Why now? And why travel?
I’ve always wanted to travel, but for various reasons, the biggest one being my health – I just haven’t been able to.
Back when I was 19 and first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I had to cancel my interrailing backpacking trip because I was too unwell.
Fast forward three years and two surgeries later, at 22, I felt like I needed some stability. I got a full-time job in London and pushed those thoughts of travelling and seeing the world to one side.
So you might be thinking, “Why now?”. The answer is simple: if not now, then when?
So I’ve quit my job, sold my flat and I’m packing my bags (both kinds!) and heading off on the adventure of a lifetime…
Packing three months of stoma supplies
Initially, I thought I would be able to order 12 months’ worth of stoma supplies, package them all up myself, take some with me and leave the rest with family and friends who could either post them out or bring them when they came to visit.
Unfortunately, once I spoke with my GP, they explained that this wouldn’t be possible; they could only issue three months’ worth of prescription supplies at one time.
So, I ordered my first three months of supplies through Respond. I usually change my bag every couple of days, but when I’m travelling I tend to change it either every day or every two days, especially if I’m going to be in and out of the water a lot.
So here’s what I’m taking for my first three months:
● 90 ModaVi bags
● 2 large and 1 small REFRESH sprays
● 40 Respond barrier wipes
● 90 eakin freeseals®
● 3 packs of wet wipes
● 3 packs of disposable bags
● 40 flange extenders — mainly for scuba diving! It sounds like a lot when you see it written down, but when you rely on these supplies every single day, I’d much rather have too many than not enough.
Making sure I’m covered abroad
Travel insurance has always been non-negotiable for me, but even more so now that I have a stoma.
The trouble is that standard travel insurance policies often won’t automatically cover pre-existing medical conditions.
So I started looking at providers that specifically offer cover for pre-existing conditions, including Staysure and InsureandGo.
The most important thing is to be completely honest about your medical history, including recent hospital admissions, surgeries and diagnoses, so you know your cover is actually valid if you ever need to use it.
It can be more expensive, but for me it is 100% worth it for the peace of mind. There are also ways to reduce the premium depending on where you’re travelling, how long you’re going for and the level of cover you choose.
In the end, I went for a year of worldwide cover. That means wherever I end up over the next year, I know I’ve got medical cover in place should I need it.
What I’d say to anyone thinking of doing the same…
If you’re considering long-term travel but you’re worried about how you’ll manage with a stoma, I think that’s completely understandable – but it shouldn’t stop you!
Will you need to be more organised? Yes.
Will you need to carry medical supplies around with you? Yes.
But will having a stoma stop you from travelling? Absolutely not.
As with any trip when you have a stoma, it takes a little bit of forward planning. You need to make sure you have enough supplies, a plan for getting more while you’re away, and the right medical insurance in place.
For me, my stoma is obviously a part of me, but it doesn’t define me. More than anything, I’m just grateful that it has given me the opportunity to be well enough to do something like this.
Final thoughts…
Preparing for long-term travel with a stoma has definitely taken a bit more organisation, from working out how many supplies I’ll need and how I’ll get more while I’m away, to finding the right travel insurance and somehow fitting everything into my backpack.
But if there’s one thing this whole process has reminded me, it’s that having a stoma doesn’t have to stop you from doing the things you want to do.
My first stop is Bali, and I can’t wait to share what travelling long-term with a stoma is really like, including the highs, the lows and everything in between!
And now the travel diaries can officially begin…
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