Hello, after years of dealing with Chron’s and having several surgeries to try to keep at least some of my intestinal system, a regular colonoscopy discovered suspicious cells (turned out they were cancerous), so I had a complete colostomy procedure done last May. Even though before the surgery I was told I’ll be able to eat normally and it is somewhat true, what I’m having the most troubles with is dealing with stoma bag. I currently use drainable bag and the smell of it is absolutely the worst thing you can imagine. I don’t know if there are any products or things I can to stop the smell from forming in the bag in the first place. I’ve tried using disposable bags, but that is just too impractical to carry around and change.
Hello, Guest! I wanted to offer you some tips on how to handle the odor from your colostomy so it is more manageable. You may want to avoid any foods that are known to cause odors to be more prominent. These include cabbage, onions, fish, dairy, and coffee. Some medications may cause odor as well, unfortunately. Try to use an odor-resistant pouch. Make sure the bag is stuck close to your skin without gaps. Emptying your pouch often is advised as well. See if the doctor can prescribe a medication like chlorophyll to help cut the odor. You can keep some air deodorizers on hand when emptying the pouch to cut on the odor. There are products online you can purchase that cushion against the smell and sounds that are emitted from the bag. You should check into those as well. Does anyone have any tips they would like to offer?