My wife makes delicious sourdough bread. However, my stoma pouch keeps filling up with air.
Can the bread be the source of ballooning, and if so, is there an antidote to stop this? I like the bread and don't want to stop eating it. However.....
Newatthis
Aug 08, 2019 8:15 pm
mild_mannered_super_hero
Aug 08, 2019 8:42 pm
Yes, bread and grains/cereal are known gas producers. Nothing I have tried completely eliminates this. For this reason, I don't eat them. I suppose you could eat them when you know you will be home and the gas doesn't hurt much. I irrigate and as such completely forget about my ostomy. However, a little bread and I have to worry about "fart noises" when I'm in a social situation...it just isn't worth it to me.
MeetAnOstoMate is a remarkable community of 41,407 members.
“I found real people, real humor, and answers I couldn’t get anywhere else.”
“The support here impressed my husband’s medical team - they plan to recommend it.”
“This community saved me when I thought I was a freak. Now I’m thriving.”
“Thank god for this site - I finally knew what to ask my surgeon.”
Posted by: iMacG5
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
Newatthis
Aug 08, 2019 8:48 pm
I don't get any noises, but I balloon a lot. I don't irrigate and have a closed pouch. Fortunately, I also have an air release valve so I can let the air out... just the inconvenience and smell.
Advertisement
Hollister
Using ostomy accessories to create a personalized pouching system can help you prevent leaks and protect your skin.
Learn about the physical and emotional benefits of using ostomy accessories.
Learn about the physical and emotional benefits of using ostomy accessories.
Tickpol
Aug 09, 2019 1:28 pm
Breads hold a lot of air by their nature. You can probably reduce some of the gas by thoroughly chewing (32+ chews before you swallow). That should break all the "bubbles" in the bread. Also, if you can limit your fluid intake to 4 oz during the meal.
I've found taking Gas-X can also reduce the gas.
Dave
Tickpol
Aug 09, 2019 2:10 pm
The active ingredient is simethicone. You may be able to find a generic or the same product by another name.
Dave
How to Get Back to Activity after Ostomy Surgery with Kimberly | Hollister
dadnabbit
Aug 09, 2019 6:34 pm
New at this, I have found that both Gas-X and Beano help alleviate gas "blow-up", and both are available at Walmart online and Amazon. Don't know how that works for you over in the UK, but I'm pretty sure they're both pretty universal.... Good luck
Peace
Dagnabbit
newyorktorque
Aug 09, 2019 10:39 pm
Bread will cause my bag to balloon as well, but due to SBS, I'm limited to what I should be eating and bread is allowed. So I try to keep bread to a minimum when dining out, and I cannot go to sleep right after I eat it to avoid the dreaded blowout. I found this out the hard way after I ate stove top stuffing and fell asleep LOL! Thank goodness for bed pads :)
mild_mannered_super_hero
Aug 17, 2019 4:27 pm
Irrigation is a flushing of the colon. It is possible, with the correct diet, to go 2 full days without any output. It eliminates leaks, irritated skin, and other problems associated with a colostomy. Not everyone qualifies, as you must have some descending colon left and it must be healthy. Most cancer survivors qualify. I suggest that if you have a colostomy, you ask your doctor or nurse if you are a candidate for irrigation. It's a life changer!