Festival fun for everyone: Guidance for managing your stoma

Attending festivals and enjoying live music is a great experience. The prospect of navigating crowded spaces and limited facilities might seem daunting, but it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the experience. Fortunately, with planning and a few helpful tips, festival fun can be enjoyed by everyone, including ostomates. Here are some top tips to help you manage your stoma effectively while embracing the excitement of festival season.

Plan ahead: Locate the festival’s accessible toilets or facilities. Carry a small travel kit bag with your supplies for discreet transportation. You could consider Pelican Perform to help thicken your output if you have limited access to toilet facilities. You might also want to consider using a drainable pouch to save you doing a full bag change or should there be limited access to waste areas for disposal of closed pouches.
Supplies: Make sure you have an adequate supply of your stoma supplies, including pouches, seals, and other accessories that you use. Pack more than you think you’ll need to be prepared for unexpected situations or emergencies. Try eakin Cohesive^® seals and eakin freeseal^® to help prevent leaks occurring giving you confidence to enjoy the festival and may help to extend your pouch weartime. Consider using drainable pouches if there’s limited access to waste areas for disposal of closed pouches.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, which can affect your stoma output. Avoid excessive alcohol or caffeinated beverages, as they can dehydrate your body and affect stool consistency.
Comfortable clothing: Wear what makes you feel comfortable.
Take care of your skin: Proper skin care around your stoma is essential to prevent irritation and maintain a healthy stoma site. Cleanse the area gently and thoroughly, and ensure it is completely dry before applying a new pouch. Consider using Contour flange extenders to help your pouch stay in place letting you dance all day with that added security. Consider using Platinum with Vitamin E Barrier Film to help protect your skin, and Contour flange extenders to help keep your pouch in place, so you can dance all day confident that your pouch is secure.
Have fun: Most importantly have fun and don’t let your stoma hold you back from enjoying the music, atmosphere, and connecting with others. Remember to listen to your body, take breaks when needed.