After 20 years with the J-pouch, ended up with "pouch fatigue" and was unable to eat without severe pain--MDs say that the pouch is backing up and causing the pain. After trying to rest the pouch with TPN and small amount of liquids which didn't help, had a loop ostomy done in early February. Right now it is temporary and will try to reverse sometime this summer after doing tests to see if the pouch is working better. If it is not working better, it will have to be permanent. Since the ostomy, I am feeling better and able to eat which is wonderful. However, I feel that it is so obvious when I'm out in public or at another person's house and the stoma starts spurting and sputtering loudly at the most inopportune (most quiet) moments. I also get so embarrassed when it blows up like a balloon when I'm in public and I try to get to the bathroom without anyone noticing. I will be going back to work soon as a nurse and am so afraid that I will be in a patient's room when the stoma starts making loud noises!! I am also about to go on a cruise trip with my daughter's marching band with lots of other parents and students and am no afraid of not being able to hide the ostomy. Any words of wisdom would be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thanks!!

Feel free to contact me. I too had pouch failure and have a permanent ileostomy for the past 16 years.

I found my temp ileo was noisy, very noisy. I would just put my hand over it when it started to make noise. It was easily heard across a room. It is just the way it is and I would just say excuse my noisy gut, must be hungry or some such comment. No one ever seemed annoyed at me.
As far as the balloon effect, wear a shirt over your pants. I don't think I have had anyone stare at me or notice it. It is always far more noticable to me. I wear one of the Ostomy Secrets wraps that tend to smooth things out a bit. About $30 but VERY helful and make me feel more comfortable about how I look. I now have a permanent ileostomy and it doesn't make the noises the temporary one made. Gas seems to pass into the pouch without noise. I am quite happy with the permanent one and feel much better now than I did with the pouch.

I wish you well and hang in there.

I blame it on my stomach growling.

Thanks for the words of wisdom!! I really appreciate it! I know that it is much more noticeable to me than anyone else. It's just hard not to be self conscious about this. Thanks again!

I have to second Selma on the Ostomy Secrets wraps--they are great at masking the bag and the noise! Also, I feel like mine blows up with gas less if I eat small meals throughout the day. If it's possible for you, maybe that will help? Best of luck!

If I am really concerned about gas I won't eat things that trigger it in public (dairy, sugar are the tops ones) and I will put on a new bag just so I know the filter is working. For the cruise I would suggest a new bag each day just so you will worry less and be able to enjoy yourself. The stoma gets quieter further from surgery but for those times when it is a little noisy I can usually muffle it with my hand.

Wear a bulky blouse or scrubs. I think you are more aware of a bulge than anyone else. I even wear jeans and I don't see a huge bulge. The ostomy secrets wrap is wonderful. Peoples stomachs growl all the time not just people with ostomies. My permanent ostomy is seldom noisy even if I eat something that should produce gas. I made more noise with my pouch. Just empty the pouch when you think it is bulging and you will be fine. I feel better than I have in years and wish I had gone to the permanent ostomy from the very beginning. Travel is easier for me with the bag than it was with the j-pouch. It has changed my life for the better. Hang in there, it will improve.

Use the hollister M9 odor reducing drops, it really works good so there is less or no odor when you empty the pouch. I also use the regular sized bag during the day and a higher capacity bag at night so I can sleep longer without emptying - Coloplast.

Thanks again for all responses!! Unfortunately, things have gotten worse instead of better. I now have a partial obstruction before the stoma which has made the noises even louder. When things are trying to get through the part that is obstructed, it will loudly moan/groan, get really painful and then there is like an explosion into the bag that is very loud. The MD's office said I could come into the ER (which is the last place that I want to be) or manage it at home (which is what I'm trying to do). So, again I'm not eating much and am losing weight. I go back to the surgeon's office next week--it was supposed to be to discuss a date for reversal surgery, but now I don't know what will happen. I'm having flouroscopy testing before the appointment, so we'll see what that shows. We thought the problem was the pouch and the ostomy was supposed to let the pouch rest. The obstruction has nothing to do with the pouch, just can't seem to get my guts to work right!! I'm very discouraged and frustrated. I just want to get back to a normal life where I can eat, work and take care of my family!! The hospital is the last place I want to go!!