I received a colostomy bag 7 weeks ago. I can't predict when I'm going to have gas. I have a huge interview next week and am paranoid. I have tried beano, gas x and avoiding all the problem foods and nothing is working. Any suggestions or advice that has helped other is greatly appreciated.
How to avoid Gas
- Thread starter aea168
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Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
Hi! Welcome to the forum!
I've never had to deal with a stoma but I have had issues with excess gas production!
For me a low carbohydrate diet helps and probiotics.
Some people get benefit from the low FODMAP diet
Hopefully someone else has some more suggestions for you
Best of luck with the interview!
I've never had to deal with a stoma but I have had issues with excess gas production!
For me a low carbohydrate diet helps and probiotics.Some people get benefit from the low FODMAP diet
Hopefully someone else has some more suggestions for you
Best of luck with the interview!
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- Oct 18, 2012
- Messages
- 4,402
Honestly I've found that sometimes the easiest thing is to be completely upfront and tell people you have a stoma and it may make noises. That way all the anxiety about whether or not it will make a noise is immediately gone. Stomas do not produce any smell, they are not unhygienic, and they are an obvious sign that you have a serious medical condition, and social rules seem to dictate that people should not see them as a joke in the way that they would treat a regular person passing wind. At the moment for you the worst thing that can happen (in your mind) is that people will become aware of your stoma in a way that embarrasses you. Tell them, and that worst thing cannot happen; they are aware but you've made sure it's in a way that is not a cause of embarrassment, you've simply told them that as a result of a serious medical condition you have a stoma, which may make noises. Or make a joke about the noises yourself.
I do understand that this may not be an approach you want to take. You may not want these people knowing you have health problems at all. But I thought I'd suggest it as for some people, in some situations, it's the best way to go.
You've not had your stoma long and it's possible that although diet is not helping you now, with more time to experiment you'll find things that help. At this point your digestive system may even still be healing from the surgery and things may settle down a bit more with time. But sometimes gas simply can't be avoided, so acceptance is necessary, and people for the most part are very understanding.
I do understand that this may not be an approach you want to take. You may not want these people knowing you have health problems at all. But I thought I'd suggest it as for some people, in some situations, it's the best way to go.
You've not had your stoma long and it's possible that although diet is not helping you now, with more time to experiment you'll find things that help. At this point your digestive system may even still be healing from the surgery and things may settle down a bit more with time. But sometimes gas simply can't be avoided, so acceptance is necessary, and people for the most part are very understanding.
