How To Reduce Stoma Odour

One of the biggest concerns people who are facing ostomy surgery have is whether others will be able to smell their bag.  Having had reassurance that an ostomy bag is practically invisible to anyone else, the odour issue is a little more difficult to address. It’s true to say that you may be aware of your bag odour, but that’s because it’s your body; it’s highly unlikely that people around you will smell anything at all. However, there are a few things you can do to give yourself the best reassurance that there is no stoma odour coming from your bag, and then carry on with your day to day life with confidence.

A well-fitted bag

Firstly, make sure that you have a well-fitting, properly sealed bag/ pouch system. Ostomy pouches nowadays are always thoughtfully designed and this includes their shape, fabric and the baseplate itself. My bag of choice, and I’ve advocated it many times, is the Pelican ModaVi bag; I use a two-piece system. I find the shape of the base plate means a snug and comfortable fit that gives me confidence against leaks and therefore odours. If you ever detect a smell coming from your bag, its advisable to check for a leak from under the flange and change your bag as soon as you possibly can. Also it is worth remembering that an ostomy pouch also has a carbon filter which not only helps to control wind but also deodorises it.

Diet

Secondly, diet can have a big influence on the amount of wind you produce as well as the smell of the output when you change your bag. This varies from person to person, but I can definitely say that fish is a culprit for me! Other common foods that affect this are: onions, garlic, cauliflower, green vegetables such as cabbage and sprouts and even eggs and cheese. And drinks are not excluded from the list either. Caffeinated and fizzy drinks can have an affect as well as some acidic fruit drinks and alcohol.  Basically it means monitoring what you eat and drink; maybe cut down on if not eliminate foods that impact on the bag odour. Incidentally one tip I heard a while ago is if you love the flavour of onion and garlic but can’t tolerate them, use Asafoetida powder instead.

Bag change routine 

Thirdly, it needs to be said that emptying your bag regularly and routinely changing your bag really helps. It might seem a bit obvious but it’s true. Get into a pattern and finding the best time of day to suit you will keep odour at bay and keep you feeling fresh and confident.

Stoma accessories 

Some of you might want to look into deodorising products to help the issue. Some of the most effective deodorisers contain natural scents and anyone who has any knowledge of aromatherapy will recognise the benefits of citrus notes such as sweet orange, grapefruit lemon; herbal notes such as lavender, lemongrass and peppermint as well as more spicy notes of cinnamon and cloves. If you wanted to investigate for yourself, there are generally sprays, gels and liquids out there especially designed and made to combat stoma odours but it is vital that you use the right product in the safe, appropriate way. Sprays are great if you want to deodorise the air in your bathroom as you change your bag but unless otherwise stated, shouldn’t be sprayed directly onto you or into your bag.

Respond have a fantastic range of products in their Care Range to address odour issues that utilise many of those principal aromas listed above: neutralising gel or neutralising drops (made with essential oils) can be put into your pouch, neutralising sprays that actually are suitable for both bag and air, and their Refresh 3in1 has a lovely fresh linen scent that not only acts as a great air freshener, it  is also an adhesive remover and a barrier film. I have been using it for a long time now and I can highly recommend it.

Finally, I cannot stress enough that you really need to find a range of ostomy products to suit YOU. Everyone’s body is different, every stoma is unique, but there are things out there that will be brilliant for you, and somebody will always be available to give professional and helpful advice. Ostomy manufacturers like Pelican Healthcare and services like Respond have gone to great lengths to create and distribute a range of products that really work and I can’t speak too highly about their integrity and reliability. Whatever your circumstances, they are always there to help.

Keith @keiththom2014