Your guide to having a perfect spa day with an ileostomy bag

I bloody love a spa day. There’s nothing more relaxing than walking into a spa, having that incredible ‘spa smell’ of luxury products, and the excitement of knowing you’re in for a gorgeous few hours where nobody can bother you.

However, when I first had surgery for ulcerative colitis, 10 years ago, I wondered whether spa days would be something I’d be able to do.

Spoiler alert : yes, you’re still able to go on a spa day!

Spa hotels are something I often cover on Postcards From, and I wanted to share with you my guide to having the perfect spa day with an ileostomy. Especially if you’ve only recently had surgery, you might be filled with all sorts of questions. So know this, your stoma bag isn’t going to stop you doing anything. These tips and tricks will hopefully calm your nerves, and go into your spa day ready for a good old relax.

Finding the right Spa treatments

One of my biggest fears when it came to going on a spa day with my stoma was what treatment to go for. 

I didn’t want to find myself feeling uncomfortable on a table for an hour, willing the time to go as quick as possible. I’m not someone who loves a massage, so I usally opt for a facial if I’m having a treatment. When I was in Turkey, I had a Hammam massage. I’m not going to lie, I was super nervous however I felt so good after, and my bag wasn’t an issue once. Whatever your treatment, communicate with the spa therapist so they can help you feel as comfortable as possible. 

Some other fears I had about going to spa’s were that I couldn’t go in the sauna and jacuzzi’s wouldn’t work well with the bag. 

Safe to say I was so wrong.

Jacuzzi’s are one of my fave things in a spa, and I’ve never had an issue with my stoma bag. As for sauna’s, the key thing is to keep ontop of your hydration. But I love a good sauna and cold plunge, and don’t have issues with my bags. I always worried that the heat may cause the bag to unstick, but so far, I’ve not had that issue.

keeping hydrated at your spa day

When you have an ileostomy especially, hydration is key. Because you don’t have a large bowel, it’s alot easier to become dehydrated and as spa’s are often warm, it’s good to keep hydration in mind – especially if you’re going in the sauna.

Most spas have water (usually lemon water!) so just keep topped up. And if you’re going in the sauna, I really recommend using electrolytes to keep you well hydrated!

Stoma essentials for a spa day

There isn’t much extra that I bring as someone who has a stoma when I go for a spa day.

The one thing I do bring with me is my travel bag of stoma supplies. Usually I have enough things for 3 bag changes – just incase my bag doesn’t stick for some reason.

Where possible (and it always has been so far!), I change my bag at the end of a spa day. They’re waterproof and there’s no issue being in and out of the water all day with them either. So just sit back, relax and enjoy the spa day.

If you’re worried about what to wear, don’t be! The most important thing is to feel comfortable – whether that’s a full swimsuit, bikini, tankini – whatever. There’s no right or wrong way – I’ve worn both bikini’s and full swimming cossies on a spa day and my stoma hasn’t been an issue at all.

The best spa’s to visit in Cumbria and The Lake District

Cumbria has a lot of spa’s and spa hotels, but I’ve found two that have been standouts for me over the last few years.

The Hydro Wellness Club at Windermere is perfect to escape to, and is affordable as well! It’s £30 for a two hour pass, and the pool and relaxation area is stunning. Oh, and you can see the lake from there as well!

My other favourite is a bit more on the spenny side. Center Parcs at Whinfell Forest has the Aqua Sana Spa and oh my goodness, it is amazing. There are 14 indoor and outdoor spa experiences taking inspiration from ancient healing traditions, and they are incredible. My favourite steam room was the Greek herbal bath which smelt incredible and was a treat to the senses. You don’t need to be staying in Center Parcs as you can buy a day pass.

There’s no need to let having a stoma stop you from having a relaxing spa day. Treat yourself and enjoy your time there! If you’re looking for more tips on travelling with a chronic illness, check out our accessibility section. And if you’re heading to the Lake District for a spa weekend and looking for recommendations of where to check out, take a look at our Lake District recs here.