I recently went on a stag do. For me it involved lots of drinking and some dancing and then some more drinking, a really long sleep and then more drinking…

This was the fourth stag do I’ve been on since my IBD diagnosis and surgeries – two with Stoma’s, two with an internal pouch. It could be a daunting prospect, so here are some things to think about before you get so drunk you end up asleep in a night club.

Do people know?

Depending on whose stag do it is, not everyone might know about your IBD/ stoma. There is bound to be someone you’ve never met. How open you are is a big part of your life, and it could be that just the stag and organiser know, or maybe no one at all. Remember though that when it’s well managed a stoma shouldn’t be a barrier to most activities, but do consider letting people know about it if it is going to restrict you in some way.

Travel

Travelling can be stressful, particularly if public transport or airports come into play. Make sure you have an easily accessible spare appliance and accessories to change, and a RADAR key to give you access to disabled toilets. You’d be surprised that big chain pubs like Wetherspoons and even some nightclubs have RADAR key access toilets which can be a comfort.

Activities

Activities can be a big part of stag dos. I’ve paintballed and go-karted with mine (wearing a shield for the paint balling). Depending on how recent your surgery was you might want to wear some support wear – a belt, vest or underwear. These are available on prescription from companies including Vanilla Blush and Comfizz. Speak to your stoma nurse for more details.

Drinking

One issue I have with my stoma is drinking large volumes leads to liquid output – so pints are not a good option for me all night long. Thankfully gin and tonic seems to cause fewer problems. If you know that large volumes causes issues, then switch to short drinks. You might also benefit from a sachet that traps liquid output and turns it to a gel – like Trio Pearls for example. I took some with me on my recent stag do – although didn’t need them in the end.

I also carried extra loperamide, but you should check with your doctor before using it if you don’t usually do so.

Bag for supplies

I have a little Timberland man bag that I use to carry my spare appliance, RADAR key and a few other bits. I managed to carry this around no problem in Cardiff, although did have to put it int he cloakrom in one club we visited. At this point I stuck my spare bag in my back pocket, just in case.

Food

Sometimes in the rush of the pub crawl, eating gets forgotten or at least delayed. If you are drinking lots then someone else is bound to be hungry, so grab a bag of crisps at the bar or divert to a shop to grab something, particularly if you know you need to eat regularly to maintain your consistency.

Sharing rooms

Hotels are often shared on a stag do. If you end up sharing with someone you don’t know, or haven’t seen for years, then do consider if your output might be any smellier than normal (curry and a pint?). If you don’t already use a deodorant for your bag, get a sample for the weekend – I use Na’Scent, but other solutions, including mint Tic Tacs- are available.

So, there you go – my tips on surving a stag do with a stoma.