I've had my second loop ileo for about five months now and all is going well. In fact, I have no thoughts on reconnecting the pouch anytime soon and it's quite possible I'll keep my ileo forever.

Sorry, got off the topic, anyway, I'm about to change positions in my job from an in-house sales position to an outside sales position where I will be traveling and meeting with customers on a regular basis. Right now I do most things by phone so noises from my stoma aren't an issue but when I have sudden noises when I'm sitting next to someone, it's very embarrasing. I usually just say "my stomach's growling" and put my hand over the area to muffle it, but that won't always be possible in my new position as I'll be demonstrating a software program and my hands will be busy.

I can't find any rhyme or reason to when I have noisy gas and when I don't. Has anyone found a solution? Do over the counter gas pills do the trick? Charcoal pills? Any suggestions would be great so that I can be prepared when I need to attend meetings and not be self-concious all of the time.

Thanks!
Erin

What I found really helped was just time. I know that doesn't help you much with the job change, but after about 1-2 years I hardly ever had noises from my ostomy (after having a lot of them in the first year). Now it is mostly if I eat something that causes a disturbance.

Same here. I hardly ever get noise from Wee Willie. Sometimes if I'm very hungry he will growl but it just sounds like anyone else who's hungry to the untrained ear.

I really wouldn't worry about it, after all who apart from those you choose to tell will be able to put two and two together and fathom that you are farting through your belly? It won't even occur to them that you poop from there let alone pass wind.


It really does get better with time.

Shell

Well, Shell, I just never heard it put in such eloquent terms as the ones you used above! I laughed when I read "fart through your belly" Don't think I'll ever think about it the same way again...

BTW, good luck with your ear surgery next week. I'll be watching for news.

Thanks Jill. Glad I made you smile.

Shell

Erin,

When I had my fist Ileo they sent me home with a stretchy thing with velcro on it because they were concerned about a hernia. They called it a binder and I had to wear it 24/7. I wrapped it right around my stomach and right over the pouch. I was very concerned at first because it was a little tight and I didn't think the bag would fill properly but it did.

Anyway, I noticed all of these weird gas noises when I stopped wearing the bag. I realized that the binder prevented them. When I went back to work (I'm a consultant - lots of face time) I always wore the binder when I had to be around people because I didn't have to worry about those unexpected, loud noises that are just part of out new deal.

I might be worth a try. I think you can grt them anywhere that carries osty supplies.

Good luck.

Vic

I am a teacher, and I wanted a quiet stoma too. The kids found it funny to hear it, even though they were not quite sure what they heard. I wish I had a suggestion for you.