Going a long time without changing your ostomy bag

Thinking back to fun times of the past makes me think of family vacations.  Back in the day, we would go on long road trips all the time.  Do you remember ever doing one?  Boy, I sure do. My family used to drive from the top of the country down to Florida every single year.  We have lots of relatives down there and in the great and hot state of Alabama.  Road trips are really interesting when you are going with your family.  The vehicle you travel in can really impact how that trip is enjoyed.  I have gone with a family of five in the smallest ford car ever made. Or so it seemed. I have also ridden down in luxury with a nice minivan.  Sometimes there are dogs and sometimes there are cats that come along.  Now there is an ostomy bag that comes along and I have to worry about my ostomy care along with a family. So there are a few tips I have learned over the years about going on those long-distance vacations with the family and how to survive with your stoma.  

There is no doubt in my mind that It is important to plan ahead for your ostomy care needs.  This is nothing new to you but make sure you have all you need is key. If you are from a major city, you don't realize the options you have that most of the country does not. Planning a road trip is simply more than picking a route to go on.  Well let's face it now we simply pull out our phones and put the address into an app and set off.  No more pulling out an actual map and writing down a real plan.  Or if you are old enough to remember mapquest when you would print out step by step directions.  Oh lord helps you if you missed a turn, now you are lost forever! But what I really mean is pan out some extra stop along the way.  Or if you see a rest stop, me more affirmative about taking it instead of waiting for the next one.  There can be some big consequences of not being prepared.

Being wise with your trip starts with your gear.  This means having all the things you need in case things go wrong. Now part of planning out a successful road trip is making sure you have the supplies you need.  I know what I need for every week as for getting the correct amount of ostomy gear I need.  So make sure you bring a few extras.  When packing a road trip things just go wrong.  I find when things get thrown around in a car or may get in an accident that things get destroyed.  So take some extras and pack the amount needed in your main pack which usually goes in the back.  Now also pack some that are easily and readily available.  Just in case something goes wrong or you need some extra supplies. Keep some on hand!  There is nothing worse than not being prepared on a road trip where tempers can flare and emotions run high! Being prepared helps to keep stress levels down and fun levels up!  So don't be afraid to go on a long journey but think about what you need.