THAT smell........... and other stuff

Okay so I'm moving along and getting back to life. I've been temping lately as finding a full time job has proven difficult, although I think I'm physically ready to handle it. Getting back into the world of PEOPLE, people who know nothing of my ostomy, has made something painfully frightening.....

How does one contain the 'smell' that comes from the ostomy when emptying?? I mean I've heard hydrogen peroxide, mouthwash, drops.... most of which I've tried. And they've worked but somehow taking a bottle of hydrogen peroxide with me into the bathroom every time I go isn't appealing - especially when the whole office can see me headed there. I'm already mildly paranoid about how often I use the restroom.... And now I'm worried if someone comes in there to use the other stall ----------- gah! I'd feel mortified, even if no one said anything. So how do those of you who are out and working deal with this?

On another note: it's been dreadfully cold here in Florida. Generally I'm more comfortable in skirts and dresses because of where my ostomy sits. Still not completely comfortable in pants. So I've been wearing black leggings.... the kind that go up over my waist... in place of nylons. So..... (thank god we can be open here) my bag sits on the part of my leg that connects to my hip when I'm sitting down. When anything comes out I feel..... damp. I'm not, thankfully, I think it's just from the warmth, but I can't get over the paranoia that I'm going to have an accident at work. I have my supply bag with me just in case, but then we come back to problem one - THE SMELL. I can't imagine trying to change my appliance at work......

Any hints, suggestions, ideas.... anything. I want to work right now and these little things are making me scared to.

     Try eating wintergreen mints.  One time, when I was using the Hollister bags...now have switched to Coloplast, the bag broke while my husband and I were attending a Comedy Club Show at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City.  I wasn't aware that the bag had split.  When I went to the ladies room after the show...wow, was I in for a surprise..doo doo all over the place BUT I had eaten quite a few wintergreen mints before the show and the output actually smelled GOOD...minty like .

     By the way, I have never had an accident with the one piece Coloplast bags .

 

well I can relate to the work place situation.  Luckily though there is one bathroom that is further away from our main area and i often use that (it also has a good exhaust fan ;)  I'll use the drops sometimes (Coloplast O.A.D. works well).  I've also noticed that when i take my iron supplement it decreases the odor and makes my output real dark too.  I just got some deoderant tabs to put in the pouch today I'll have to see how those compare. 

I think it is Hollister that makes little packets of lubricating deoderant.  That would be easy to sneak into the bathroom with  you.

Hang in there!

Best of luck

 

put a can of deodorizer in the bathroom or even in the stall...when you empty spray some into the toilet and empty. There will be very little smell:), if any!!

I purchased a little can at Walmart or Target that I keep in my purse for when I have to empty when I'm out. You could also carry a little spray thing of Binanca mouth spray and do the same thing.

Have you tried a shorter pouch? I flip the tail up under the cover and put it into my underwear...no pokes!

Halls Mentho-Lyptus cough drops. They work better than the packets from Hollister and you can easily put them in your pocket.

Also, you might consider chlorophyll supplements - they deodorize from the inside, so to speak.

I use M9 when at home and the cough drops when I am out and about.

None of the drops worked for me and I was trying everything under the sun. Then my ET nurse told me to try Ostofresh. That was the best thing she ever did for me :)
I got a sample from her and since then, NO SMELL, and I carry a small bottle of it in my back pocket when I go to the bathroom to empty. If I'm out and about, it's small enough to fit in my wife's purse (finally found good use for it LOL!!!! J/K).

Ostofresh ... ask for a sample and then ask your supplier for it to be covered under your insurance, mine is thank God!

Let me know how it goes...

i put tape on the plastic parts, not the velcro and not the outside. if you roll the bag up and close it, i put tape on what is showing then
makes the bag way easier to open

ucfree and summerstorm

I am having the same problem but I have Hollisters new velcro pouch.... it folds and theres just one velcro piece that folds over. It is hard to open and I end up using tp and my fingers to pry it open. Not the most sanitary method but it works. I'd love to have an easier way but its hard to envision what you're saying. Can you elaborate at all? Thank you!!!!

ok its kind of hard to explain what i mean but i will try. Before you put your bag on, close the tail up. then what is showing, the plastic that is showing still, put medical tape on that, it takes me three pieces of the narrow. I put one where the pouchfabric meets the plastic, then another across the crease, folding it there, then another starts below that. I run them to the edges and make sure they dont go over the edge or else i wouldnt be able to open it! also, the more times you open and close the bag the easier it is, so i usually open and close mine a few times before i even put it on. i do that while im getting all my boxes ready to go.