Unpleasant smell

Hi

Welcome to the group. I’d glad you’re able to ask for support and guidance here. It’s a safe place to do so, please don't be nervous. 

I’ve attached a pdf that gives advice about colostomies and pancaking. I have an ileostomy myself but too have this problem from time to time. I thought clothing was an issue but  for me it is more about the types of food I eat and the amount of fluid I intake. 

As for the odour, some filters may be more effective  than others, so it may be worthwhile trying different appliances.
There are drops, gels, capsules and sachets which can neutralize any odour within the bag. These are available on prescription and can be introduced into a clean bag, before it is fitted in place. The Colostomy Association produces a factsheet on deodorants.  The types of food eaten will give off stronger odours; fish, onion and garlic are a few that do. Maybe keeping a check on what you’ve eaten and see if there is a correlation between the two could help you make choices too. 

Hope this is helpful to you. Let us know if we can help with anything else  

A big warm welcome to the group known by me as poo corner and we never shy away from a good discussion on anything to do with poo or pancaking, we're all friends here with a stoma bag as the new fashion accessory. So don't be nervous jump in add to posts start your own let everyone know you're about.

Hi please accept my apologies for coming late to the party and I hope I can add something to the discussion.

Smell - Does you bag have an internal filter in place as this can be the cause of unwanted smells apart from the gels Liquids and drops you can get you also should have in the box the pouches arrive in little stickers which you can apply over the filter before you position it on your body.

Yes food can be problem and even the foods that you wouldn't think of can cause Smell I always suggest a food diary to record everything that goes into your mouth and the reaction your output has to it, try it for s few weeks and gradually start to include foods that have caused you problems it might surprise to know that the food that caused a smell did not the next time and vice versa. It's all very confusing.

Pancaking nothing I can really add except to talk about your leggings where do they sit on your body - below your stoma - across your stoma - above your stoma. Pancaking can be the result of the waistband of your leggings cutting into the bag and restricting the poo falling to the bottom, there is product available on prescription called clearway which are little foam squares with an adhesive backing and attached to the inside of the pouch and should stop pancaking. For once I'm not organised as I should be creating a link to clearway stoma bridges. Never mind it will be rectified very shortly.

Baby oil can also help to lubricate the way down for your poo.

Trial and error are the watchwords as is borrowing a bit of a suggestion from one person and adding it to s suggestion from another till you find the best solution for yourself.

I'm pleased to hear that you managing your stoma well but always remember we're always here to give help, advice and support anytime you need it, and yes we do talk about being a pouch wearer from frequency, consistency and colour plus a lot more and I look forward to seeing you post more in the near future.

Regards 

Ian

Hi again and true to my word here is the link for clearway stoma bridges when you open the link click onto samples and choose the samples you would like to receive and sit back and wait for the courier and the link is

OPUS HEALTHCARE

Hope you find my responses useful always remember the Bodach is only a click away if you need help or advice.

Regards

Ian

Depending on the bags you use the filter stickers could help with pancaking.  During the day I cover the filters as it keeps in some air which seems to ease the pancaking.  But I do use drainables as I then have to let the air out after a while.   

Ast

Have you spoken to your stoma nurse about irrigating? 

No matter what I did pancaking was still an issue for me.  I irrigate once a day and rarely need to change my bag again during the day.  It takes some getting used to and isn't for everyone but it worked for me x 

Hi Cassie78!

Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it!

I shall check the information you attached an mentioned about. Keeping a food diary sounds like a great idea! I don't think my diet at the moment is too brilliant... for starters I probably eat too much sweets and cakes, ooops. I had to put on weight as I had lost too much and eating "crap" was easy.. I'm on my ideal weight now so need to be careful (I want to be able to fit into my clothes, lol!).

I wasn't aware of things  to use which can neutralize any odoour within the bag, I'll find about that too! I've had a quick look at the Colostomy Association website, it seems really good!

Thank you again for your help!

Hi Bodach!

Many thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it! It's great that people seem so friendly and welcoming here, too :)

I do have a filter in my bags, I've been a bit hesitant to try to cover it with a sticker though because my bags have a habit of ballooning quite a bit and I'm worried it might burst if it gets too full. Although I suppose I could always just let the extra air out so could try the stickers. The gels, liquids and drops sound good, though!

I shall try a food diary. My diet isn't too brilliant at the moment.. Chemo has caused such changes to my tastebuds and I've become funny with savoury/hot foods and there's only a limited amount of foods I will eat. It's easier with sweet and cold foods but a lot of those aren't very healthy :/

Pancaking and clothing - my leggings sit above my stoma. I'm just wondering if they are too tight and restrict the poo falling to the bottom of the bag. I've tried baby oil a few times with varying results. Thank you for the link to clearway stoma bridges! I'll try and order some samples.

Thank you again for your help!

Hi AstInd!

Thank you so much for your reply! I think I might have to bite the bullet and use the stickers during the day.. I've been worried about ballooning as my bags tend to do that as I get so much air.. I use drainable bags as well so I can let the air our as and when needed, and I also couldn't cope with closed bags, I couldn't cope changing the bag so often! I find emptying a lot easier.

Hi Marial!

Thank you for your reply and for helping out! No, I haven't spoken to my stoma nurse about irrigating. I have no idea what it is O_o Is it very difficult/time consuming?