Do I Smell Bad All the Time or Is It Just Me?

I feel like I smell like poop all the time. I am factious and clean up. Omg, is it just me!

It's either in your head or you have a leak of some sort.

What Alex said.

G-Day kbb193275,

Sometimes, if you don't clean the opening properly after you empty your bag, a small amount sticks to the outside of the end, and after a short time, you get a smell. Also, as stated, your mind plays tricks on you. Just clean properly.

Regards, IGGIE

Hello iggie

My nurse said to try putting Vicks around your nostrils if you need to, and I tried this morning, and it worked.

My Ostomy Journey: Keyla | Hollister

I bet that looks appealing. 😳

Or...rather smells better?

Don't put a band-aid on this smell situation.

There are phantom smells and real breached smells.

Experiment. Once you smell it, remove the entire appliance and look at the barrier ring.

That's where you will see it and where the smell is coming from.

Agree with Alex and Iggie and Axl.

You're not cleaning it properly, or you have a leak you can't see externally (under the barrier ring).

The only problem with putting Vicks around your nostrils is you might miss the smell of a real leak.

IGGIE

I think it might be a good short-term solution for the "imaginary" smells. It will sort of break the association.

But I agree, you don't want to do this all the time. I wonder if it is wise in the beginning when leaks are more common.

Do we have a new phenomenon here?  Psychosomatic ostomy odor (POO) ???   

It's not uncommon for people to think they can smell the poop in their bag. It is not usually the case, though, and others can't smell it. Now, if you have a leak, you can smell it. But if you don't have a leak, then it is most likely just something you are being self-conscious about. Try not to worry too much about the smell. If you are still worried about it, there are deodorizing drops you can put in your bag, like M9 drops. And there are some that are lubricating deodorizing drops. You might look into that for peace of mind.

As the others said, make sure there are no leaks and your bag's tail end is clean.

When you are new, you also have to trust that your appliance is working for you. When I first got my colostomy, I thought, how can this thin bag hold in this giant shit smell?

These bags are amazing once you find the correct setup for your body. Take care.

I have to say that I can smell it when it starts to go under the flange, and more often than not I will check it and sure enough, the leak is on the way. While it may not have completely breached the barrier yet, it is on the way to that. I have found that putting those extra pieces on the outside to support my bag has helped some, and they do give me more time to maintain some semblance of “together” when a leak is on the way (I'm thinking of our recent car trip to IKEA where the extra pieces did indeed keep me contained long enough to reach the bathroom).

Agree. Nailed it. Those c-strips are not only for support but for containment. They buy you time.

As long as you are keeping the end/opening of your pouch clean, and you aren't experiencing leaks, I would say it is all in your head. It's not uncommon. I occasionally think I smell something. The way I check is to make a tent of my top piece of clothing, shirt, sweater, blouse, etc. In other words, stick my nose right down the front of what I'm wearing and sniff. If anything is amiss, I'm going to know it right away. I've also done this in bed; put your nose under the sheet and take a big whiff. It always gives me peace of mind.

Terry

Thought it was just me. At first, I tried just Adapt lubricant/deodorant - not much of a deodorant as even a smidge of gas was obvious. So I went on a journey with the internet. I tried Just a Drop (not good for the bag), tried M9, which was good but costly, and ended up mixing Adapt lubricant (1 tsp. or so) and hydrogen peroxide (1 tbsp. or so) - what a difference. It was mortifying when I was out and could smell my output, and discovering the peroxide was such a relief. I get it at Walmart, and it's reasonably priced. I use the Adapt because it helps if your ring turtlenecks and lets things slide to the bottom of your bag. Being Miss Picky, I wash my bag out with lukewarm water every time, but I'm retired and reclusive, so it works for me. If you're out a lot, you may get better ideas from others.

G-Day Kyle,

Please don't overuse the hydrogen peroxide; I don't think your stoma will be very happy if you get that on the stoma.

