Travel and IBD Part 4 - Travelling with a Stoma or After Surgery

If you have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) you may find the thought of travelling daunting. A change of climate, water, or food can upset anyone’s bowels. Yet many people with IBD travel widely, both in the UK and abroad. They may go for a short break or a long holiday lasting several weeks or months. With careful planning ahead it should be possible for you to travel to most places. This series of articles sets out to answer some of the questions that you may have when thinking about going on holiday or on a business trip. It also includes suggestions for people who have a stoma or have had surgery.


Can I travel with a stoma?

If you have an ileostomy or colostomy you may have particular concerns about travelling. However, with careful planning, having a stoma should not stop you from going away. It is important to take ample stoma supplies. You are likely to be eating differently and you may have to change your appliance more often than usual, especially in hotter climates. You may need to take more supplies than you think you will use – some people suggest twice as much as normal. You could check whether your supplier delivers abroad, as some companies offer this service. If you are travelling by air, taking your supplies in your hand luggage ensures that you are not without them should your luggage go missing. 

For detailed information about travelling with a stoma you can contact the IA (The Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group) or the Colostomy Association, or you could speak to your stoma nurse. For travel abroad, the Colostomy Association provides a Travel Certificate explaining your essential needs in many different languages. This can be especially useful when checking in at the airport or going through airport security.

Can I travel after surgery?

After any surgery, doctors usually recommend putting off any travel until you are able to walk around easily and to sit comfortably for the duration of a journey. People recover individually at different rates. This may be after 3-4 weeks, but it could be more or less, depending on the type of surgery and your general  condition. 

If you have had abdominal surgery and intend to drive, you will be advised to wait until you are able to make an emergency stop with confidence, and this can take several months. Your car insurance may not cover you if you drive before you are fully recovered.

If you are travelling by air, you may be affected by the pressurised cabin air, which expands the gases in your body. Following recent surgery, this could cause you pain and stretch your wound. In line with advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, many airlines restrict air travel for up to 10 days after surgery, depending on the type of surgery. You are also at increased risk of deep vein thrombosis after surgery (see article 1 in this series).

In Part 5 - Finding the right holiday accommodation and packing checklist