Only avoid foods that repeatedly cause problems. If the stoma bag fits well, there should be no smell except when changing the bag. Cabbage, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, legumes, asparagus, peas, beans, artificial sweeteners and carbonated beverages may increase wind.
You may notice more odor when you empty your pouch after you eat certain foods. Some of these foods are onions, garlic, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, fish, certain cheeses, eggs, baked beans, Brussels sprouts, and alcohol. Doing these things will keep down the odor: Eating parsley, yogurt, and buttermilk.
One type of odor eliminator is a pouch deodorant. These come in both liquid and gel form and are used as a preventative measure. All you need to do is put your preferred pouch deodorant in your ostomy bag after every time you change or empty your pouch, before reattaching the system.
When it comes to finding options for eliminating odor in colostomy bags, you have plenty of product options. For example, you can choose ostomy products like deodorizing pouch drops, deodorizing tablets, and deodorizing gel sachets that control odors inside each urostomy, ileostomy, or colostomy bag.
Odour could mean leakage or the filter may have come into contact with the contents of the bag making the deodoriser ineffective. If so change your appliance straight away, or as soon as possible. Most stoma bags have a filter which incorporates a deodoriser, so odour shouldn't be a problem.
Adding foods, such as buttermilk, cranberry juice, yogurt and parsley, to your diet may help prevent odor. It may be helpful to eat them at the same meal with those that cause odors, to balance the effect.
Most people will be aware of the smell of their colostomy because it's their own body. But someone standing next to you will not be able to smell the stoma. You'll have more gas than usual immediately after having a colostomy, but this will slowly reduce as your bowel recovers.
The best soap to use is anything that is unscented and has no oils or moisturizers because they interfere with adhesives and will cause your ostomy pouch to not stick as well.
Ballooning occurs when your stoma bag blows up with wind. This is usually due to the filter becoming wet or blocked from stoma output. This can cause the bag to come away from the body. Please note: Stoma ballooning can happen with a colostomy or occasionally with an ileostomy.
Raw vegetables, including salad e.g. lettuce, celery, raw bell-peppers and spring onions. Hard to digest vegetables, including beans like butter beans or green/runner beans, sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms, cabbage, brussel sprouts, spinach, kale and spring greens.
Coffee and tea are fine, but as with anything else be aware of any reactions in your digestive system. Carbonated drinks in general can cause gas. Beer can cause the output from the ostomy to become more liquid. You can drink alcohol.
Other foods that colostomy patients tolerate well are bananas, tapioca, sticky white rice, and white toast. Small quantities of lean animal proteins are also beneficial.
* For the first 3 to 4 weeks after your surgery, don't eat more than 1 small ripe banana per day. Eating too much banana may cause an ileostomy blockage.
Eat starch carbohydrates such as white bread, low fibre cereals like rice crispies or cornflakes, potatoes (no skins) and white rice/pasta for energy and to help thicken your colostomy output.
Can a colostomy bag qualify for disability benefits? Yes. As a general rule, if you have a colostomy bag that makes it difficult to work, you'll qualify as disabled. If your colostomy bag is functioning well or if you expect to have it reversed within the year, you probably won't qualify.
Taking a Skin Break
Many people enjoy leaving their skin uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes after taking their pouching system off. This is called a skin break. Taking a skin break can help with irritation or keep it from happening. You can decide if you want to take a skin break.
Call your state's 2-1-1 number. Just dial 211 as you would 911. UOAA has Affiliated Support Groups who sometimes operate Donation or Supply Closets. Kindred Box is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that distributes donated ostomy supplies to the uninsured and underinsured ostomates in America.
It is important to increase your intake of calories, fat and protein to aid your body's healing process. In addition to your normal diet, you should look to include the following foods: Full fat milk and cheese.
You must still include fibre in your diet. Choose some foods from the following list daily: Wholemeal bread. High fibre cereal e.g. Weetabix, porridge.
Coffee and tea are fine, but just like other foods, be aware of any reactions in your digestive system. Carbonated drinks may cause gas. Beer can cause the output from the ostomy to become more liquid. You can drink alcohol.