Stoma Mythbusters: Suzanne Goody, Flying with a Stoma

18 September, 2025

Stoma Mythbusters: Suzanne Goody, Flying with a Stoma

One of the most common worries new ostomates have is about flying. Suzanne Goody, who has lived with an ileostomy for almost 10 years, hears this question again and again:

“People often ask me if their stoma pouch will fill with air on a flight. The simple answer is no! Aeroplane cabins are pressurised, so your bag won’t blow up.”

Suzanne admits she was nervous before her first long-haul trip to India, but all her fears quickly disappeared:

“I was worried about how I’d cope, but everything went smoothly. Since then, I’ve flown short and long haul every year and enjoyed some amazing holidays. A stoma doesn’t need to hold you back from seeing the world.”

And she’s right — many ostomates travel for both business and leisure every year without issue.

Other Myths Suzanne Busts

Flying isn’t the only myth Suzanne has encountered. She also helps new ostomates challenge common fears such as:

• “Everyone will know I have a stoma.”
  Not true. Unless you choose to tell someone, they won’t know. Suzanne often swims, and when she’s mentioned her stoma to others, they’ve always been surprised — they never guessed.

• “Everyone can smell my bag.”
  Another misconception. Nobody can smell your pouch unless you’re emptying it. As Suzanne points out, it’s no different from being in a public toilet after someone else — people rarely notice.

• “A stoma is forever.”
  Many stomas are temporary and reversed once the body has healed. For some, it’s permanent — but even then, life goes on.

By sharing experiences like Suzanne’s, we can replace fear with confidence.

Why MythBusters Matters

Misinformation can leave people feeling ashamed, isolated, or anxious. But when we share the truth, we replace myths with facts — and empower people to live their lives with dignity, confidence, and freedom.

This Stoma Aware Day, we’re celebrating the strength and resilience of people living with a stoma and inviting everyone to join us in busting myths, smashing stigma, and spreading the truth.

Get Involved

You can be a Stoma MythBuster too:

• Share your own myth-busting story.

• Post online using #StomaMythbusters and #StomaAware.

• Help start conversations in your community.

Together, we can change perceptions and show that life with a stoma has no limits.