Hey @bobj. Can you remind us when you had your surgery and what kind of stoma you have? With ileostomies, it's common to have bile come out as part of your output, and bile has a very distinct smell. It wouldn't surprise me if that's what you're smelling, although this smell did go away for me after the first few months(?). 

For me, my output tends to smell very similar to what I ate - especially if spices are involved. So chili going in, smells like chili going out! LOL 

Posted by: @veganostomy

Hey @bobj. Can you remind us when you had your surgery and what kind of stoma you have? With ileostomies, it's common to have bile come out as part of your output, and bile has a very distinct smell. It wouldn't surprise me if that's what you're smelling, although this smell did go away for me after the first few months(?). 

For me, my output tends to smell very similar to what I ate - especially if spices are involved. So chili going in, smells like chili going out! LOL 

I never had a surgery and I don't have a stoma, I don't have a diagnosis but I have suspicions that I'm suffering from Crohn's disease. They did do a barium swallow on me recently and found 'mild acid reflux' but aside from that, nothing. They just keep trying to throw IBS at me without offering any way for me to feel like I can safely sit down without feeling pain

@bobj Oh geeze, I totally misread your original post. My appoligies! 

Before my stoma, gas because of IBD was constant - literally never ending - but I don't recall any particular smells, although I don't doubt that it was a "sick smell" as you described. 

If you do have blood in your stool, I would probably expect the smell of iron/blood to be present in your gas as well. 

Much of my life was a blur from back then, and I'm sure much of that is my brain trying to block out that trauma.😩

@bobj  ... HIi & welcome to VO!   unfortunately... If your getting Irritable Bowel Syndrome diagnosis you may be in for a long ride. I was diagnosed with it for many years. Not a fun time in my life. 

However, there is hope!! If you can find a Gastroenterologist who does a bowel function study test you may get answers sooner then later. This test saved my sanity!! 

I had to swallow several capsules with a bunch of  little balls of some kind that showed up on x-rays. It went like this...swallow the capsules, next day got for an X-ray, next day swallow more  caps. then the next day another  X-ray. This was repeated over about 10 days if I remember  correctly. .

The capsules  were not covered by B.C.  Medical (Canada) in 1995 & I have no clue if it is now. The X-rays were covered though.  By the end of the last X-Ray I was able to see the doctor who ordered the tests for my  results. The results showed that every single little BALL from the capsules were still in my large intestine.  I would easily go as long as 18 to 23 days without a bowel movement. There was always agonizing  pain days before,  during & after & when they did try & move it was not uncommon for me to pass out on the toilet from the pain. 

The GASTRO guy who ordered the test is my HERO to this day!!!!  He set me up for my 1st bowel surgery and removed my whole large intestine. The surgery was called...Ileorectal Annestomosis with a J-Pouch. I never missed the intestine he removed! I always knew the J-pouch wouldn't last forever & never missed it after my Ileostomy surgery in 2009. 

Keep journals on what you eat, how kuch you drink, set an safe amountwhen these attacks occur and everything in-between.  This may seem crazy but it may help in solving your gut puzzle! They can't help you if its not documented by a doctor so go to emerge when your in an attack. As often as you can. Beware...some tests are hit & miss.  I was often told to wait in chairs when I walked thru the doors to emerge but soon discovered calling an ambulance when I was in that kind of horrid pain got me into the beds rather quickly & also seen quicker as well.   I'm sorry your dealing with such painful symptoms.