We’ve been there.
You’re trying to just live your life with an ostomy, and then you smell it—the dreaded ostomy odor.
An ostomy comes with a lot of changes, including dietary changes, and what you consume from here on out does impact the expel. So that means od of course.
For those who go out in public, this is a huge concern. After all, you don’t want to smell bad and have it impact how others view you, right?
Save the stress, keep your social life in check and start preparing for when you go out with these helpful ostomy tips for keeping smell at bay.
First, Look at How Your Body Reacts to Some Foods and Drinks
The first thing is you’re going to need to learn how to monitor your body’s reactions to the food you consume.
Different foods create different responses, and this is something that’s different for everyone.
There are some foods that produce a lot more gas within, and that impacts your ostomy bag. It can also create a sound, which is embarrassing too. So watch out for this.
Those that are high in fiber and have a lot of sugars might also impact the smell and gas too.
You should first begin by consuming food, and from there, seeing how your body reacts. This goes for fruits and veggies, but also look at how your body reacts to alcohol especially beer, soda, dairy, nuts and meats, and other foods that are high in sugar.
Slowly introduce these in, and see how your body reacts to this, so you can see what is creating gas. Many people don’t realize that if you monitor this, you’ll be able to see what causes reactions, so that when you’re out, you can avoid those foods.
You can also avoid odors by eating less fish, asparagus, onions, and garlic, since they tend to create more odor.
Empty the Pouch
If it’s smelly, empty it out. when you let waste accumulate, it becomes stronger. Don’t let your pouch go to over half full, and you should definitely empty it as well if it starts to feel heavy. That’s because it makes the seal loose, which then causes waste to seep out and makes it smellier too.
If you’ve recently gotten your ostomy, talk to the nurse or doctor on the best way to do this both when out of the house, and in private too, and make sure you empty it the correct way every single time.
You want to do this 2-3 times a day to avoid odors.
Consider an Odor Eliminator
If there is still trouble, consider purchasing odor eliminators. This is something that comes in multiple forms, so if you’re not sure what’s right for you, try this.
Some options include odor eliminator sprays, deodorants, and other products you can insert. However, you should try to avoid using tic tacs to eliminate odor, since it’s dicey in terms of success.
Get a Filter
Consider buying a filter, which helps eliminate the gas and reduces seal strain. That way, you can properly filter out the odor without worrying about the seal on your bag.
Get a New Ostomy Bag
Finally, consider a new ostomy bag, since you might not have the right one for your stoma. The seal might also need to be replaced too, especially if you’re struggling to fit it tightly on yourself.
Ostomy odor is embarrassing and it’s not something people want to deal with, especially with the odor leaks and implications. Luckily, there are ways to fix this. 7
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