5 Tips to Prevent Ostomy Odor

Yes, you can live your life to the fullest even with a medical incapacity. But living with an ostomy can be challenging, demotivating, and may prevent you from enjoying the things you used to do, especially in the beginning. 

You begin to worry about simple things like passing gas or having the ostomy bag emit an odor. You might fear that wearing an ostomy bag will interfere with your social life. It can be intimidating and cause you unnecessary stress and anxiety. Even so, if you worry about gas and odors, here are five tips that can help you deal with the problem. 

The reality is this. Most ostomy bags are made from odor-proof materials, so unless there is a leak, you will only notice a smell when you change or empty the bag. 

 If you find yourself worrying about your pouch emitting gas or odors, here are five simple ways to deal with your concerns.

Empty the Ostomy Bag Often

Empty your ostomy bag before it gets half full. If it fills up too much, the bag will put weight on the stoma and the skin surrounding it. This activity could loosen the seal of the appliance and cause a leak of bodily waste and odor. Please pay attention to the ET nurse's instructions on changing the pouch and be sure to ask with what frequency. 

Usually, you need to change the bag from one to ten times a day, depending on the process you have undergone. If in doubt, ask the nurse at what frequency you should be changing the bag. 

Avoid Certain Foods

Your diet can also affect your output because of digestion, so keep track of what you consume and know what foods cause odors or gas. The foods that can fill up your ostomy bag quicker are those that have soluble fiber or sugar and include: 

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Beans
• Beer
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Apricots
• Dairy products
• Mangoes
• Cabbage
• Peaches
• Raisins
• Nuts
• Onions
• Soda

Although the above foods might contribute to odor and gas, they are still healthy foods, and you shouldn't eliminate them entirely, but you can limit their intake when you go out or are in a social setting. Another option is to use odor reduction ostomy bags. 

Avoid Swallowed Air

You swallow air and increase gas production when you use items like gum, drinking through straws, or drinking of carbonated drinks. Smoking can also cause the swallowing of air, so you want to avoid all of these habits. 

Use a Filter on The Ostomy Pouch

Gas can come into the ostomy bag and cause air bubbles. If you don't release the air pressure, the pouch can inflate and a leak can occur. By using pouches with odor reduction filters you release the gas in a safer way. 

Use Products to Eliminate Odors

There are products that get rid of odors without needing to make dietary changes. These products are a great way of eliminating any possible odor and they come in the form of sprays, drops and tablets. 

Deodorizers

There are deodorizes in the form of liquids and gels. You place these in the ostomy bag when you empty or change it. These deodorizers are convenient to use. Some deodorizers are scented, and others eliminate bacteria. 

Room Deodorizers

Whether at home or in public, having a room air deodorizer can eliminate any airborne odors. You can stop the smells and clean the air with sprays that come in scented and unscented forms. 

The Proper Ostomy Bag

Bags come in several shapes and sizes, with small or large stoma caps that are overnight bags. The smaller bag needs to be emptied more often. Besides size, the pouches also come in different styles. 

Choose an ostomy bag that fits your stoma and your bowel movement. If you need to empty the bag several times a day, you may need a larger bag. 

Stay Healthy

For many people who have had an ostomy, noises and smells can seem like a huge and embarrassing problem. You can fix this issue simply by changing your foods and using good stoma care products.