Question: 

I use a Hollister system for my Ostomy and have been very happy with it, but for the last couple months I have been having trouble with odor. What can I do about this. I have been using the drops recommended and so on, but it doesn’t seem to be working. I have spoken to someone else who told me they have had a problem, possibly due to a change the manufacture has made.

Response:

Causes

·         Keep a log book. Track types of food eaten with time and times when odours are strong. Certain foods can increase gas within the pouch. Foods such as high in soluble fiber, high sugar, beans, broccoli, carbonated drinks). There is a long list of foods that you can google. Have you recently added new products to your intake, or new medications?

·         Any activity where air is swallowed (smoking, chewing gum, drinking with straws, eating and drinking too fast,).

·         Using a pouch longer than the manufacturer’s instruction

·         Appliances do give out odours (it was a hot summer – maybe body temperature with the appliance has a cause and affect?

Ideas to reduce odour

·         Empty pouch when at 1/3 or ½ pouch full

·         Suggest speaking to a store that carries many ostomy products – they usually have answers with specialty products that work.

·         Odour eliminating deodorizer drops that can be placed right into the pouch. There are different manufacturers with different products – try phoning a ostomy manufacturer for free samples or contact a store that their man focus is ostomy products

·         Odour eliminating spray for room when changing appliances – never spray in the pouch

·         Air freshener in room – keep on hand for freshening the room

·         A new product on the market is Poo-Pourri – spray in toilet

·         It is not an approved method in Canada but some say it works well in masking odour – 2 Tic Tac mints in the bottom of the pouch. Use your own discretion

·         Trying different appliance products might be a final solution if nothing else works

Karen Bruton RN BScN MCISc-WH WOCC(C)

Nurse Education Consultant – Interprofessional Practice Support

Indigenous Services Canada, Government of Canada

Ostomy Canada (Volunteer)

Medical and Lifestyle Advisory Team Lead