Dealing with the smell
December 10, 2008Hey everybody, in a few minutes I’m leaving for my pre-surgery tests. No updates to give yet, so instead I’ll give you another video!
Today’s video is about the smell that comes with an ileostomy. Some people have different strategies that they use to get rid of the smell. This video goes over what I’ve done.
And even though the background is green, rest assured this video was made months ago and the ground is now covered with snow.
And a further addendum to this video, this video was made when I had an end ileostomy. When I got my diverting loop ileostomy, I realized that a lot of the smell issues went away. Why? I’m not sure. But since I’m only using 90% of my intestines with the diverting loop ileostomy, I’m guessing that the smell doesn’t have enough time to get produced in short intestines. I don’t know if that’s a medically accurate statement, but that has been my experience.
Keep fighting,
-Dennis
Update: I did my tests today and everything with my j-pouch looks fine. Surgery will proceed as scheduled tomorrow. I don’t know what time yet but as soon as I’m able to post an update I will. It’ll most likely be in the afternoon/early evening. And I already have video plans for my experiences from today. Let’s just say having an enema/x-ray was perhaps more tramatic than my awake colonoscopy.
Question: How have you dealt with the smell of your ostomy? How much does it bother you? Did you notice a difference between your end ileostomy and diverting loop ileostomy, if you had both?
Still thinking of you Dennis! I so want this surgery to be a success.
Dennis,
Will be thinking of you, good luck!! Look forward to hearing how things go..
All the best
e
Hi, I had my colon out in 1985 do to my mom and brother die from colon cancer. I was one of the first one to have it done in ND in Fargo, just 2 years old than coming from Mayo Minn. That was to far to go with 2 little kids. I had the bag for 6 months than J pouch.I learned as I lived. I have helped people out who have this done. At first not a word I was all by myself than now many people have it done. I can doing anything I want to do. Just live I am , so if you need anything reply. we have bee talking for to years about have a meeting on at Cavett’s Corner c store on Highway 46 and #1
get us a call or just stop in . 701-762-4211 see you Bev
Hi Dennis,
I know everyone talks about their output stinking to high heaven. But I have this wierd situation: I had my collectomy in April and sinc ethen the output from my ileostomy has been almost odeorless. When I empty the bag at work in the morning, it smells like coffee. If I ate peanuts, it smels vagely like peanuts, the same goes for bananas and other produce I eat, mostly cooked. If I eat Indian food, it smells remotely like those spices.
In appearance it looks a bit closer to the food I ate than to normal stool. What’s good is that I can empty in my office bathroom and don’t have to worry about someone coming in soon afterwards and being offended by oder.
I just hope that my small intestine is absorbing what its supposed to absorb.
Maybe there’s another explanation for my odorless poo, but of course it makes my life easier.
Best,
Ruth