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Posted by: @crohn2357

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I read on the Crohn's forum that someone with a stoma controlled the noise by placing their hand over it in a specific way, but I'm not sure if that actually works.

I've done this, and it does work, with a few caveats:

1. Since noise happens when the stoma is passing something (usually gas, but also stool), unless you've already got your hand over your appliance, you'll miss when the sound happens.

2. It's often not convenient to have to use a hand to muffle the stoma, since your hands may already be occupied. Certain clothes also make this awkward.

3. If your stoma is really active with gas output, then muffling with your hand might not be super effective.

I can certainly understand your concern, especially if you're in a quiet place like a library.

Posted by: @crohn2357

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Could irrigation work? Eric, have you written anything about irrigation? Also, could wearing a corset help with this?

I don't have any experience with irrigation, since I have an ileostomy. But if the noise is coming from gas, I'm not sure it would solve the noise concern.

I have seen belts and stoma mufflers (I think one is called the "Stoma Stifler") but I have not personally used them. It's possible that they work better than a hand over the stoma, and would at least take care of caveats #1 and 2.

A corset, or really, anything that's pushed against the stoma, *should* help with noise. But I would balance that against whether it interferes with output.

Now... since you have a colostomy, output frequency may not be too big of an issue. Irrigation would absolutely help with that, too.

So, if output isn't something you're worried about impeding, any of the above options should be helpful.

Do you already have a stoma guard or other appliance like a stoma wrap, StealthBelt, etc.? If so, you may be able to fashion something that works similar to those stoma muffler products.