This post is to help troubleshoot issues with ballooning that member @pamangione49 mentioned in her introduction post. In the past 4 years I found out I have a gluten intolerance issue. I need to eat gluten free plus doing plant base. I noticed a post 4 months ago. I would to talk to that person. I did not get the name. When I eat plant base like beans, broccoli, chickpeas my pouch blows up like a balloon. I have tried to soak the beans overnight to cut down on the gas or even adding baking soda but it doesn't seem to help. So I avoid beans. I can however, eat refried beans a small amount. I know having an ostomy causes all of us to have gas in our pouches but mine is horrible. I avoid gluten, pasta, breads are the worse. I wonder how this person handles his ostomy. For any food-related gas, I always suggest keeping a food diary. A few things to consider while trying to figure things out: Many of our members have been using the Osto EZ-Vent ( Osto EZ-Vent – REVIEW) with great success when it comes to dealing with pouch ballooning. Of course, it's best to find a solution at the source, but this can help in the meantime. One other thing that came to mind: Is the gas actually coming from your stoma (i.e. you can hear farts) or is it being formed in your ostomy pouch through bacteria. It may surprise some, but gas can be formed in out pouch when our body isn't producing any gas. Another member discussed his strategy in dealing with this, and I've used it myself with success: https://www.veganostomy.ca/community/ostomy-products/using-hollister-m9-deodorant-to-minimize-ballooning/ Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. Eric, I read the other post. I have tried many other products and have the same problem. As far as using M9 drops to reduce gas, this is the first time I ever heard that. I use M9 drops and it doesn't help the gas. I am allergic to Hollister pouches and when I first told customer service they gave me a new pouch for people who are sensitive but I felt the wafer was too heavy and it was not comfortable on me. I have tried Convatec Products but do not like their material against my skin. As far as the pinto beans in can I still have the same issues. I will try Bean-Zyme. I doubt if it will work. I have bought Gas-X and Beano prior and did not help. Some people just have a gluten intolerance. When I had my gall bladder taken out about 8 yrs ago that is when things started to change. I have done research on this and have found many people such as myself have an gluten intolerance once they lose their gall bladder. Does a pro-biotic help when we no longer have a large colon? I have asked many gastro doctors and they could not answer me correctly. Most of the bacteria is in our large colon. In our small colon little bit is produced. What I have noticed is if I eat something that has gluten in it, I wait a while before drinking water. When I drink water, tea, juice when eating my pouch blows up immediately. I have arthritis in my hands and fingers and it is hard to use the Tupperware pouch. That is why I use the stick and seal type pouch with Coloplast. Hey Patti, I too have arthritis in my hands and fingers. I use the Hollister flat plate pouch because of this. My hands hurt really hurt after bag changes. Maybe the Bean-Zyme is better made for the gas caused by these foods. Could it be designed for vegan eaters? Do you install an EZ Vent on your bags to make it easier to lose the air? Having just using my first bag with the vent on, I am in love with it and it is pretty easy on the arthritis, thick enough to feel it in your fingers. A wee bit tight maybe, but that is better than a blow out or leak. Good luck, let us know what you find works. Linda Linda I will try Bean-Zyme. I doubt if it will work. I have bought Gas-X and Beano prior and did not help. Some people just have a gluten intolerance. Hi Patti. I do hope it helps with gas, but nothing will help with gluten intolerance except avoiding gluten. And it's important to make sure that any foods you eat haven't been contaminated with gluten (i.e. Hidden ingredient, incorrect preparation, etc) as that will trigger these problems for you. Have you been tested for other food intolerances? It's possible that you may need to avoid certain foods. I don't recommend probiotics, and they can increase gas and bloating. Our small bowel will host the bacteria that used to live in our colons, but this takes time. If you are even on antibiotics, it may take a while for things to get back to normal and you may experience gas during that time (I do). Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. Yes I have been tested for other foods. You mention to avoid probiotics however, when you are on an antibiotic which I am my doctor said I must take one so the good bacteria cancels out the bad bacteria. My problem is just about any plant base food causes too much gas for me. I have been keeping a food diary. I know what I can eat and what I can't. I started this last November. I am in 4th stage kidney disease and started this to avoid kidney dialysis. My labs have greatly improved. I avoid gluten and have been eating this way for 3 years since being tested 3 years ago. I haven't come across anyone that has this problem with an ostomy. I did speak with a lady that celiac disease but her pouch does not blow up. I don't think she is plant based either. That is why I posted this. I have tried everything under the sun and it doesn't make a difference what I do. It is very challenging to live this way. It is hard on travel to just about any place I go. The only place I do go is on is cruises because chefs know how to prepare my food. Hello Linda, Eric and I tested out EZ Vent on Coloplast grey Sen Sura two piec pouch and I wear a convex wafter. Two years ago the results were not that great. The pouch is designed with not enough material on the top. I think what I will do is go see a gastro doctor and get his feedback on this issue. They do have medications out there to help relieve gas issues but I cannot take due to my 4th stage kidney disease and having possibly blockages from these medications a heart doctor gave me. I have other issues coming up dental work and cataract surgery so after all work is done then will talk a gastro doctor in October. You mention you wear a flat wafer by Hollister. When I first started the Hollister Line I liked the product but then over time I started to get very itchy and had to stop. My girlfriend also has an ostomy and she told me they make a wafer for people who are sensitive. I tried it but did not like the heaviness on my skin. I will have to talk with other companies and see if their pouches help with