Ways To Fix The Ostomy Bag Odor Problem
Despite all the efforts that manufacturers have made, colostomy bags may still stink, resulting in an embarrassment. The good news is that these odors are preventable.
In this article, we will discuss how to prevent odor from a colostomy bag.
Avoid gas-producing foods and drink
You can prevent odors by reducing the number of foods and drinks that contribute to the production of gas inside your GI tract. Having a colostomy could mean limiting carbonated drinks, as those can cause the gas to build up quickly in the ostomy pouch. You only have to limit the consumption of gas-producing foods because most of them are the healthiest ones. Cauliflower, beans, broccoli, and cabbage can contribute to excessive gas, so you will need to eat those in moderation. Some foods can result in a strong odor. These foods include eggs, asparagus, fish, garlic, and onion.
Odor eliminating products
You can prevent unpleasant smells from your ostomy bag by using odor eliminating products. These products are generally available in the form of sprays or drops. Add a few drops or spray inside the ostomy bag before placing it over the stoma. These products do not use masking agents. Instead, these have ingredients that break down odor-producing elements. You can also use sprays that are meant to be used after every bowel movement. These sprays will help you mitigate the odor after using the toilet. An unconventional way of killing the odor is to put breath mint into the ostomy bag before use. The fragrance of mint will mask odors.
The pouch filter
Another way to mitigate odor coming from a colostomy bag is to use a filter made of charcoal and carbon. You may ask for ostomy appliances that have these built-in filters. If such appliances are not available, you may demand filters that attach to ostomy appliances manually. You may ask about these filters from your medical supply provider.
Continent ostomy pouch
You will get used to a colostomy pouch over time, and it will become second nature. Some people, however, might not settle with the idea of having to manage a plastic bag after mounting it on the belly. Such people can consider continence by asking their doctors if a j-pouch is an option. A j-pouch is an internal pouch that your surgeon will create by folding the end of the small intestine into itself to make a reservoir. He will then set this reservoir over the anal canal after making an incision at the bottom of the reservoir. This arrangement will allow the patient to pass out stools through the anus. The stool will store in the reservoir. When it becomes full, the patient will feel the urge to go to the toilet.
A J-pouch is quite effective. Yet it can fail. You may ask for a BCIR, which is an ileostomy gold standard. This reservoir will connect to the outside of the body through a valve made of living tissues from the small intestine. This self-sealing valve will prevent waste contents from flowing out of the internal reservoir. To empty the reservoir, you will need to insert a catheter in it through the valve. This catheter will draw waste contents out of the bag.
You can discuss with your doctor whether or not you qualify for a continent pouch.