How to Control Flatulence (intestinal gas) when you have an ostomy?

Having control over your farts and gas is not easy. However, an average person can control the flatulence because of the rectal sphincter. But, the situation is worst in ostomy patients. They cannot control the release of intestinal gas because the stoma does not have sphincter. Therefore, an ostomy person can release flatulence at any spare moment. Well, this situation can give birth to fear, anxiety, embarrassment, isolation, and sadness.

Almost every ostomy patient complaint about abdominal gas. Well, releasing flatulence is standard for nearly every digestive system. However, in the ostomates, the gas could have many reasons. However, here is an unfortunate point, due to modern technology and treatments, it hard to identify the cause of the intestinal gas. The flatulence can occur because of the functional gastrointestinal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, psychological disorders, or aerophagia. Some modern antibiotics and medicines can treat flatulence.

In a natural digestive process, the intestines buildup the flatulence, and it has a light pressure on a person’s stomach. Therefore, he can release or suppress gas. He can handle the situation. However, an ostomate cannot control or move; thus, he/she has to face the consequences.

Some Common Causes of Flatulence in Ostomate Patients

The following are a few traditional practitioners’ causes of flatulence:

When the temperature of the gastrointestinal tract is cold or abnormal, it weakens the function and performance of digestion; thus, it produces the flatulence.

Another paramount point is the amount of food a person intake. If a person eats more than the usually than the maldigestion can occur and release the harmful gas, the overeating can weaken the gastrointestinal system.

Apart from the amount of food, the quality of the food matters too. What you eat depends on the production of the abdominal gas. The wet food can cause bloating like squash and cucumber. If you overeat cucumber or squash, your stomach will release the flatulence because of the high content of the water.

Some foods are gastric—for example, lentils, beans, and cabbage. If you eat such foods, your abdomen will produce flatulence.

One another vital cause of the gas is swallowing air while chewing the food. The result will be evident if you eat or drink a meal, which tends to cause bloating. Every human being takes the air while eating. Therefore, ostomy patients should avoid candies, bubble gums, and carbonated drinks. Thus, food can increase the production of gas—especially the carbohydrates and meals which are undigestible by the enzymes of the intestine.

Gas Producing Foods

The following are some foods which are high in producing flatulence:

• Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, potato, and cauliflower.
•  Pulses, lentils, beans, and peas.
• It carbonated drinks and beers.
• Onion.
• Some foods are partially responsible for producing gas.
• Some of these foods are celery, mushrooms, apple peels, dry fruits.
•  Some foods cause higher stools liquid and cause flatulence. Some of these are sugary meals, juices, foods with high-fat content, and spicy foods.

Well, everybody responds differently to every food. It depends on one’s stomach what it can digest and what not. However, there are some rules for ostomates to avoid indigestion and flatulence.

Some of these are:

•  Chew your food properly.
•  Do not overeat.
• When you feel hungry, then eat food.
•   Do not eat if you are not hungry.
•  Chew slowly and calmly.
•  Drinking soda or carbonated juices should be avoided.
•  Do not eat salads and yogurt with your first course of the meal.

Avoid vegetables and pulses that cause gas like cabbage, mushrooms, beans, turnip, onion, garlic, raw beet, potato, peaches, plums, cucumber, squashes, dairy products, and tangerines.

Suppress Flatulence with the Help of Stifler

You should use stifler (polyurethane foam), to suppress the noise come from the stoma. You can attach it to the stoma cup. It is cup-shaped, and you can change it anywhere. You do not need a restroom to change it.