gas issues. The filters are useless inside the bags. I like Coloplast due to the fact it folds up in the middle with Velcro and so much easier to put on with stick and seal. I wear the pouch and wafer for 6 days and in between all I do is peal off the pouch after 2 days and apply a new one. Afterwards I changed the entire appliance. I can go as far as 7 to 8 days before changing it. I have been using this product for 8 years now. Patti, that is amazing. A pouch as long as 7 days! Here, four days max. I am sorry you are having so many issues. I deal with a lot of blockages and pseudo blockages. So not fun. I have some food issues but not like you do that is for sure. I lost most of my teeth and what was left, had to have removed due to the 2 years of mal- absorption causing malnutrition. I was 13 1/2 months in hospital with 8 surgeries in 6 of those. I really hated going to the dentist. My nerves just could not take another assault on my body. When they told me I had cataracts...I just about flipped. I do NOT like anything touching my eyeballs. That surgery freaks me out. I think I have lost my "brave". Loosing my hubby to pancreatic cancer was the max of what one person can deal with in three years time. I hope you have good support at home. There was nothing like it if you ask me. I hope things settle down real well for you. One of my fav. songs is "One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus". Linda Linda Linda Hi Patti, Yes, when taking antibiotics, it's usually good to have a probiotic. Unfortunately, finding a good probiotic is difficult and most are not good. I do have an article and video on how to use the Osto Ez-vent with the Sensura Mio. Perhaps it will give you a better way of doing it? https://www.veganostomy.ca/ez-vent-sensura-mio/ Filters aren't designed to last more than a few days, so if you're keeping a wafer on for that long, you should be changing out the bag at least twice between wafer changes. Ballooning is actually quite common. Unfortunately, it sounds as if other factors are contributing to your particular difficulties. There is a solution to every problem, so it may take more searching to find it. Meds may be an answer. Speaking with a registered dietitian may also help. Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. Honestly...how did this whole EZ Vent thing get so badly past me and for so long? Last night...lets just say, the thunder rolled. I was able to really use the vent last night. I would never again talk to a newbie without sharing this little secret with them. It is so much more sanitary then having to burp the bag from the bottom. The amount of hand washing, and energy I used burping this bag before was crazy. I am not as tired today as I usually am from having to get up and go do it. Always washing my hands...after all, there is sometimes splashing involved when we empty it, and I just prefer not to risk anyone else getting sick because I did not wash my hands. I did not have to wake fully up each time I vented. That alone is a real blessing. Such a simple thing to have! Thank you Dona and Eric and anyone else whole chimed in on the EZ vent thing. Patti, I am not sure if you have this thing, but see Erics videos. if you have not, and here is the link to Amazon Dona gave me. Feel well really soon okay. https;//www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007AZ3KUA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o0 you have to stick it on yourself, but even that is easy and worth the time and convenience. Linda Linda Linda, I am very happy to hear these vents are working well for you. They have been a real sleep saver for me, thats for sure. ( and cleaner too, as you pointed out). It does get easier to use them, you get kind of a muscle memory for how to open and close them in your sleep ... hard to explain. Sometimes it takes more time to get the gas out than others if the hole is partially blocked or something ... once I actually fell back asleep with it still open..DON'T do THAT! Enjoy that sleep! Onset of severe Ulcerative Colitus Oct.2012. Subtotal colectomy with illiostomy July 2015; Peristomal hernia repair ( Sugarbaker, mesh, laparoscopic) May 2017. Oh Dona, It is so amazing I can not believe I have not had it all these years. Thank you for your help here. I appreciated all you did and said. Just the difference in my day today was amazing alone. I feel like a kid in the candy store. Thank you all for your help. Linda Linda Glad we could help! That's what this forum is for ? Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. Eric, two years you helped me with ez vent and came to the conclusion it does not work well with Coloplast pouches I use.. So I do not use ez vents Linda, they don't work for Coloplast pouches I use. I have tried twice. I just stick to my same routine. I avoid gluten and eat gluten free products plus plant base foods. If my ouput gets thick sometimes I change into a new pouch or I might eat a sugar free jelly bean which loosens up my ouput. I also eat a chewy tums not the whole thing as I would get instant diarrhea. My body cannot handle anything sugar free except these Russell Stover sugar free jelly beans. I usually eat 3 of them. Of course then my pouch blows up but I only do this at night. At times it is very hard to deal with eating the wrong type of foods. The first day I put on a new pouch is the best time. The pouch has no air in it. As each day progresses more air gets trapped inside. I have a friend that uses Hollister no filter and she changes her pouch every day and half. I will go three days & change out the pouch not the wafer. The wafer sits on my skin for 6/7 days. I also find if you become itchy especially in the summer when changing an appliance I use All Kare wipes to clean up & wet paper towel and then I use Witch Hazel astringent to stop any type of itching. I let air dry for a minute or two then proceed with finishing. It is too bad Convatec, Hollister or Coloplast doesn't invent a pouch with the ez vent build right into it. It would save anyone trying to adhere and glue this on. Just sayin
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
Community Forums
Notifications
Clear all
Newbie Help
14
Posts
4
Users
4
Likes
5,057
Views
Topic starter
July 20, 2018 1:12 pm
July 20, 2018 1:56 pm
July 20, 2018 3:46 pm
Topic starter
July 20, 2018 8:52 pm
July 20, 2018 10:43 pm
July 20, 2018 11:04 pm
July 21, 2018 12:28 am
Topic starter
July 21, 2018 11:36 am
July 21, 2018 1:28 pm
VeganOstomy reacted
July 21, 2018 2:50 pm
VeganOstomy reacted
July 21, 2018 10:20 pm
VeganOstomy reacted
Topic starter
July 22, 2018 10:37 am
LK reacted
July 22, 2018 4:58 pm
July 22, 2018 5:12 pm