An unusual question
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:46
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Footloose
Has anyone ever travelled with anyone who has a cholestomy bag ? How do they fare away from civilization, are there any special requirements apart from their medical supplies ?
Would such travel be inadvisable for them, or is it just a matter of me being unfamiliar and over cautious ?
Reply By: Muddies Doe(Trippn) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:50
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:50
Hi Footie
My uncle had one for many years and he travelled with it.
I suppose if one did all the right things then the risk of infection whilst travelling would be no more than it would be at
home?
Will watch for responses with interest.
Cya
:)
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:53
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:53
Thanks. Thank goodness I dont know much about em, just that their diet has to be watched for obvious reasons.
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Follow Up By: Muddies Doe(Trippn) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:11
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:11
Hi Footie
Me either, I suppose I should've asked back then as it too late now that my Uncle has since passed over many years ago now. But if you research as much as you can via the net you should have no problem really, your friend knows what to do. You just have to be there incase he/she needs you and I'm sure he/she has done it enough times not to call on you. I think it's great that you will be taking him/her, if you two do end up going. So, I hope you both enjoy what will be a very memorable time for both of you, with I'm sure many many laughs and cracking jokes along the way!
Cya
:)
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Reply By: Member - Clay G (WA) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:54
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 11:54
As a doctor I can answer that one. We have plenty of patients travel with stomas such as colostomy bags and there are no real preclusions to travel. Just make sure that you have all your requirements for bag changing to last for the journey and have some extras for unforseen delays. Small country towns often do not have much in the way of stomal supplies so they should not be relied upon to resupply you should you run short. So go off and enjoy your break!
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:01
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:01
Clay, your response is much appreciated. Basically I usually travel by myself, but this time I may have a passenger with one. He is
well aware of the need for extra medical supplies and has no question in his mind that he is
well enough for the trip, which involves remote area travel. He's not the problem, I am ! He tells me that infection etc isn't an issue and luckily we both exist on a bland diet.
I have to admit that I never thought that I'd be asking such questions, I'd always thought that the condition excluded such trips. Obviously not.
Thanks again.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:05
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:05
Footie and Clay, perfect reason for the existence and success of this
forum.
You can travel in knowledge know Footie, thanx Clay, sage advice.
Bonz
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:16
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:16
Bonz, you're so right.
Long story about the passenger, and nothings set in stone yet.
I console myself with the thought that if we end up like
Bourke and Wills, at least we'll be remembered for a long time :))))))
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 13:30
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 13:30
Footy,
Good on you for taking this "responsibility" on board.
Whoever your passenger may be, they will love you all the more for your support and understanding!
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Follow Up By: Member - Clay G (WA) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:10
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:10
Thanks for the kind comments...most appreciated. The only travel drama I can recall with a colostomy happened when I was on a Rugby trip to NZ. An unfortunate man suffered a cardiac arrest just after getting off a flight in Auckland. The bag had already distended with the flight pressure changes and this problem was exacerbated by my colleague filling his gut with resusucitated air. There was a very messy accident but fortunately there was a happy ending. The patient survived our clumsy CPR and QANTAS upgraded us (after a good clean up) to Business Class for the trip
home.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:24
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:24
Oh My Clay, you are hereby excused from telling storieds in future unless they have been checked by adminstrators hahahahahaha, what an experience.
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Follow Up By: Big Kidz (Andrew & Jen) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 22:49
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 22:49
The bowels and or bladder can open when someone collapses, colostomy bag or no colostomy bag. A colostomy bag shouldn't stop you travelling at all. Once you get used to managing it it should be no drama at all. Only things is making sure you have enough supplies, or arranging ahead of time for supplies to be there. Get out there an exploroz.
Andrew
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Reply By: Member - Paul J (ACT) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:26
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:26
My Father has had one for around 5 years now and has never had to worry about it, even a recent trip to Europe was fine, he just made sure he had enough bags etc with him for the duration of the trip.
So go for it, and enjoy the trip.
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Reply By: hoyks - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:26
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:26
What’s the worst thing about having a cholestomy bag??
Getting shoes to match!
(bad medical joke that)
My Grandfather had one and it didn’t stop him from hooking up the van and traveling up and down the east coast and spending just about every daylight hour
fishing.
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Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:58
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 12:58
I would like to know what happens to these bags once used? Footie I'm not wanting to steal the thread but was watching a program some time ago where someone had one of these fitted and I was wondering then. I wondered if disposal could be a problem.
Kind regards
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Follow Up By: ZUKSCOOTERX90(QLD-MEMBER) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 15:26
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 15:26
Beatit,when the poop bag is full you empty it out into a toilet as much as possible & then chuck it into another disused plastic bag seal it & put it into a garbage bin.It is not like baby disposable nappies that are not emptied first before they are put in to bins or left at truck,or any where on the roadside. People who use them still like to keep their dignity,Bob.
