Ostomy Odor
Articles Included:
·
What to do about Pouch Odor
·
Odor Problems and Control
·
The Ileostomy vs. the
Colostomy
·
Ask Us
What to do
about Pouch Odor
By Eileen T.
Carter, MS,RN,CETN
·
You should never be able to tell an
ostomate by his/her smell
·
Modern pouches are odor free
·
No special precautions are necessary
It's only in rare cases that pouch odor needs special treatment. Disposable modern pouches are odor free, save
for the brief odor everyone experiences during pouch emptying. Just be sure nothing has stained your clothes
to leave a lingering odor. Cuffing the
tail of the pouch at the start of each emptying should prevent soiling the
outside surface.
Diet can also play a role in odor control. Certain foods may cause odor and certain others neutralize it. Keep track of your own body's response to foods and avoid those that cause unwanted odor especially if you may need to use a public restroom.
As a general rule, the following foods may cause odor (the first three affect urine):
asparagus
Brussels sprouts
fish broccoli
some spices cauliflower
onion beans
cabbage garlic
turnips eggs
On the other hand, parsley, orange juice and active- culture yogurt can
help neutralize odors. A sudden increase
in odor may be related to a bowel blockage.
Contact your doctor or enterostomal therapist (ET) if other symptoms occur,
such as decreased output and cramps. A
blockage must be dealt with!
Another tactic to suppress odor is to treat the inside of the pouch. Use products like antibacterial mouthwash when applying a new pouch and after each emptying. Simply apply a dab of mouthwash to a tiny scrap of tissue and drop it into the bottom of the pouch. Do not put aspirin inside the pouch, a practice that was once in vogue, it could cause the stoma to bleed.
Odor-reducing ingestible pills are available for those still bothered by odor problems. Consult your ET, and if you decide to go this route be sure to follow the directions. Otherwise, you could be needlessly bringing on health problems.
Bear in mind, your sensitivity to your stoma's fragrance may be just
that--your own sensitivity. Following a
sensible lifestyle should allow you to be just as odor free as the next
person. But if you
sense difficulty, try these hints one at a time to see what works best for you.
Odor Problems and Control
By Eileen T. Carter, MS,RN,CETN
Odor is Normal
to Occur When the Pouch is Opened
Causes:
Treatment:
Stained clothes (if the contents leak out)
Remove
Some antibiotics
Take as directed or discuss with MD
Bacteria growing in an old pouch Discard
Tail/clip soiled Cuff
tail of pouch before emptying
Foods:
(usually
not meat, liquids, breads)
Make a diary of what was eaten during the day and the day before to
determine which foods affect you.
asparagus fish
onion cabbage
turnips Brussels
sprouts
broccoli cauliflower
beans some spices
garlic eggs
A sudden increase in odor
accompanied by cramping pain, then suspect a blockage. If you have an
ileostomy follow standard
instructions. For others discuss with
your doctor.
Other Treatments:
Deodorizer in foods:
·
Parsley
·
Yogurt with active cultures
·
Orange juice.
Pouch Deodorizers:
·
Mouthwash with antibacterial
properties, example: Listerine. Wet
corner of tissue and put in pouch.
·
Banish drops-use as directed.
·
Malodex spray, Beaumont
Products 1(800) 451-7096
·
M-9 drops from Hollister.
Medications for Ileostomies and Colostomies:
The following have been helpful for some
individuals. No prescription needed, but
directions must
be read. Serious physical harm can occur if directions are not followed:
·
Aspirin: People used to put it in the pouch. This has not been proven to work. It makes the stoma bleed.
Chlorophyllin Copper Complex:
·
May cause temporary laxative
effect, stool color will be green.
·
PALS, Palisades Pharmaceuticals
1(800)237-9083.
·
Derifil, Rystan Company.
·
Nullo, Access Medical Supply
1(800) 242-2460.
Bismuth Subgallate:
·
May interfere with x rays. Thickens stool. May interfere with blood thinning
medications. May turn stool green-black. Consult your doctor first if you have kidney
diseases.
·
STOMAX, lactose-free, sodium-free,
and sugar-free, 1(800)755-9595, Hope Pharmaceuticals.
·
Devrom, 1(800)453-8898, The
Parthenon Company.
The Ileostomy vs. the Colostomy
Adapted
By The New Outlook
Most ostomates know what type of ostomy they have, but every now and then
it’s good to review and distinguish between the ileostomy and the
colostomy. If after looking at our
little chart you are still not exactly sure about the differences, we suggest
you make an appointment with an ET nurse to discuss these. Knowing the difference is one of the
essentials in managing your ostomy.
Colostomy Ileostomy
Can be temporary or Can be temporary or
reversible or
reversible
Opens from the colon Opens from the small
intestine
Is relatively flat Usually protrudes 1”
Part of colon retained Entire colon removed
Common surgeries: Common surgeries:
cancer, birth defects, ulcerative colitis,
diverticulitis Crohn’s Disease, FAP
Discharge consistency Discharge is liquid to
depends on ostomy site mushy but never solid
solid if in lower colon
mushy if in upper colon
Discharge may be Discharge is highly
irritating if allowed to dry irritating and will
on the skin burn
the skin
The bowel may be Never irrigated
irrigated for control under
the right circumstances
An ostomy appliance An ostomy appliance
is not always needed is always required
Few dietary issues Few dietary issues
provided food is well provided food is well
chewed
chewed
A high residue A low residue
diet preferred diet preferred
Drink water as normal at Drink more water at
least 8 glasses a day least 12 glasses a day
Can become constipated Is never constipated
Most medicines taken as Care must be taken in
normal but always let case medication is
your doctor know that designed to dissolve
you have a colostomy in colon
Has more abdominal Has fewer abdominal
adhesions adhesions
Has greater chance of Has small chance of
peristomal hernias peristomal hernias
Has stronger feces odor Has less feces odor
Has more gas Has less gas
Normal absorption Normal absorption
of food nutrients of food nutrients
Should be able to live Should be able to live
normal healthy life normal healthy life
Ask Us
Forwarded By ReRoute, Evansville, Indiana
Chapter
An ileostomy study was conducted by Dr. Philip Kramer of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital School of Medicine, attempting to answer the following questions:
·
Which foods eaten by an
ileostomate change the ileal output and which do not?
·
What is the function of the
small intestine?
·
What do people without a colon
miss, or what effect is the function of the large intestine?
The following are some of
the conclusions after 224 individuals were studied:
·
The average output per day for an
ileostomy is about a pint. It is
composed of 90% water and 10% solids.
·
The fat and nitrogen content of
the ileal discharge is normal, which indicates that the food absorption in an
ileostomate is normal.
·
The salt output from an
ileostomy is very high—around one teaspoon per day—as opposed to
almost none in the feces of a person with an intact colon. Therefore, the
proper intake of salt by an ileostomate is very important. The body, however, seems to compensate for
salt and water loss by discharging less salt and water than normal through the
urinary tract and through perspiration.
The intake of too much salt is to be avoided in that it increases ileal
output.
·
Urine output is generally less
in an ileostomate. A person with an
ileostomy must drink a minimum of two quarts of water a day in order that the
possibility of kidney stone development may be kept to a minimum.
·
Some of the foods which were
tried and caused no increase in ileal output were: dark rye bread, cottage
cheese, pork, apple and grape juice, milk, watermelon, and cantaloupe.
·
Some foods which increase
output were: prunes, raw figs, dates, bananas, grapes, beans and cabbage.
·
An interesting study involved
the intake of huge quantities of water, up to 3½ quarts a day. Ileal output was
not affected, but urine output was increased.