Sometimes, my stoma gets in the mood to have a fart party. It is more troubling to me than butt farts ever were, because at least you knew they were going to happen, and could try to stop it or at least get somewhere private. But with the stoma, there is no warning. Just loud farts.

I think it mainly does when I eat after not having eaten for a long time. As long as I space my meals reasonably, it doesn't seem to happen. It does happen if I drink Ensure.

I'm trying to really get down to the bottom of this. If I know what causes it, I can prevent it. I just know that it is going to end up happening during a parent-teacher conference some time. What would I say??????

Mine always decides to have a "party" at church....It's embarrassing. I look around and say quietly.."Who did that"??? hahaha

I just roll with it. I don't stress about what I cant control. Friends and family that know you, will understand!!

Hi Faith,

The gas problems do die down with time. I take probiotics every day and eat lots of probiotic yoghurt which I'm convinced is what helps keep me gas free. I eat lots of gas producing veg such as cauliflower and broccoli and prefer to drink sparking water. I also chew gum nearly every day and still have no issues. I rarely get problems now unless I'm not well and on antibiotics.

I'm sure the problem will settle down with time. Good luck.

Shell

Faith, That's the worst! I swear! You have no control over when or where it happens. I've never even passed gas in front of my husband and now I could be in the middle of a meeting with a client and there it goes. One time I was so afraid of it happening with this one client I tied my sweater around my waist right at my stoma in hopes that it would muffle any sound. That was probably not a good idea but it's so embarrassing that I was desperate! I wish I could laugh it off like some folks do.

I try to tell myself I'm the only one who hears it. OK...so I lie to myself.

I tend to use simethicone with meals I know tend to cause more gas, but sometimes you get surprised. There are times it happens and no one seems to notice, and times when it makes my sisters crack up. My only consolation is that when I had a home nurse taking care of my incision wounds (they got infected adn had to be packed) she could never tell the difference between stoma farts and her own stomach gurgling, and would sometimes apologize to me when my stoma had farted. lol.