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Follow Up By: disco1942 - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:59
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:59
My mother had reusable ones. They had a plug on the front at the bottom – just like draining oil from a sump. Every now and again you took them off and washed them then reused them.
PeterD
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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 13:22
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 13:22
would give me the bleep s...
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:23
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:23
You guys!
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Reply By: Grizzle - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 13:47
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 13:47
"Colostomy" it's not my bag!
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:23
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 16:23
You guys!
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Reply By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 17:07
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 17:07
BAGS NOT joining in on the bad jokes.
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Reply By: Rosco - Qld - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 17:14
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 17:14
Footy
I was stuck with one a few years back. Luckily only for 3 months as a temporary measure. At least it wasn't a PITA ... LOL
Anyway, back to your orig query. Not a prob really, no doubt the bloke would make sure he had adequate supplies, but infection is not really an issue under normal circumstances. Go for it ... I would if I needed to.
No doubt he has a good sense of humour which helps no end. I had a mate up at Inglewood (Qld) who we visited during that time. He reckoned he was going to sell tickets all round the town ... "Come and see a bloke with 2 a'holes"
Cheers
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Reply By: Barnesy - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 17:16
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 17:16
As a Nurse i concur with Clay the Doctor. If your mate knows how to manage the colostomy and his stoma then there shouldn't be any problems.
He may have to be more vigilant with cleaning the stoma as he probably washes it in the shower now but obviously that could be difficult out bush.
One of those rubbish bags that hang outside on the spare could be an option.
A lot of these new bags have a charcoal air filter. When the gas is released through a type of valve the offensive smelling particles are filtered by the charcoal, minimising odours.
After a while you will forget he even has one.
Barnesy
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Reply By: Footloose - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 18:10
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 18:10
Don't BAG the post, f3ellas. It may be funny to us now, but one never knows what tomorrow will bring ! :(
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Follow Up By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 19:12
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 19:12
I sort of hoped that if I see the funny side now it will be good practice so I see the funny side then! But that's probably wrong; I'm sure to be a grumpy ol' bastard (just ask my wife!).
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Reply By: Mr Fawlty - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 18:41
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 18:41
As an aside but a related matter has any of you males out there had prostate problems that required Cystography?
I had mine done today, I was told by a mate that it didn't hurt but he told me the biggest untruth there. it HURT, by Jesus it HURT, I know, I should have asked to be knocked out for it but I just got a squirt of local up the urethra...
Now I'm wearing panty liners to stop the blood from staining my Pierre Cardins...
Jesus f-ing Christ it hurt...& apparently will sting for a "week or Two"...The other part of the test during which you are sodomised ( it's Ok, it's legal in the ACT) was ok. When this problem surfaced & I was hospitalised I had about 22 Med Students all try their fingers for size...
Still no diagnoses though... this guy just loves inflicting pain.
Take it from me Cholestomy bags are not a drama unless the wearer has dementia or enjoys showing the bag to restaraunt patrons etc...
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 19:05
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 19:05
$hit!!!! Way way to much information Mr Fawlty.
So who had the slimmest fingers?????? Was it the real big bloke?????
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Follow Up By: Member - Alanc - Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 22:40
Thursday, Jun 08, 2006 at 22:40
Mr F - twelve months ago I went through a similar exercise but as I hate pain , expecially down that way, I was knocked out when they did the biopsy (2). Did not know a thing about it and apart from a bit of blood for a day or so afterwards it was not a problem. " Fingers" crossed for your diagnoses.
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Follow Up By: Mr Fawlty - Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 11:56
Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 11:56
Actually being fingered, so to speak, was actually quite enjoyable!! "Tissues to cubical 3"....The Biopsy via the rectum was no big deal either, didn't feel much then.
After going through the reaming via the urethra though I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of the prostate altogether and maybe having a sex change, after all I'd be post menopause so no hot flushes or anything and I'd have no interest in sex, I'd just be able to sit around and abuse my "husband" all day because he hang out the washing but did not coordinate the colour of the pegs or did not hang the socks & unmentionables in the centre of the line.
The way I'm feeling now I don't give a used tinkers damn what they find wrong, if it's terminal it will be a pleasant relief let me tell you....
It would have been nice just for once though to get home & get just a little sympathy, thats all I needed, but of course Sybil had other ideas...
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 12:26
Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 12:26
It's good to see you have kept your sense of humor.
I hope the discomfort is short lived and genuinely hope all turns out well for you.
Good luck.
Cheers
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Reply By: D-Jack - Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 01:42
Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 01:42
Very clever post Footloose. Whenever you go outback, you get and a colostomy bag installed. That would sure solve the problem of toilet paper littering the outback, and also save getting up in the middle of the night in 0 degree temps to empty one's internals!.
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Reply By: gbc - Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 12:35
Friday, Jun 09, 2006 at 12:35
Doubt you'll even notice your mate has one.
He'll cope with a dodgy curry on a road trip better than you and I ever will.
Give him some privacy and a clean place to wash each day and thats where it ends - no issue.
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