Tips for Ostomates – Bathroom Breaks while Driving

For the second straight year, Dr. Salisz, StomaCloak, and I will be riding, virtually, along with the Drive for Men’s Health Team.  This year, Drs. Jamin Brahmbhatt and Sijo Parekattil will drive an all-electric powered TESLA from Florida to New York, and then across America to Los Angeles. Along the way, they will be making nearly 60 stops to recharge and use the restroom.

All of us need to pull over and use the facilities, from time to time, when driving. Patients with an ostomy, or ostomates, are no different. I asked a variety of ostomates, from around the world, for their advice on how to manage bathroom breaks while driving.

Advice from Across the Pond

Lorna Haymes and Michael Seres are both ostomates who live in the United Kingdom. Lorna is one of the founders of the GetYourBellyOut.  She also has her own blog and shared these recommendations via Twitter:

@StomaCloak @drive4men I find having “car sweets” ie jelly babies & marshmallows slow down the output so the need for breaks isn’t as often

— Lorna (@lornamary_1981) June 12, 2015

Michael is a bowel transplant recipient, ostomate, speaker, blogger and  Co-Founder of 11Heath.  Michael added this additional thought:

@StomaCloak@lornamary_1981@drive4men I always plan my route knowing exactly where I can stop and when. Never allow more than 20 mins gap — Michael Seres (@mjseres) June 12, 2015

 
Recommendations from “Up North”

 Jessica Grossman, a Canadian ostomate and founder of Uncover Ostomy, gave us this recommendation:

@StomaCloak @drive4men fun! Just make sure you pay attention to the distance between rest stops and exits! — Jessica Grossman (@JessGrossman) June 13, 2015

 Eric, a Canadian IBD advocate living with an ileostomy as a result of Crohn’s disease, gave this sage advice:

@StomaCloak @drive4men When using a public washroom, I rip several foot-long pieces of toilet paper before emptying my pouch 4 ez access.

— VeganOstomy (@VeganOstomy) June 13, 2015

@StomaCloak@drive4men It’s more like fumbling with the dispenser when you’ve got a messy outlet to clean, is no fun! — VeganOstomy (@VeganOstomy) June 13, 2015

 
Closer to Home

Participating in the Drive for Men’s Health is something Dr. Salisz and I now look forward to every year.  We hope you find these suggestions helpful during your travels. Closer to home, we recommend that you check out the Muskegon Ostomy Association, or visit the United Ostomy Associations of America website, for other great resources and tips on living with an ostomy.