UOAA Discussion Board

How do you keep air out of the bag

Gas is a by product of digestion. Obviously some foods create more gas than others. So, you would want to try to reduce those types of foods if it bothers you that much. There are some OTC meds that are supposed to help decrease gas production, but I'm not familiar with the rate of success with those meds as I don't use them. I have pouches with filters that allow gas to escape through a carbon filter, so, no odor. But, they tend to not last very long if they get output on them. I'm an irrigator, so I don't typically have any output throughout the day, but still have gas. The filters work well for me, but they aren't 100% all of the time...even without output. There are after market filters that you can purchase to allow gas to escape if you aren't using a two piece appliance, but they do not have filters, so you would want to excuse yourself to the restroom or outside to open the valve to allow the air to escape. When I get gas in my two piece appliance, I simply "pop the top" and allow the gas out. Make sure it's gas before you do this, or you'll have a different set of problems!
If you have a colostomy, you may want to consider irrigating. Irrigation removes the output in your large intestine, therefore removing anything that causes gas...at least at the end of the digestion line! Check out the irrigation forum to almost every question imaginable.

Hope that helps some.

David

I too use bags with gas passer (filter bags) bags. I too do not take anything to control it. Truth been know, only certain foods give me gas. Avoid these food in public, no problem. Avoid coke & straws in public. Keep a diary, see if certain foods cause the problem.

Okay here goes, early on after my surgery, yes I did pass A LOT of gas, guess it is part of healing process. AND chemo brings on the gas. During my chemo period, I used non gas passer bags, would go outside in back yard & burp my bag outside under patio, no one saw me EXCEPT. Once my 10 yr old son caught me, "mom how could you, OUTSIDE???" Yes DS, experts told me to do this, avoid smell inside house, BUTT if you want me to do inside house, your bathroom is the go to place. He dropped his jaw!! The expression was I passed "chemo gas"' it's thick, it's deadly, & it does not move!!. HE walked away, more importantly, he never brought it up again. On a few occasions he had to deal with my "chemo gas". Thought it stunk the house up. Guess he decided outside was better than inside house.

nickolas

So many variables about gas. Some of us just have more -- and my dad and I belong to that club. What you eat. When you eat. If you chew gum or use straws (don't). I've always had it but some filters are better than others. I do like the placement of Coloplast filters and Hollister. When I had a colostomy,I used Convatec and hated the placement and often wrote to R&D in the company -- which did nothing.

Many of us "burp" the bag discreetly but it can have an odor.

Yes, join the irrigators' forum below if you are a colostomate.

Now I have an ileostomy and it's a whole new ball game. It'd be helpful to have more details from you. I find that if I do NOT eat with an ileostomy, I get gassy. I never had tons of bread but now bread helps me. it settles my stomach. We're all different. There's lot of into about this if you google or subscribe to The Phoenix -- our ostomy magazine.

Wish you luck!