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Noisy Stoma. What can I do?

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Posted 9/10/2012 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I have been having some issues with a very noisy stoma during the most inconvenient times...one time being Friday at a meeting for work. My stoma was making terrible noises, wet farts, sounded like I was having water fall diarrhea out my butt. YUCK! I almost fainted of embarrassment. It got so loud that I was forced to leave the room because only a select few even know I have a bag.

Does anybody have any advice on how to keep the stoma quiet during these times? I am going to experiment with different foods or maybe not even eating any food at all to see if this will help.

My friends think I should tell all my coworkers so they will know that I'm not just rudely farting around them, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. Besides, even if they know, I still feel like I am a disruption because you can't help but laugh. I even placed a sweat shirt across my lap, but it did not muffle the sound in the least.

I even took gas-ex Friday, but it didn't help.

Thanks, Tracy
Posted 9/10/2012 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
     LOLOLOL!  I know what you mean!  I don't work, so I don't have any meetings to attend.  BUT....I had my family over for dinner a few months back to celebrate a birthday.  During a lull in conversation, my stoma decided to make a grand entrance.  I guess it felt neglected or something....I was soooooo embarrassed.  Good thing they all knew what it was.  I have no idea what causes this, just gas I guess.
Posted 9/10/2012 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Not eating will make it worse! I find if I get hungry and then eat it makes really loud noises! How long has it been since your surgery?
Posted 9/10/2012 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I am so embarrassed when that happens. For me, it too can be very loud on an empty stomach. But my stomach noises are even louder, so the grumbling noises over shadow the stomal noises. The loudest stomal noises are while I'm eating and about half hour later, while digesting. My suggestion to you is, if you have a meeting, make sure you have eaten something, whether heavy or light, at least an hour before. If this doesn't work, the only thing is to muffle the area by putting your forearm over it and press. Also, if a scheduled meeting, keep a washcloth with you and put it over the pouch.
Posted 9/10/2012 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure how good they are but I have noticed in the Phoenix magazine some advertisements for various products to help with this problem. Maybe you could google and see what products there are out there and more importantly feedback from others who use/used the products if nobody here has any first hand knowledge of same.
Posted 9/10/2012 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Lol you made me laugh !
Mine done the same disgusting noises when all the drs were in my room the other night , my dr said to the nurse oh excuse you and everyone laughed gotta laugh !
Posted 9/10/2012 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Windy City and Summerstorm are both bang on the money. Not eating will cause wind build up. I don't eat during my shift at work, which works for me and I don't "fart" very often while there. However, when I eat after work, there's a half hour storm to rival "Katrina"! As Windy City says, try to eat 1-2 hours before a meeting, or something scheduled where you may be embarassed. I find smooth peanut butter on white bread is a good settler. Also maybe keep some marshmallows with you, I find they're a superfood of sorts for my stoma, slowing output, reducing wind and "plugging" any unexpected Niagara like episodes!
Posted 9/11/2012 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
     I did notice that...about eating on an empty stomach.  I didn't want to spoil my appetite beforehand, so was very hungry when I sat down to eat.  I will really have to keep that in mind when my daughter gets married Sept 29th.  The reception follows a 6pm ceremony.  I best eat something around 3pm.  It wouldn't be proper for the stoma to make a grand entrance before the bride and groom smilewinkgrin !
Posted 9/12/2012 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
I know exactly what you mean. Mine happens all the time in movies or anytime it gets quiet.

I recently saw and advertisement for a product called the "stoma stiffler". I am not sure if it works or not but they want a crazy amount of money for it.
Posted 9/12/2012 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
yes, you must eat. Its louder on empty stomachs.
Also wear tight clothes over the stoma at all times. It really helps keep the noise down.
and when it starts to make noise put your hand over it and smash down. You can do this gracefully so no one knows what you are doing.
Posted 9/14/2012 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
     OH MY...I wouldn't want to squash it down shocked .  Wouldn't that be harmful?
Posted 9/14/2012 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe 'smash' 'squash' isn't the correct terminology. :-) But a light, discreet press to muffle. I have a convex 2 piece, so there is room to press down and it does help. Crossing hands and putting left hand over it, or crossing arms and using right forearm/backside of elbow. I don't see a difference when I wear tight clothing. I do see a difference if I have somewhere 'special' I have to go, and I will put a small thin washcloth over my pouch, under my clothes. It's saved moments that would have otherwise been painfully embarrassing.
Posted 9/15/2012 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
I definitely smash and squash my stoma with my hand when its being too noisy in public. Never caused any problems thus far. And I'm on my fourth ileo for a total of over 4 years. I don't understand people's concerns and sensitivties and constant worrying about hurting the stoma. Its a piece of your body and a pretty durable one at that. I think the sooner people can accept  this the quicker they can get on to living their pre-ostomy life.
Posted 9/15/2012 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Ron you're right....Considering it probably only costs a few dollars to make and manufacture. Granted there were initial costs developing the item probably but they would sell so many more if priced more reasonably.

