I have an end colostomy so there may be some difference. I'm sorry you are going thru this. Those noises can be embarrassing and occasionally they still happen to me. (It's been 7 years) but not as often as they used to..... So it does improve with time. I've had my ostomy worked on 3 different times and each period of time after surgery was different. Sometimes it took a few weeks, once it took 6 months.
I had to use a food journal...each time... And each time it changed... There were some foods that just made me very gassy and my stoma was very unpredictable. If I knew I was going out I knew to avoid carbonated drinks, onions, eggs, fish, broccoli and Doritos for 24 hours before going out. The worse for me was Doritos. My 2 piece bag completely popped off and went flying outwards under my shirt. Yikes!! That one was on all 3 surgery recoveries with a colostomy. I avoid Doritos like the plague... 🙁😭
I tried to drink more water when knew I was going out... But sometimes (usually) that backfired. Don't do that. Oh the noise ...... Lol....😱
Finally....
I bought support type granny panties that were a little snug....sorta like spanx. That pressure caused my stoma to be quieter and made it so I didn't have any output while it was being pressed against. I've since had 2 friends try it. It worked for one but not the other... Although it did "muffle" the noises some for the lady that it didn't work all the way on.
They've since moved my colostomy up high so Granny panties don't fit it.... Spanx does but it rolls down... So now I wear a hernia Velcro wrap and tighten it down. That stops my output and my noises....
Although I ate fish a few weeks ago.. and then my doctor called me to come into his office that afternoon.... I had to apologize and explain to the other patients that I had a colostomy. It sounded like a dog growling...It was embarrassing but it was a teaching moment for them and me.
So I can't say there's a way to avoid it all the time... But it does get better. Plus you are in a steep learning curve.... It will get easier.
I hope that you are feeling better. I still marvel at how much better I feel now compared with before. I marvel that with the ostomy I am able to have a better quality of life.
For me... Over time it did get much better. I'm just unable to give you a time frame of when that could be for you.
And for me... I have come to the realization that for me... This experience is going to be what I make it. There are going to be times when things unexpectedly happen and I try to make the best of it. I still get embarrassed when it happens, I want to pretend it didn't happen... But then I think if others that are like me that might not be able to speak up so..... we all have a learning moment. That might not be something you want to do... But if you do .... practice a short explanation and then you'll be ready. BTW... As long as you have an odor blocker and it's just the noise---well.... That's better....
Hang in there....
Clo
Post Edited (clo2014) : 4/14/2023 8:09:17 PM (GMT-8)