IGGIE

Hasn't been an issue. If you can use it in your mouth, I figured it wouldn't hurt my stoma. I had a gum infection years ago, and I used peroxide as a rinse and to brush my teeth, as per a periodontist; just don't swallow it.

Hi you guys and girls, the info you gave on the smell really was helpful. I was getting scared and changing my bag and ring every day. I actually didn't feel like going out because of this problem. So great tricks and answers, thanks again.

If the hydrogen peroxide lingers around your stoma, like while you are sleeping, it would damage or burn your stoma. If you leave Advil in your mouth too long, it burns, so you swallow.

Would you clean your butt with hydrogen peroxide? Think of your stoma as your anus; do not use harsh chemicals near it.

Strange enough, I use a 1-piece with a filter, which is better than the same brand in the 2-piece. The 2-piece has a gap under the flange attachment, where I suspect my issues are. It could be the lot since all the boxes are from the same purchase.

Are you using filtered pouches?

Today I kept smelling something foul, quite different from my usual smell, and I saw no evidence of leaking or pending leakage, so I really did not understand. Turns out the 2.5 days of extremely warm weather for our area heated up the bay enough to make the entire city smell bad. Yep, it's the bay, not me!

EDIT: So, 2 people in my house just tested positive for COVID, testing myself as we speak. Seems as though weird smells could be a COVID symptom, who knew? At first glance, I do not appear positive, but I am still wiping everything down (handles, keys, knobs, etc.) with Lysol and spraying too, just for good measure. NEGATIVE!

I've been using it for years and have never had an issue. Maybe because it stays at the bottom half of the bag and is diluted by the Adapt lubricant. As for my anus, I don't think I would have a problem using it there either. I figure if I can brush my teeth for two minutes with peroxide as directed by a periodontist, it can't be as dangerous as some people think. It's up to you what you use for deodorant, but the peroxide is very effective for me. I actually got the idea from the Vegan Ostomy website and others on the net.

Just something to consider. A whole lot has been posted about odor recently, and it comes up often. I am a firm believer that if you have a properly applied appliance, with a good seal, and a clean tail, there should be no odor. Phantom odors are common. Many ostomates swear by drops to mask or eliminate the smell, and that's fine. Everyone needs to do what makes them feel comfortable. For me, if there is a leak, or the beginning of one, I want to know about it before anyone else does, so the idea of masking the smell actually scares me. What if I was getting a leak, but wasn't even aware of it because there was no smell? Yikes. So, no drops for me, thanks. The only time I smell my pouch is when I'm emptying, which is in the privacy of my own bathroom. If I'm somewhere public, there is normally a fan, and I flush often, keeping any smells to a minimum, and really, isn't a bathroom the one place that one might expect the odd smell? I mean really? We are all human and our poop stinks. Sometimes it just seems like making mountains out of molehills.

Terry

Yes, I am. It was suggested by my stomie nurse. I guess I just need to try accepting and learning about stomie. I am still in the phase of what the hell happened, but I will learn. You guys here are very helpful. I am glad my nurse encouraged me to sign up.

Hi everyone. My 90-year-old dad has an ostomy, and his whole house smells so bad! I finally admitted it to him tonight, and he was surprised. He can't smell anything. It's like walking into an outhouse when it's 100 degrees outside. It's awful. He was okay with my comment, but I don't know what he is doing so wrong???

Definitely... do not... light a match! 🧨

Sorry... my ice breaker😉.

I'd first determine whether it's your dad or the plumbing that's the cause of the smell.

For it to reek so badly, I'd suspect plumbing is the issue.

How old is the house? Get someone in there to check it all out.

Now if it's your dad's bag and leakage, a lot has been mentioned to curb odor. Has he leaks? Is he using an odor control?

I agree with warrior... get the household plumbing checked out. This is not normal.

Is he having leaks? If so, that needs to be addressed ASAP.

If he is having leaks that get out of control in the house, are there areas he hasn't cleaned up properly?

How does the bathroom look? Is he having problems with splashing when he empties and not cleaning up well?