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GAS - please help me with this embarrassing phenomenon!!

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Posted 6/9/2008 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

It has been awhile since I posted--I am 4 weeks post-op with my new (permanant) ileostomy, and have been feeling reall well!  I am walking 3 miles each day and lifting light weights to try to get back into shape, and was able to eat my first small salad yesterday (thanks, Summerstorm, for the idea of using shredded lettuce!  Ihad no problems with it!)

ANYWAY, the only thing that has really been bothering me is all the gas I have been having.  I have been eating 99% low residue foods that are easy to digest, but I am still getting a lot of gas...is this normal?  Will it go away or at least lessen?

My biggest problem is many, many people do not know that I had ostomy surgery--(SO many people I work with were, in my opinion, rude in asking very detailed questions about my surgery--one lady even said "Will you have to wear a bag?" and I am not even close with her...!  So I lied and said "No" b/c it is really none of her business!)  I am worried that I will have major gas in front of people who don't know, and they will be like "what the heck was THAT?"

Please tell me what to expect and how to lessen the gas--can I take Gas-X everyday to prevent it??  Thanks for your help, everyone!

Erin

Posted 6/9/2008 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
If you're only four months out, I wouldn't worry about gas. Your system has to
work out the kinks. I'm not sure you should be lifting weights though!

I remember when I had just had the surgery, I cramped up after walking
half a mile or so. But...that was 30 years ago.

As to who you tell, most of my close friends know that I have an ileostomy,
but no one else. There's no need for them to know. Of course, if you've just
returned from surgery, it's pretty reasonable for people to ask questions.

Best of luck.
David
Posted 6/10/2008 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,

I'm glad you're feeling good enough to exercise so soon. :-)  That's great!

 

Excess gas is completely normal in the first couple of months after surgery. It will lessen substantially, unless, of course, you eat foods that are known gas producers - like onions, broccoli, beans, etc. I asked my doctor about taking Gas-X every day, if needed, and she said it was no problem.

 

I've had my ileostomy for over two years and have never had my stoma make noise in front of other people. Maybe it's just shy... eyes   The only time it "talks" is first thing in the morning when I'm waking up with a cup of coffee. Otherwise, it quietly goes about its business and doesn't bother me or anyone else.

Do you have the summer off school? If so, you'll be a pro by the time school resumes in August!

Take care,

Cecilia
Posted 6/10/2008 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
glad i could help with the lettuce thing, makes it much easier, lol.

It's normal to have lots of gas at first, i think probably for the first six months i had alot of gas.  What i do know is, before i go out, i take two gas-x, and that seems to help. 

Also make sure you don't get hungry, be sure to eat the minute you feel hungry, i am not sure why but if i get hungry and don't eat, i start getting noisy!

Posted 6/10/2008 5:45 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the replies :-)

David, don't worry, my "weights" are only 3 lbs!  My doc said they were okay.  I literally had NO arm muscle left after spending so much time in the hospital (I had to go back after the initial surgery because I had an obstruction... :(  )

Cecilia, thanks for sharing!  I was SO relieved to hear from you and Summerstorm that the gas will lessen..right now, I am having SO much of it (about 15 times per day at least)--and it literally sound just like someone passing gas the old fashioned way, but the sound comes out from the front of me...!  I wish my surgeon has told me to expect this--he did not mention anything about it.

I hope my little guy becomes shy as well...I have too many quiet meetings to go to at work where I would die if it made the noises that it is making now!  sad

I am definitely going to try the Gas-X before I go anywhere special/with people who don't kow I have an ostomy, Summer!

Thanks again for your help and experiences. :)  I have the summer off from teaching, and hope things settle down between now and then.

Posted 6/10/2008 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Erin. I've been a teacher for many years and I've had all the situations.
I've been in quiet meetings, I've proctored tests where I couldn't leave the
room for 2 and 3 hours, and I've had to share bathrooms with students.
None of it is fun, but all of it is doable.

Your stoma will calm down and you are going to regain your strength.
Keep your sense of humor and be positive. I think it's great that you
were able to do this when you had a couple months off. That will make
all the difference.
Peace, David Tillyer
Posted 6/11/2008 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
here is another thing you can do to help muffle the noise.
I take these big towels from wal-mart, they are cheap, and cut them into small squares and use them to clean up for bag changes, but another thing you can do with those is place two or three of them directly over your stoma, between your bag and your clothes. Or, if you don't want to do that, take a washcloth, fold it long ways, and lay it across your stomach, where it is covering the bag. That helps keep the sound in a little better.
Posted 6/11/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,
The cherry chewable Gas-X are my favorite. They taste like candy.

I love how you're already calling your stoma your "little guy". I named my stoma Paloma, because she would get so happy every time I ate Italian food. (I had to give it up when I was sick, but I can eat it now.)

I know what you mean about quiet meetings. At my new workplace, they like to have lunch meetings where we all sit together in a quiet room and eat lunch while having our meeting. Well, the first time I did that, I discreetly kept my left hand over my stoma to muffle it, just in case she got "chatty". Luckily, she behaved, but from now on, I'm going to eat ahead of time and just bring a little something to drink for the meeting.

I've noticed that it does help to wear a tank top tucked into my pants with an umpire waisted top over it to help muffle any sound. I also like to play music in my office, so it isn't completely quiet.

What subject or grade do you teach? Since you work with kids, it's probably rare when it's so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, unless of course, they're taking a test.

