Dear Brenda:  Do you have any suggestions for odor problems due to my ostomy?

In the eight years I have been an ostomate, I've tried many ways to deal with odor.  First, let me tell you what not to do.

Months after my surgery, my husband and I were fortunate to get away for five days -- my first trip with a colostomy.  We were on a cruise ship and I noticed my pouch had begun to puff out a little.  I felt proud I had graduated to my new two-piece pouching system.  Cleverly and discreetly under the table, I was able to open it up and release the air.  It worked great, no one noticed and I felt comfortable and proud of my accomplishment.  Hours later, I noticed a bulge, so I proceeded once again.  This time, a rather foul smell permeated the air and people around me started looking around and making comments.  "Do you think they just threw garbage overboard? Are we sitting near the bilge?  Let's move to another location."  If I'd kept that up, my husband and I would have had an entire floor to ourselves.

Another think not to do: Don't think you are being clever releasing the flatulence from your pouch in a hotel elevator when it appears you are safely alone with your partner.  It might take only a second to release, but the effects linger long after the innocent bystanders have entered.  They know it's you.

The moral of these stories: Particularly if you have a colostomy, if there are any remnants of stool left in your proud when you release gas, chances are it won't smell like a rose garden.

To take care of odor problems, I have used charcoal tablets, sprayed things in my ostomy pouch and lit matches in the bathroom.  I think one of the best products is the Hollister m9 odor eliminator spray.  My family wouldn't share a hotel room with me if I didn't pakc it in my luggage.

Since I do the irrigation procedure these days, I rarely have that problem.  The Hollister pouch I use has a built-in charcoal filter that does wonders.  The gas releases quietly and automatically, and no one ever knows.  If the filter gets wet, it may lose its ability to work, but that is rare.

Once in a while, we still have an odor problem in the family.  I used to always be the first suspect, but now we usually blame Dad.  When it's not him, my teen-age son usually confesses proudly.  If he's not the guilty one, we turn to my preteen daughter, who never admits to anything.  But now we have a new puppy, so she gets all the credit these days.

Do you have a question for Brenda?  Send you questions to Dear Brenda, ostomate to ostomate, at brenda@itsyourjoy.com.