Dealing with Odor Issues in Ostomy Bags

I got an ostomy in April of this year due to rectal cancer.  I am still trying to figure out the tricks of the trade, so to speak.  I'm having problems with my bags smelling bad the day after I change it.  The lubrication/deordarizer I use just isn't cutting it.  I was wondering if anyone has any tips or ideas for this problem. Please help! I'm very self concious around people wondering if they can smell it too

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I have found that a few drops of peppermint oil dropped inside the bag keeps it from smelling bad. Hope this helps you with the problem.

I worry about that too. I use the deodorant but wonder if that is enough as well. I had heard a mix of mouthwash and water makes a good deodorant too.

Hi there Hollister M9 drops works great ive had my ostomy for 17 yrs and I dont use anything else, nothing works as good Express medical supply has good prices hope this helps

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I found the Hollister M-9 drops to work. I had to use about 20 drops, which is about twice the recommended amount.



Some of the reason was, I used a roll up lock bag.  A lot of the M-9 would get in the folds of the roll up and not do any good.  



Good luck

Rick.....

Airport Security Tips Living with an Ostomy with April | Hollister

Speaking of smelly bags, I've had my ileostomy since 2003 and after a lot of trial and error, I thought I had all my problems licked. However, in the last two months or so, I started getting this smelly odor from my pouch. Nowhere could I find a leak, so I just started changing pouches every second day. Bingo! Then I started getting leaks around the pouch area where the rings meet the pouch. Of course, the leak would occur at the bottom, and I had to flip the pouch up to see underneath. Sure enough, it was wet, so I opened a new box of pouches and the problem went away. I don't know if any of this helps, but we're always here to help. Remember, there is no such thing as a silly question on these forums. Keep asking, and somebody will come up with an answer. Ed

The M9 has worked great for me - the only problem I have is with fish.  If I eat fish more then once a week the smell of fish actually comes though the bag.  I have not found that problem with anything else.  Lots of drops will help it but usually i'll end up changing pouches.

Good luck to you - I hope you find the problem and get it solved soon!

Like the others who've answered, I use the Hollister M9 drops.  They work for me.   In US, Medicare covers ostomy deodorant.  The bottle Medicare will pay for each month lasts many months, even with a generous squeeze at each change.  I wish they made a solid, dissolving wafer of the same chemicals for carrying in purse or pocket. In a pinch a bit of toothpaste works pretty well.  Squeeze an inch onto a bit of tissue and drop it in!

Usually you are the only one who can smell the odor as you may be self conscious.

To those who do have odoriferous stools, especially when certain foods are eaten, use

Chlorophyll. One or two chlorophyll tablets or chlorophyll liquid      taken with each meal may also help, as chlorophyll is a great deodorizer.     

They nay be had at any health food store and on the internet and are usually inexpensive.

John H. RN Enterostomal Therapist

I think that catching a good cold and/or developing a sinusitis is an effective way to battle the smell of your baggy

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you simply won´t notice.

I would not give too much importance to this "problem".

We may smell different, but we certainly don´t smell worse than others.



How about people with a chronic bad breath that constantly want to talk right in your face, That is really disgusting, and none of them seems to worry about that.



LIVE !!!!

I don't use anything for odor.  I've never noticed an odor with the pouch closed anyway.  Its only when I empty it that you obviously get an odor.  Never worried about it and not going to start now.  Ileostomy for 17 years and still going strong.

There are a few posts on the forum about this already - in a nutshell I think the most well liked deodorants were -



Tic tacs

Eucalyptus sweets/oil

Peppermint oil

Na'scent

M9

Bicarbonate of soda

Mouthwash



Give them all a try and see what suits!

Rach xx

Although there appear to be some good "band aid" fixes here, a good ostomy pouch  should never smell (unless being emptied, of course).  If you bag has a "filter" it may be leaking odor.  If it does, it's time to start looking for a new product.  One of the products I used in the past would start smelling within the first day.  I switched to Cymed and never smell any odor from it.  I'd try out other products that don't have this defect.

Everyday I tie a grocery store vegetable bag around my bag because the smell transfers to my pants and it works.  I would have to

wash my pants everyday because of the smell transferring to my pants.  And the next day when I change out my osteomyelitis bag 

I have a plastic grocery bag to wrap it in.   

I find to control order, poo pouring works the best and it comes in a smaller size that fits easily in my pocket.  

anyone here heard of using baking, powder? Was told its cheaper and effective.