Q: Hi Laura,
Can you tell me of any medication or pills I can take that eliminate or lessen odor? It seems to be worse in the mornings. I am going on vacation with friends and it can be very embarrassing.
Thank you,
Julie
A: Hi Julie,
There are pills you can take to lessen odor. The most popular option among people with stomas is called Devrom. It comes in a capsule or tablet. I would always ask your doctor about any new medications or pills you take before deciding to use them.
You can also try to control the odor by adding parsley, yogurt, kefir or other odor neutralizing foods into your diet. Remember, foods like fish, eggs, onions, and garlic can cause ostomy output to be more odorous. This doesn’t mean you have to avoid them, but just some food for thought.
There are also products that can eliminate odor. Ostomy pouch deodorant is a great option! You simply drip a couple drops into the pouch when you change your bag and every time after you empty; that’s it! There are many different options when it comes to odor eliminators, but I have two favorites: Hollister’s M9 drops, and Securi-T’s Lubricating Gel Deodorant.
I carry them around in my purse and use them every time I empty my ostomy bag. I also like to carry around a small air freshener (they carry perfect sized air freshener to keep in your purse at Yankee Candle) just in case I forget to use my odor eliminating drops.
Lastly, one of my new favorite options is called Poo-Pourri, which you simply spray into the toilet before emptying the pouch. The essential oils create a film that captures the smell underneath the water!
I hope this helps! Have a wonderful vacation!
-Laura
You can also read a longer article that Laura wrote about Odor Management with an Ostomy.
For more information, see related ostomy FAQ articles and resources here:
- Stomas and Seat Belts | Ask Laura
- High Elevation and Ostomies | Ask Laura
- Ostomy Pancaking | Ask Laura
- Ostomy Terms Explained | Ostomy Glossary
- Recorded Webinar: Ostomy Buzz – The Latest in Ostomy Management
Shield HealthCare | Stronger with Shield
Now that summer is here, may I swim in a pool? If so, will my ostomy bag be affected by chlorine in the water?
I have tried all type of ostmoy bag and still have leaked and I have my for six years.
Hi Lutricia. Thanks for your comment. Hm, well, it’s not the bags, but the seal. There are several ways to get a good seal – and we will go over some of them in the webinar that we’re hosting tomorrow: Clinical and Lifestyle Concerns with an Ostomy. Different things to look into would be if you could use paste to caulk the area around your stoma so it’s flatter for a better seal. Or maybe you could use a convex wafer? We would also recommend checking out ostomy rings, or barrier strips. You stoma can change shape over time, so it’s always good to see an ostomy nurse if you have an issue that you’re having trouble with. We had a recent post on Facebook about leaks, where over 15 ostomates commented with their tips. We hope you find at least one item in there that’s helpful. Best of luck! -Aimee, Shield HealthCare
I am having surgery and I am trying to get stuff together before I come home..what deodorizer do you like best
I am looking for a good ostomy wrap any suggestions
Hi Cindy! We asked Laura, and her favorite deodorizer is Hollister’s lubricating deodorizer (2 in 1) or their M9 drops. Our OstomyLife Facebook community recently had a discussion about their favorite deodorizers. As for ostomy wraps, Kelsey, our OstomyLife Co-Moderator, talks about them in her article about Dressing with an Ostomy. “There are several wraps created by Ostomysecrets, including the Classic Wrap and the Classic Wrap Lite. My favorite is the Classic Wrap Lite.” And Laura discusses abdominal support in her article about Exercising with an Ostomy. We hope that helps! Please let us know if there are any other ways we can help you prepare for surgery. We wish you an easy time in the hospital and a quick recovery! -Aimee, Shield HealthCare
Thankyou, I will order so I will have it when I come home.
Cindy D.
I’ve had an ileostomy for 19 years, and for nearly that entire time I’ve used the cheapo 3% hydrogen peroxide to completely eliminate my ostomy odor. Every time I empty the bag, I squirt about a tablespoon or so in there. It 100% eliminates the odor. I call it “taking a stealth poop.” I’ve used M9 drops periodically, and while fairly effective, peroxide is WAY cheaper, and even more effective. And it won’t stain things. I buy a 12 pack of 16oz bottles on Amazon for $17. I have a small flip-top squirt bottle that I keep in my scrubs pocket at work. Literally no one ever smells my poo at work. It’s really that effective! It’s used in water treatment at higher concentrations to remove bad odors, so someone probably originally got the idea from there maybe.
Randy, do you put the peroxide in the pouch?