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Ileostomy pouch collects a lot of gas: Any tips to help?

Posted by dona46 @dona46, Aug 2 5:41pm

I have to vent my ileostomy pouch several times a day. Bedtime is especially troublesome. I empty my pouch before bed, but I have to set an alarm to wake me in 30-40 minutes, just to get up and vent gas. Then I have to reset the alarm at least one more time. I am sometimes up three times before midnight.

During the day I also get gas but that is often accompanied by liquid or semi-liquid waste. Sometimes there is little or no gas with the waste.
Used EZ-vents for a while. They helped but after having several come loose and allow leakage I gave up on them.

I would like to know if others have had similar gas issues and any suggestions for improving the situation.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy & J-Pouch Support Group.

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Mentor
Susan F, Volunteer Mentor | @susanf8 | Aug 15 9:23am
In reply to @dona46 "@susanf8 We are talking about removing filters because they are too restrictive (allow too much pressure..." + (show)
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@susanf8
We are talking about removing filters because they are too restrictive (allow too much pressure to build up in the pouch). Removing the filter but keeping the vent allows the gas to escape much faster so pressure does not build up.
Pouches with no filter (and no vent) would be worse for gas build up.

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@dona46 oh, I see. I'm supposing you have a colostomy? With an ileostomy I would wind up with liquid stool coming out.

For me the filter clogs up with stool and becomes useless in a day.

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Susan F, Volunteer Mentor | @susanf8 | Aug 15 7:16pm

@dona46. Yikes! I meant to reply to @piki who is cutting the filter and has a colostomy (I think)!

Have you heard of or tried tried Osto-EZ-Vent? It attaches to the bag and then you have a flip cap to easily "burp" your bag. It came out long before the appliance companies stated having filters. It's available at supply companies and Amazon as well.

They have vpicture tutorials on attaching the vent on their website, and a video on how to attach to a Sensura Mio pouch.
https://www.kemonline.com/content/home/

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Darienne | @piki | Aug 16 8:11am
In reply to @dona46 "@piki I really want to learn more about this pouch modification, I also use Coloplast two..." + (show)
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@piki
I really want to learn more about this pouch modification,
I also use Coloplast two part pouch system. The filter is a charcoal disc about the size of a quarter. It is fed gas from a semi-circular perforated collector inside the top of the
pouch. Gas enters at the rim of the quarter sized filter and exits out a hole in the center of the disc. The center hole has a small paper filter which is a barrier to keep liquid (or semi-liquid) matter from leaking out of the pouch. The carbon filter very slowly let gas pass through to the outside. With my wet gassy ileostomy output the filter quickly becomes so clogged it is useless.

I really hope you can tell me more about the modification you found useful.

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@dona46 dona46 I do have a colostomy, loop version.

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Darienne | @piki | Aug 16 8:15am
In reply to @susanf8 "@dona46. Yikes! I meant to reply to @piki who is cutting the filter and has a..." + (show)
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@dona46. Yikes! I meant to reply to @piki who is cutting the filter and has a colostomy (I think)!

Have you heard of or tried tried Osto-EZ-Vent? It attaches to the bag and then you have a flip cap to easily "burp" your bag. It came out long before the appliance companies stated having filters. It's available at supply companies and Amazon as well.

They have vpicture tutorials on attaching the vent on their website, and a video on how to attach to a Sensura Mio pouch.
https://www.kemonline.com/content/home/

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I watched the Osto-EZ-Vent video and it was very clear and useful. Might send for one. ....just did. Thanks.

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dona46 | @dona46 | Aug 16 10:00am
In reply to @piki "@dona46 "The Coloplast SenSura Mio Double Click system uses an integrated full-circle filter. This design combines..." + (show)
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@dona46 "The Coloplast SenSura Mio Double Click system uses an integrated full-circle filter. This design combines a spongy pre-filter and a main charcoal/membrane filter".

I do not remove the charcoal disc. I use small scissors to remove the plastic piece which has the spongy pre-filter
inside it.

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@piki.
Thanks for the explanation. I’ll try removing the spongy pre filter on my next pouch change.

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Susan F, Volunteer Mentor | @susanf8 | Aug 16 8:57pm
In reply to @dona46 "@piki. Thanks for the explanation. I’ll try removing the spongy pre filter on my next pouch..." + (show)
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@piki.
Thanks for the explanation. I’ll try removing the spongy pre filter on my next pouch change.

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@dona46 let us know how it goes! The spongy prefilter was the thing I disliked about the Sensura Mio bags.

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adlib071 | @adlib071 | 22 hours ago
In reply to @dona46 "Thanks for your reply and suggestions. I'm 80 years old and had my ileostomy about 18..." + (show)
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Thanks for your reply and suggestions.
I'm 80 years old and had my ileostomy about 18 months ago. The gas issue seems to be worse now than ever. So, I'll be surprised if it gets better unless I change something.
I had a doctor tell me years ago I must be swallowing air. That was way before the ileostomy and even then I had more gas than most folks. I have tried to catch myself swallowing air, but if I do, I am not aware of it and don't know what to change. I am a very slow eater and chew my food much more than normal.

I have not been able to associate my gas to with any particular food except beans. I'll try to pay attention to broccoli and ice cream as both are very frequent in my normal diet. I'll try eliminating them one at a time. Thanks for mentioning them.

I now use Coloplast pouches with filters, and I tried filtered Hollister pouches earlier. The Hollister filters never seemed to work at all. The Coloplast filters work a little at first, but by day two I think the filter is clogged

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@dona46 Yeah, I avoid beans and broccoli now. Love them but not worth it to me to have problems. I no longer have my ileostomy, but I still avoid certain foods. I remember that bag was so puffed out when I woke each morning that I was scared it would pop! I was told to stay on a high protein diet. I still love dairy and I break the rules on that. Love cheese...who can give that up? It's a good thing that you eat slowly and chew well! That's what my doctor advised me to do. Also to eat several small meals a day instead of three big ones, and to stay hydrated. That's the hardest part for me as I never have been good at drinking lots of water. I like iced tea and drink that a lot. I no longer drink carbonated drinks.

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dona46 | @dona46 | 15 hours ago

Thanks for your post. I too enjoy dairy. After about 10 days of no dairy I decided that was not the problem. And I really missed the ice cream, cheese and yogurt. My pouch has gas in it several times during the day but it blows up hard several times in the first 2-3 hours after I go to bed. I have to set an alarm for 45 minutes and sometimes each of the next to hours. I am being convinced more and more that it is not what I eat. Dr.'s have told me I must be swallowing air. I'm trying to watch for that and I'm wondering if I might be doing that because sinus drainage is causing me to swallow.
I tried 4-5 meals but end up missing them and eventually end up with three a day, matching my wife.
I had trouble staying hydrated at first too, but then I found "liquid IV" powder. I like the taste but often dilute it with water or "Arnold Palmer". The liquid IV has "electrolytes" that help with hydration.

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