The highly awaited summer season of this year has not lived up to expectations, especially when compared to the glorious days we experienced in late May and early June. Regrettably, this summer has been marked as one of the wettest in the UK, and personally, I particularly didn’t find it as hot or sunny as the last one. The British summer has felt disappointingly fleeting.
‘Travelling is changing the clothes of the soul’ is a famous quote by the Brazilian writer, Mario Quintana. I feel completely rejuvenated when I travel, especially to a destination I have never been to before. As an escape from the bad British weather, we decided to spend a couple of weeks in the south of France and north of Italy.
I remember the mixed emotions I experienced when I took my first international flight after having my stoma. I was filled with a combination of anxiety, fear and excitement, as I had no idea what it would be like to travel with a stoma. I searched various websites for advice and recommendations, and while some provided valuable tips, others contained comments that left me feeling insecure.
There is nothing like time to heal wounds. Little did I know that I would be travelling a lot and even moving countries twice in less than two years. Long journeys and short trips, different experiences in different places and that feeling of freedom. The surgery and the resulting stoma meant freedom from cramps, the suffering caused by Crohn’s. Being pain-free translated into the freedom to be who I am. However, despite the benefits, it was not an easy adjustment. In the beginning, simple things like putting on a bikini were a minor drama for me, and the stigma of showing my imperfections weighed heavily on me. It was only with time and with the support of those who truly care about me, that I’ve begun to love my body once again and appreciate my differences.
Every trip creates new memories and experiences, and there is always a good story to tell. And if it’s funny, even better. I had one of these amusing events involving my stoma during my last trip.
Having spent a couple of days in the French Riviera, we planned to dedicate one day to Monaco, as our youngest son is absolutely crazy about cars and photography. The day was scorching hot. While our son was busy capturing pictures of as many posh cars as he could find, my husband and I decided to visit a nearby town with our eldest son. Suddenly, I started feeling discomfort in my stomach and began to feel sick. We didn’t even have time to park the car when I urgently asked to return to Monaco, knowing there were a few public toilets available. In the blink of an eye, my bag was full, and I became desperate to empty it. My eldest son mentioned seeing a toilet near the Monaco casino, so he decided to accompany me. I had to hurry, but I couldn’t move quickly for fear that something might go wrong. The town was bustling with tourists, as well as people in fancy cars and expensive attire. I kept thinking, ‘Oh no! This cannot happen to me here, in the middle of Monaco.’ I was wearing a nice summer dress, and it would have been a major embarrassment if my bag exploded right in the midst of this large crowd. We arrived at the public toilets, but Murphy’s Law struck again—the doors were locked for cleaning. ‘It can’t be true,’ I thought. I waited for what felt like an eternity, knocking on the door, but there was no response. I could feel my bag about to burst at any moment. We were next to the Monte Carlo Casino, filled with posh individuals and a long queue with security at the entrance. However, I couldn’t wait any longer; it had to be there! I had to think quickly about how to bypass the queue and security without causing a major scene. It was either that, or have my bag explode on me in the middle of the crowd. You can get creative in times of need! I managed to get past security and find a very luxurious toilet. It was such a relief.
After sharing the story with a close friend, she jokingly said I had the fanciest bathroom experience ever. Well, perhaps it was. Looking back, it’s quite funny, but at the time, I felt nothing but despair and anger towards my condition.
Today, when my family and I reminisce about this situation, we can’t help but laugh. It could have turned into a disaster if we hadn’t been prepared, both emotionally and with our ‘stoma survival kit’. The moral of the story is to remain calm, be ready for unexpected situations and never leave home or your hotel room without your ‘survival kit’.
Do you also have a funny story related to your stoma that you would like to share with us?