I wondered if anybody could provide me with a "sensible" answer as to why the faeces in a colostomy bag smell.

Question

I work in a clinical setting & wondered why the smell is so terrible.
I know the faeces pass through an intestinal opening and it is all close to the stomach but why is the smell of the faeces so terrible?
Please no stupid answers. Hopefully somebody with a medical background can answer this for me. Thanx in advance.

I am not the person with the colostomy and am qualified enough to know that waste from the body smells.
Anybody from a medical background will know EXACTLY what i am referring to by this awful smell that is unique and is totally different from the smell of faeces passed normally.

Yes it's true in the medical profession we smell faeces all the time, i repeat the smell from a colostomy faeces is a LOT different and is clearly distinguishable from the bacteria in faeces passed through the anus.

But why is the smell so terrible???? So terrible that i and other co workers are heaving?

Answer 1

Your bowels are full of anaerobic bacteria which help your body with digestion. This is good bacteria and something that everyone has. Unfortunately for the medical profession, anaerobic bacteria produce some of the worst odors in the natural world. Many of these bacteria are passed in the feces every time you have a bowel movement, causing the horrible smell. The colostomy bag stores the feces in anaerobic conditions, allowing the bacteria to reprodce like crazy.

Answer 2

From what I have read, it may be the person's diet that causes the bag to smell worse than usual. Limiting the following foods may help reduce the smell; onions, beans, sprouts, cabbages, fatty foods as well as strongly spiced foods and garlic.

My first guess would have been certain medications the person would have been on, but nothing I read gave this as a reason either.

Answer 3

colostomy means an opening of colon. colon is distal portion of intestinal tract. its not close to the stomach. may be done at transverse colon. that is not too far to anus. so it is exactly feces. colostomy bag smell is worse because feces always come out. not same as normal bowel pattern.

Answer 4

becuase its human waste...foods you eat can also cause bad smells,change your diet and that might help...ive been a nurse for over 20 years now so i do know what smell you are refering to

Answer 5

BECAUSE ITS STILL BODY WASTE IT IS LIKE GARBAGE IT SHOULD STINK NO MATTER WHERE IT COMES FROM