Can I Travel With A Feeding Tube?

Howdy Everyone :)

Thanks for coming back to my blog!

This year I have been a very lucky girl and been away twice (but my bank is saying NO to anymore for now). Normally, when you book a holiday, you get a super excited feeling inside. The first holiday I booked, I was suddenly over come by huge amounts of anxiety!

Was I actually able/allowed to go away with a feeding tube? How would I get all my feed and medication and everything else that goes with it over there and across the boarder? Can the tube go in the pool? All these questions and more went through my head. I spent ages searching the internet to try and find answers. 

Now that I know ther answers and have travelled twice, I thought it would be a good idea to answer all these questions in one place for anyone else in that situation, or, maybe extra tips you never thought of or if you're just interested in it. :) I also made a video but I'm not too sure how much it helps as I just talk HAHA, so I decided to write it too!

The answer is, YES you can travel with a tube. It just requires a little more preparation than it would normally. But.... does that really matter if you get a great holiday out of it? ... I think not :) 

This is a little check list of things you gotta get/do if you want to be on your way to sun, sea and s..... sand of course. 

• Doctors letter confirming the medications you are taking, sterile water, the feed & pump you are taking, where you are going and the dates you are going. Get the to write on there that it is essential you have it with you in hand luggage as well.. that way they can't argue - well they could try but they'd have no chance :) 

• An adapter for your pump charger. If your pump got no juice.... you got no food pretty much! 

• Get yaself some form of case of bag to take on the plane for medication, giving sets, syringes, feed bottles and all that jazz. Always remember that when you work out how much medication and all the other bits and bobs you need, always take a little extra to allow for spillage's or breakage etc - this bag comes in real handy on the way home when you've used most the stuff and just end up with extra clothing space. Girllllll.... you got some major shopping to do (or guy)

• Depending on what type of tube you have but anything you use for it.... for me personally, I need good strong, waterproof tape for it which was awesome and my everyday tape anyway (Opsite Flexifix transparent tape) 

• Make sure your travel insurance covers Gastroparesis/ any condition you have. As tubies and people who don't have the best health, we are more likely to need medical help out there. Hopefully you never need to use it, but, it's better to be safe than sorry.... so I'm told! 

• Informed your airline and feed company. If you don't tell the airline... you aint getting the extra bag simple as pie. And, if you don't tell your feed company people.... you are either going to have to take all the bottles and supplies yourself or..... you aint getting NOTHING! :)

• A travel kettle if your destination doesn't have a kettle for your sterile water.

• Last but not least, don't forget to take yourself..... that is usually quite helpful when going on holiday!! 

Travelling with a tube isn't all that hard once you've figured it out. 

I have also made a video to go along with this post going into a lil' more detail about travelling with a tube. So, I really hope that between the two of these things, it helps you feel a bit more at ease about your holidays. Check out the video by clicking right HERE :)

Any questions? Just ask... I don't bite.... OR do I?

Enjoy your Summer holidays from wherever you are or are travelling to in the world! 

Stay Strong 

& Travel Safe

<3