Care/Cleaning of Supplies and Travel tips

[Kim H]

Didn't want to post this question in the other thread.
Can you please share your methods for the care/cleaning of your irrigation supplies? What do you clean with? How long to you use the drainage bag before throwing away? Also, I have to fly soon for work. Any tips on how to travel with all the irrigation supplies/etc would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kim

[ot dave]

I clean my the cone off with anti-bacterial soap and then hang in the shower to dry. I rinse out my sleeve with hot water, then hop in the shower with it on and wash it out with soap, hang there in the shower to dry. Then, I spray a bleach solution into the bottom of the shower to keep everything clean. I use my irrigation sleeve until it falls apart!

When traveling, I take everything on the plane with me...ostomy related. Make sure to either pre-cut your flanges, or pack your scissors in another bag. TSA will look at it and send you on your way. If you are taking powders or sprays, obviously stick to the same rules as all other containers. When irrigating in places other than home, I have a travel kit that consists of a hook the goes over the top of a door, an adjustable strap that has a buckle, and a carabiner. I have not found a place where I couldn't irrigate because I have had these things with me. Sometimes I only use a strap if I use a shower rod. Sometimes I will use the door hook. Depends on what will be the most effective for me. Lately I have found that in hotels with large restrooms that the pictures that they hang above the toilets are secured perfectly for a filled irrigation bag! I have irrigated at countless hotels, homes of different family members, on a live aboard dive boat, and in a tent @ 9000 feet when I was elk hunting one year....

Hope that helped.

David

[markstan]

The one item I have found to be indispensible is a bungy cord. With the cord you can attach the irrigation bag to virtually anything. Make sure that you carry on the ostomy supplies. You dont want to allow for the possibilty of getting separated from your supplies. Also, be sure to carry more supplies than you think you will need in case you get unexpectedly stranded.
If you travel to a foreign country you can irrigate with tap water as long as it is safe to drink. Otherwise use bottled water making sure that the seal on the bottles are in tact.

Mark

[Kim H]

Will they allow a bungy cord in your carry-on?
Kim

[markstan]

Will they allow a bungy cord in your carry-on?
Kim

Hi Kim,

I have carried them on many times without issue.

Mark

[Jimbob]

I have irrigated on Cruise Ships, Motels, Hotels, friends and relatives houses. No problems at all just be prepared. In general you just need a place to hang the water bag. What the guys say is correct, just have some sort of device with you to make a hanger out of and if you forget then a Coat Hanger usually works.

Traveling is not a problem just do what the instructions say as far a liquids etc are concerned. I go by air quite often and when I go in one of those scanners I just quietly tell the inspector that I have a colostomy pouch. If they do anything they will tell you to simply wipe your hand over the pouch on the outside of your clothes and then wand the hand for explosive residue. They will ask you very politely and in a non embarrassing way to do this.

If you do not want to tell the inspector there is a downloadable card that you can get from the homepage of this site and carry it with you to hand to the person. Some people find the card helpful.

Now if you want to see something amusing. Come to the National Conference which will be in St. Louis this summer and watch 600 to a 1000 people all wearing bags come through the TSA inspection. Just saying..... another interesting and amusing thing is that I have a Brother in Law with a Prosthetic leg and we have traveled by air together. We had fun with the inspector.

Jimbob

[Kim H]

Jimbob--you read my mind. I was wondering what that must be like. Thank you for the notification card. I will definitely download and take with me.

I've seen comments about "not having to worry about wearing a pouch on the airplane" as a benefit to irrigation. What's the concern there? Is it just emptying a pouch in general? Or is there some concern with ballooning and cabin pressure?

I've been washing all of my irrigation supplies and then soaking in a solution of antibacterial disinfectant and water... and of course rinsing very well before hanging to dry. Is this overkill?
Kim

[ot dave]

Using the restroom on an airplane period is a difficult experience just because they are so small. Other than that, it is like emptying anywhere else. No need to worry about air in the pouch. The cabins are pressurized, so there is no difference between the cabin of the airplane at 35,000 feet, or on the beach.....other than the fact that the beach would be more preferable!

As far as cleaning your supplies, I guess it depends on what kind of germaphobe you are! For my irrigation bag, I only wash off the cone...nothing else on it gets dirty. For the sleeve, I jump in the shower with it on, take it off and wash it out with soap. I have suction cups in the shower for both, and they are completely dry and ready to use for the next day. I do spray the shower down with a bleach/water mix to decrease any possible bacteria that didn't go down the drain.

David

[ot dave]

Hello dave,

This the best method i have always used
Could you please tell me which type of anti-bacterial soap you have used to clean your bag??

Whatever they sell in bulk at Sam's. I guess it's the Sam's club brand. I go through so much of it, I buy it in bulk. I suspect any soap labeled anti-bacterial will do the job though.

David

[steiconi]

I've been living on the road for two months, have irrigated in dozens of places, including a hospital bed. Ugh on so many levels.

First night out, I realized I didn't have a hanger or bungee or anything to suspend the irrigation bag. I made do with a spare belt, and that's what I've used ever since.
Stretches over any shower head, or ties to a rod.

Now that I'm settled for a while, maybe I'll look for another option.

[lp1964]

Dear Friends,

I live in Los Angeles, but spend 3-4 days in Vegas every week where I do some business and where my girlfriend lives so I want the least amount of disturbance in my life. Also have 3-4 one week vacations a year where I want no problems during the travel.

Usually on Fridays I take 6 table spoons of Milk of Manesia at 3pm, nothing happens for 5 hours so I finish work and run some errands. Then I have diarrhea for two hours emptying and rinsing my pouch 5-6 times. During the diarrhea I consume a lot of water to cleans myself. After this I don’t have output for 5 days. I keep low fiber diet and take iron to thicken my stool. During this time I just wear a 3 inch Coloplast stoma cap. Even when my output returns I just replace my stoma cap 1-2 times a day.
Have been doing this for about 3 years now with no apparent side effects and often laugh, because honestly I have less bathroom issues than a healthy person.

If you consider this method at least during your travels consult your doctor first.
All the best!