(I think the NuHope belts are a bit higher priced than necessary but in my husband's case they are a custom order and he feels they are worthwhile so we get them. We are lucky as there is partial reimbursement for them so for us it is a bit easier to take.)
Posted 9/15/2012 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
It is worse when you don't eat. I am a squasher when it makes noise. It helps, and doesn't hurt. It doesn't need much pressure to cover the sound.
Posted 9/21/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Ha Ha i coach peewee football and my stoma always seems to be raring to make itself known while i am at practice around the boys (5th & 6th graders) so i always just tell them at our first practice that i have a hole in my stomach that will sometimes fart loudly but its not gonna stink and i cannot control when it happens believe it or not they are always very mature about it for their age. Alot more so then some adults that i have encountered in public places, i was in the check out at Walmart one evening and my stoma let loose a loud fart and this elderly lady in front of me turned around and proceeded to tell me how rude and disgusting i was, well i let her have a few choice words and then pulled up my shirt and said i wear a colostomy bag you dumb $#^^$ and she turned around and walked away quickly i think she was embarassed for judging me so quickly ~~
Posted 9/21/2012 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have no advice because I was one of the lucky people whose stoma made noises bout 4 times the whole 12 months. The last time it happend I was talking to the surgeon's assistant who asked me if I wanted to have blood taken first or have a digital examination first. Stoma made some noises so I translated what my stoma said for him and the nurse and said, "It says that it wants to have blood taken first." They got a good laugh out of that, hospital humor I guess.
Other people have said it helps if you just put your hand over it.
Posted 9/21/2012 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
I just thought of going to handyman's supply store, one of those big ones that sells everything to paint to plumbing, and buy a small piece of the material they use to sound-insulate. Keep taping the same piece over the bag. Just an idea.
Posted 9/24/2012 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Oh this thread is very amusing to me as "Stewart" has been talking NON STOP today. He literally let out a three to four second sustained sound. I had no idea stomas could do that! I stay away from soda and am not eating any roughage (soft diet still) so I'm not sure what his problem is. My mom was across the room from me and heard him talking over the TV! My dad also heard him from across the room. They've both recommended new nicknames for him after today...Giggles and Gorp (after the sound he makes).
Posted 9/24/2012 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
hi all, i havn't posted in so long. anyway, had to comment this. a friend of mine tried this product:

http://www.colonsilence.com/download/flyer_ENG.pdf
 

he's amazingly happy with it. he bought it bout a yr ago and it cost him around 55 $. he has a colostomy and he's stoma is really noisy. i never tried it, i have an ileostomy and it is silent 99% of the time. he sais it completely solves the problem.

Posted 9/26/2012 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Be glad it is working my third stoma done at mayo may be stenosing

Rosemary
Posted 1/6/2015 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
A noisy ostomy can be a real bugger.
I was on set for a T.V. show I was assisting with...As soon as the director said; "Quiet on set!" Mine ripped a triumphant one. I was horrified beyond belief. Then he asked; "Did he fart?" I had to apologize and hold my chin high and say; "At least it doesn't stink.
After that I've searched for a solution and have found nothing. I pray for a drug company to create an affordable med for it.
Posted 1/6/2015 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Eat small meals throughout the day. Waiting a long time between meals creates gas..or air bubbles which sound like gas.
Posted 1/9/2015 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Good to read all of this! This is the kind of stuff the pamphlets from the doc's office don't cover in detail.

Question: what does putting a washcloth over the bag do to quiet the sound? Is it just like adding another layer of clothes or does it have another, more specialized function?

Also, does anyone with a colostomy use the bags with a filter? how well does that actually work in releasing the gas? I know that wouldn't prevent the sounds, but at least help the bag not "blow up" from gas.
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