For most people, having your bag emptied and checked at airport security is a mild inconvenience.
Getting your personal belongings strewn across the counter and rifled through by a customs officer adds a minor delay to getting into the holiday mood.
But for some, it’s not just annoying – it’s unhygienic, embarrassing and extremely intimate.
Nicole Trimboli, 51, from Australia, is one such traveller.
Nicole first beat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2006, only to face a second devastating diagnosis of bowel cancer in 2021.
As a result, Nicole’s bowel was removed – leaving her with a stoma and ostomy bag.
But the two-time cancer survivor, author and wellness mentor is not letting that stop her.
Nicole said: ‘Navigating airport security is a whole new world as an ostomate. You look like you’re concealing something, unfortunately. You are patted down and searched most times, and your luggage can be searched as well.
Nicole Trimboli, 51, from Australia, first beat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2006, only to face a second devastating diagnosis of bowel cancer in 2021 . As a result, Nicole’s bowel was removed – leaving her with a stoma and ostomy bag
But the two-time cancer survivor, author and wellness mentor is not letting that stop her
‘I actually had a really bad experience here in Australia. Some of the time you need scissors in your little repair kit to cut the appliance to size. I had forgotten and left a pair of scissors in my repair kit, which was in my hand luggage.
‘They treated me like a criminal. They emptied my bag out and all my ostomy supplies. Emptying all of that out in front of everybody as you’re going through security is quite embarrassing. There’s the hygiene factor as well.’
This December, Nicole is travelling to the UK and Europe with her partner. She’ll need to pack an entire extra suitcase of supplies and carry documents explaining her medical condition to avoid suspicion at customs.
It’s not just airport security Nicole has to consider, either. Flights can be nerve-wracking too.
Nicole said: ‘Airline staff are unaware as well, because it’s a hidden disability. The confined space in plane toilets makes things very difficult. If it’s just emptying my bag, it’s not so bad, but when you have to take it off and put a new one on, it can be really quite challenging.
‘If on a long-haul flight you have an accident and it leaks through your clothing, there’s not just the embarrassment of the actual leakage, there’s smell for other passengers.
‘You may need to change your whole outfit, you may need help with the odour.’
Dehydration on flights is an issue, too, and Nicole says she often has to explain her situation to staff to make sure she gets enough water, as well as take electrolytes.
For Nicole, it’s fear of the unknown and anxiety that can be the biggest challenges while travelling. Long bus journeys, for example, or tours in remote places. Despite this, she’s keen to get others to live their lives the way they want – having an ostomy bag shouldn’t be a barrier
Last year, Nicole travelled to remote Indonesia. These are the supplies she took for her two-week trip
The challenges don’t end there.
Nicole revealed: ‘My passion for this started when we traveled earlier this year. We went to remote Indonesia to a little dive resort on a remote island four hours from Bali. I was astounded at the toilet facilities and the lack of knowledge at the airports.
‘We hiked a volcano one day in Indonesia and it was very difficult to explain to the travel guide what was going on.
‘Some toilets often don’t have soap or even handwashing facilities. In some of the toilets I had to actually scoop water out of a bucket to flush whatever I’d emptied down the toilet. It was pretty primitive.’
What’s more, trying new foods abroad when travelling can be unsettling.
Nicole added: ‘When you’re travelling, you’re eating a lot of different foods, things that your body’s not used to. I can usually regulate most things day-to-day at home. However, when you’re travelling, you’re at the mercy of what’s available a lot of the time, so navigating the menu can cause different reactions as well.’
For Nicole, it’s fear of the unknown and anxiety that can be the biggest stressor. Long bus journeys, for example, or tours in remote places.
Despite this, she’s keen to get others to live their lives the way they want – having an ostomy bag shouldn’t be a barrier.
Nicole is keen to get others to live their lives the way they want – having an ostomy bag shouldn’t be a barrier
Nicole’s an advocate for increased education around the matter, to help spread awareness.
Through her work as a Lived Experience Committee Member for the Bowel Cancer Outcomes Registry and Ambassador for Coloplast Pty Ltd, she supports others facing the same fears, showing them that life after cancer doesn’t have to mean giving up your hobbies – especially if that involves travel.
She’s recently published a book, What A Sh!t Show, about her journey learning to adjust to her life after having cancer.
Nicole said: ‘It’s not as bad as you think it is once you get going. It’s just the fact that there isn’t a lot of knowledge out there at the moment, and it is classed as a hidden disability. Outwardly, you don’t appear to have anything going on.
‘There’s so many of us around the world now that are “permanently bagged”, if you like, through all different reasons. Mine was as a result of bowel cancer, but there are a lot of Crohn’s sufferers and colitis sufferers, IBS as well.’
Nicole’s parting message?
‘Don’t miss out on the good experiences because of that fear and anxiety. Do it anyway!’
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