Hi all, Visiting with friends/family has been quite a problem due to the lingering smell of the diarrhea wafting through the entire house. Although touch and go at times, running to the bathroom wasn't as much an issue as I've developed strong sphincter muscles with exercise. (I can't believe I'm writing these words...desperation and needs must).
Trying to find a "cure" for the smell, if only a temporary fix for the overall problem of MC, I've scoured the literature and also noted my experience in my daily journal.
Pepto Bismol does work to effect a fragrance free product due I think to the bismuth. However, bismuth salts (all?) are heavy metals. Bismuth subsalicylate may be the culprit rather than other bismuth salts. Have to dig more.
The Thorne product Pepti-Guard with bismuth citrate, which I queried the members here about earlier, would seem to be less an issue though I have little to offer in the way of proof except that Thorne is a reputable company. Taking this for a week now has offered the same benefits as Pepto Bismol without ingesting questionable additives. Will have to dig further on bismuth salts in general as well.
How much healing benefit from Pepti Guard? Don't know. This is enough for me now (while working on diet) And some interesting research has been done: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3910452/ "Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling in the Gastrointestinal Tract" which I am struggling to understand.
If anyone else has looked into this or would be interested, please reply. Thanks, Sharon
Hydrogen Sulfide Odor
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hello,
The smell lingers in my house also even when I don't have diarrhea. I use a citrus based air freshener. I spray a little bit in the toilet before I flush and spray a little bit in the air after the flush. If I have time I turn on the exhaust fan in the bathroom. I don't always have time, lol.
The smell lingers in my house also even when I don't have diarrhea. I use a citrus based air freshener. I spray a little bit in the toilet before I flush and spray a little bit in the air after the flush. If I have time I turn on the exhaust fan in the bathroom. I don't always have time, lol.
Brenda
Hello. Try Poo- Pourri. You put it in the toilet before you go. I wish I had known about it when I smelled like something died when I went to the bathroom. I'm in remission and no longer smell like that. Thank goodness!
Marcia
------------
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
------------
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
My issue with putting something in the toilet first is I don't always know I will have a bowel movement when I have to urinate. I have used poo-pourri and VIPoo but neither is always available in my area. The citrus air freshener is expensive but not as costly as poo-pourri and VIPoo. Another option is the deodorizer used in bed side commodes. It only takes a few drops in the toilet before you flush. That product isn't always available to me either, lol.
Brenda
Most of you know that I have an ileostomy, left from the emergency surgical removal of my colon due to a massive bleeding issue caused by a genetic defect. I'll share a "secret" that all osteomates are aware of, a product called Medi-air. It's a biological odor eliminator. It comes in an 8 fl. oz. pump-spray bottle (which might be a bit unwieldy to carry with you, but it's great in the bathroom). It's cheap and a little goes a long way. I've found a few spritzes to be capable of totally eliminating any odor, no matter what. It's available at any ostomy supply dealer.
I believe that aircraft pilots also use products such as these, so it should also be available at aircraft supply dealers and airports, for that matter. Naturally, you can also find it at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=medi-air&gcl ... bChMIhp6l9
You can buy small (1 oz) bottles there, if you want something to carry with you.
The version I use is unscented, so there's no telltale trace to bring attention to the fact that you've just eliminated an olfactory disaster. IOW, it eliminates odor, rather than trying to hide it from discriminating noses.
Tex
I believe that aircraft pilots also use products such as these, so it should also be available at aircraft supply dealers and airports, for that matter. Naturally, you can also find it at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=medi-air&gcl ... bChMIhp6l9
You can buy small (1 oz) bottles there, if you want something to carry with you.
The version I use is unscented, so there's no telltale trace to bring attention to the fact that you've just eliminated an olfactory disaster. IOW, it eliminates odor, rather than trying to hide it from discriminating noses.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Wayne, thanks for replying. Not being a fan of cover-up odors, this seems a happy solution. And what an elegant way of expressing one of our issues.
I'm now dividing my post into two questions, the odor question being answered.
Beyond odor though, I'm still wondering about the healing ability of Thorne Pepti-Guard. The cramps and nausea mostly ceased with Pepto Bismol yet the diarrhea hadn't 6 weeks after using it. After only a week of Pepti-Guard 2x daily, the diarrhea has abated. Sharon
I'm now dividing my post into two questions, the odor question being answered.
Beyond odor though, I'm still wondering about the healing ability of Thorne Pepti-Guard. The cramps and nausea mostly ceased with Pepto Bismol yet the diarrhea hadn't 6 weeks after using it. After only a week of Pepti-Guard 2x daily, the diarrhea has abated. Sharon
Unfortunately, never having tried Thorne Pepti-Guard, I have no experience with it.
I see that it has four active ingredients, Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Berberine HCl Bismuth Citrate, and Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL). Any one of those might be responsible for the benefit. But . . . I note that Pepto-Bismol contains bismuth in the form of bismuth subsalicylate, whereas the Thorne product contains bismuth in the form of bismuth citrate. If you're highly sensitive to NSAIDs, the bismuth subsalicylate could be bad news. That might explain the difference in effectiveness. That's just a WAEG though.
Tex
I see that it has four active ingredients, Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Berberine HCl Bismuth Citrate, and Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL). Any one of those might be responsible for the benefit. But . . . I note that Pepto-Bismol contains bismuth in the form of bismuth subsalicylate, whereas the Thorne product contains bismuth in the form of bismuth citrate. If you're highly sensitive to NSAIDs, the bismuth subsalicylate could be bad news. That might explain the difference in effectiveness. That's just a WAEG though.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex, yes, thanks! That is what I thought as well. Though wasn't getting the NSAID connection; just that the different form may be better for me. Unfortunately I take 81mg aspirin for heart disease which isn't as much as that in Pepto Bismol yet the total amount couldn't have been be helpful.
Don't know what I would have done without you and the others here on the forum. So appreciate.
Sharon
Don't know what I would have done without you and the others here on the forum. So appreciate.
Sharon