:-) Cecilia
Posted 6/12/2008 1:05 AM (GMT 0)

Cecilia, I will definitely try the chewable Gas-X (I am so glad you mentioned "chewable", because, since I am new at this, I keep forgetting that I may not be able to take normal pills anymore...!) :-)

Right now, my stoma in pretty inactive until around 1-3 pm, even though I eat right when I get up and munch all during the day...but then it is also working a lot at night, which means I have been getting up twice a night since I got home to empty my pouch...

I teach 8th grade science (this year was only my second year), and I love it.  I am certified to teach high school science, but I love being in a middle school--the kids are so much more fun!  In high school, participation is much less; kids are "too cool" at that age to get really excited about stuff every day :).  I actually am starting to miss it since I have been off work for alomst 5 weeks now...

You are right though about the sound level in the classroom--I am not worried about making noise in front of the kids!  I have also been wearing fitted tank tops when I go out lately-it definitely helps to muffle the sounds :-)

Posted 6/12/2008 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,
The only pills we can't absorb are Extended Release. Otherwise, we can take vitamins and other pills just fine. I like chewables, too, since they taste good.

Oh yeah, a classroom full of 8th graders will keep you on your toes! I agree, that is a good age. My husband taught high school math for 15 years, and he said it was a challenge. Now, he's a Network Administrator at a school, so he fixes all of the computers and manages the network. You should see my house, computers are multiplying like rabbits! tongue

I'm really glad to hear you're doing so well. Which products are you using? I use the Coloplast Extended Wear wafers, and they stay on really well for me. Does your insurance cover the cost of supplies? I hope so. When I had Aetna, I found out that they had a contract with Sterling Medical to pay 100%, but I had to call them to find that out. Just something good to know, in case you're having to pay out of pocket for supplies.

:-) Cecilia
Posted 6/12/2008 9:38 PM (GMT 0)

Cecilia,

I am also using the Coloplast Extended Wear wafers, and have had really good luck with them as well!  I know you said you go swimming a lot--I am glad to know they can hold up to that if I want to swim!  :-)

My supplies are covered 100%...but how much stuff do you get sent each month?  I just recieved my second batch of supplies (I am supposed to get everything shipped monthly) and they sent me:

20 wafers

20 bags

50 stoma caps (I just wanted to see if these would work for me--I don't get them every month)

...I have still not even put a dent in the the 20 wafers and 20 bags they sent me last month...!  Is this nomal to get so many supplies??  Right now I am thinking about just hoarding some in case my insurance would ever change, you know?  But In a few months, I'll be able to fill a whole closet!

Posted 6/13/2008 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
LOL tongue Erin, I do have a closet full of supplies!! The insurance company I had before approved to send me 30 wafers and 30 pouches each month, and I don't use that many. I would save the extras and not order each month.

I've been really happy with the Coloplast wafers, too, and have spent the day swimming at a waterpark, and it still stays on for a week!

Do the stoma caps you have snap onto the wafer? I ordered caps once, and they sent me ones that peel and stick on. I would prefer ones that snap on, if they exist. I've been using the mini pouches instead.

Here are a couple of tips I've learned on here:

* Using an adhesive remover wipe when you remove the wafer makes it slide right off

* Shaving the little blonde hairs on your belly keeps you from pulling them out one by one

* Putting a capful of hydrogen peroxide into the pouch takes away the odor. Mouthwash works, too!

It must've felt really good to stop by school today, since you haven't been there for a while. You are doing so well after surgery. I'm really happy for you! :-)

Cecilia
Posted 6/13/2008 11:03 PM (GMT 0)

Cecilia,

I just bought a big plastic storage bin for my extra supplies!  tongue    But I am so thankful that I have the "problem" of getting too many supplies, rather than the opposite...

The stoma caps they sent me do snap rigth onto my wafer, which is great--I figured if I want to use them, I would like it to be a quick change, you know?  If you are interested, the product number is 2802, I am sure you can call Coloplast and get a few free samples. :)

The "adhesive wipe" you mentioned--is that from Coloplast also?  Honestly, the only thing I don't look forward to is change days, because even after 6 days or so, it is so darn hard to peel off the wafer...!  That sounds like something I could really use.

I did not think of shaving...you can't even see any hairs on my belly, but I know there are some there since I can feel them being ripped out when I peel back the wafer.  Thanks for the tip :-)

Well, I am off to go out to a sports bar with my fiance...I may even venture to have a mixed drink or a beer to see how it affects my new ostomy! 

Posted 6/14/2008 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,
Thanks for the product number on the stoma caps. I'm going to get a box of them with my next order!

The adhesive wipes I use are called Uni-Solve by Smith & Nephew. My brother-in-law is their VP of Marketing, so I got a couple of boxes of them in my Christmas stocking last year! :-) If you ask the rep the next time you place an order, any brand will do. They all work well.

Hope you had fun tonight! If you drink a strawberry daiquiri, don't freak out if you're output is red! tongue

Cecilia
Posted 6/14/2008 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
i have alot of those adhesive wipes, but i never use them, i change right after the shower and usually have no problems getting the bag and such all, take me less than five minutes to change the whole thing.
And ihave so much stuff! Jason ordered me like 6 boxes of bags, and 6 things of wafers. I had them all organized in a box, i got bored one night and got all the bags out, closed up the tails and put the tape on them. Then the other day, the stupid box fell out of the closet and they went everywhere!
Posted 6/16/2008 3:46 AM (GMT 0)

Cecilia,

What a unique stocking-stuffer!  :-) LOL about the daiquiri...I still have not yet experienced the infamous red output...

:)

Posted 6/16/2008 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
well i have learned something else. If you eat red colored things along with blue colored things you get very odd colored stuff coming out!
also, for some reason, blue colored things smell horrible!
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