This topic is about dealing with excessive and noisy gas after having a colostomy. A person who is a year post-colostomy and has recently returned to work is experiencing a noticeable increase in gas that exits loudly through their stoma. They are curious if this is normal and if others have similar experiences. Here are some helpful tips and insights:

1. Identify and limit foods that trigger gas. These can include dairy products like ice cream, pizza, watermelon, beans, and other high-fermentable foods. It might be best to enjoy these foods when you're not in quiet settings.

2. Consider dietary aids and remedies. Products like Lactaid can help with lactose intolerance, Beano can assist with digesting legumes and vegetables, and simethicone products or peppermint tea can help calm the gut.

3. On workdays, try eating smaller, lighter lunches. Avoid actions that cause you to swallow air, such as chewing gum or drinking through straws. Managing post-nasal drip can also help reduce swallowed air.

4. For mechanical or noise solutions, you can:
- Use clothing like a sweater or jacket, or your hand, to muffle sounds.
- Keep a plastic or paper bag handy to crinkle and mask sudden noises.
- Although Coloplast has discontinued stoma plugs, which were effective at silencing gas, you can try DIY solutions. Some have used tampons secured to the baseplate, a modified Vicks nasal inhaler tube with a porous end, or a porous sponge fitted in a short plastic tube. Be cautious with these homemade devices as they can block with output and ensure no holes are drilled that could harm stoma tissue.

5. Pouch filters can help reduce odor but not noise. Unfortunately, there is no commercial "fart silencer" available yet, though many hope one will be developed.

6. Normalize the situation with humor and openness. Most coworkers will be understanding if you acknowledge or joke about it, such as saying "filter installed," blaming the nearest engineer, or treating it as a ringtone.

7. Rest assured that loud gas is common with colostomies and ileostomies. It is not usually a problem unless accompanied by pain, blockage, or other symptoms.

For more information, you can check out the resource "How to Prevent Embarrassment From Colostomy Gas" at the provided link.