My son gets Embarassing Smells

jasonterriallen

New member
My 9 year old son gets very embarassed whenever he farts or goes to the bathroom I tell him it's ok just spray like everyone else. but he really stinks bad! We tried making him feel better by telling him it was his "super power" and that worked for a while, but if we are in an elevator filled with people and he "toots" He hides behind me. At home he is ok he jokes around about it probably because we are all used to it. and he feels comfortable, but im worried about at school and when he gets older. Does anyone with CF have this stinky problem, is it the meds that cause it??

Thankyou
 

anonymous

New member
Its pretty common in CFers. Not sure how much of it is due to meds and how much to not digesting food properly. You need to help him understand that its not weird, its just the way CFers are.
 

Mockingbird

New member
It's part of growing up. For CFers it can be farting, or clubbed fingernails, or coughing during class. For other kids it might be weight issues, or having braces, or any number of things. Everyone has stuff they were self-concious about at that age. They survived, and so will your son. =-)
 

anonymous

New member
I can't claim this to be a healthy choice, but I became an expert in holding in my farts - and I still do in public places until I at least get to a bathroom. On airplanes or crowded places I also keep some gas X in my purse. I'd take a coughing attack over a stinky fart any day!
 
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luke

Guest
I agree with anonymous, there is nothing wrong with holding and then releasing when in private. I have been doing it for thirty years. I know many on this site don't mind farting in public, I don't and I don't plan on ever. Not that I am packed full of manners, I just don't feel it is proper etiquette. I agree with Jarod as far as kids will be kids, and so long as your son farts in public kids will continue to make fun. Honestly, if you were in an elevator and an old lady farted, a negative or at least comical thought wouldn't come to mind?



Luke
 

Lilith

New member
All I can recommend here is rechecking his enzyme dosage (I'm assuming he's on them). He might not be getting the proper amount and that could result in those kind of digestive issues. I know my doc has recommended upping the dosage for me. Other than that, holding it is probably the best he can do. Just another of those lovely perks that come with CF...
 

princessjdc

New member
Yes, I remember those school days, only when I was about in the 8th grade or so, they would kinda tease me because I would poop all the time at school, and they would know it was me cause of the smell, but I got over it and what I did was just laugh with them, like it didnt bother me, but I have other farting funnies, too, one time I farted in the highschool hall while changing classes, talk about hilarious, funniest part no one new it was me!!! I find it funny to do that. Anyhow thats just me, thought Id share a couple of my memories past. Yes I do hold the farts when Im at work in certain public places, too. I dont know of any incouragement to give, but maybe my stories could of helped.
 

anonymous

New member
I'm with Luke here. I hold it until I get to the bathroom.
When I was in school I never used the bathroom during the breaks, I would always ask to be excused during classtime and would do my dirty deed then. That way, no one was in the bathroom at the same time (most of the time) and no one even knew I was there stinkin' the place up!
Possibly you could privately talk to his teacher and ask her to make exceptions for him to go to the restroom during a time when they are working at their desks, etc.
What I hated was needing to fart during P.E. when we were running laps, etc. I just let 'em rip then because I couldn't hardly stop and try to hold it until the feeling passed<img src="i/expressions/gas.gif" border="0">
And stinkiness just comes with the CF. Sometimes what I eat can make it worse.
 

NoDayButToday

New member
Maybe your son could get special permission to use the restroom in the nurse's office when he feels a "CF stool" coming on? It's a bit more private-- most nurse offices have single person bathrooms, as opposed to stalls.
 
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65rosessamurai

Guest
I can relate to that same situation, regarding passing gas in an area among peers, and using the same toilet. I think a lot of other's can relate.
NoDayButToday has a good suggestion, which I agree. I had also asked for permission to use the "Personnell Bathroom" during my school days.
For years, even after school, I had held on to my gas and stools until I made it home, and after a while realized the fact that I have to pass it and stand up to whomever may challenge it.
My first thought is that because it's a bathroom, that if anyone commented to me while I was in there, I would just say "It's a bathroom, right?"
I'd go outside, and pass gas, making sure no one (Like my wife) is down-wind. (My wife and I joke about it--mostly because on our first date, she was the first to pass gas!)
She said it's unhealthy to hold it, and I agree; fewer stomach aches have come because I wouldn't hold it in, and just let it pass.
Some suggestions that I have found to help is to flush just as soon as you pass a stool. I look at it as "Not giving it a chance to breathe"!, also if there are windows and vents, to open them. I wouldn't reccomend it for a nine year old, but a flame will burn the methane and cut down the smell as well.
The reason for the fowl smell is related to the remaining protein in the stool (from what I heard). If your child still has oil in the stool, it'll add to the smell, and that's when diet and enzyme adjustment is necessary.
I hope this helped, some I had to learn as I went along.
 

Emily65Roses

New member
I still to this day do not use public toilets for number 2 unless it's absolutely necessary. The only time, for instance, in the recent past that I can think of where I did use public stalls was when I went to Disney World with Mike's family. We would leave at 10 or 11 am and not be back at our villa until 10 or 11 at night. I had no choice. But then I would only actually work at it if there was no one else in there... or if there was a toilet flushing, or a baby crying. Just as long as there was noise. I hate the smell too, but there's no possible way to avoid that, and I can always pretend it's not me. As for the sounds, those embarass me too because as a CFer, we tend to have weird stools and therefore, they're also often noisier. But other than in extreme situations like this, the only places I use the toilet comfortably are at my house, and at Mike's. That is something I've never been able to grow out of. I grew out of most of my fears, but that one I can't let go of. Try to help him out of it, but there may not be much you can do, depending on how he is. I used to hold diarrhea and gas for 7 hour school days plus a half hour long bus ride pretty much 5 days a week every week because I was too terrified to use school bathrooms. It hurt like hell but I couldn't bring myself to use them, so I would just hold it all until I got home. Then I'd have the MOST relieving bathroom experiences ever. Haha. Oh well.
 

jasonterriallen

New member
He is making a joke out of it now! When he farts in the car I can hear him giggling in the back, He thinks its funny when the rest of us have our heads hanging out of the car windows! lol I guess it's different for boys. He now has his G-Tube and ive noticed he doesnt go #2 as much as he used to, only once or twice during the day instead of 3-4 times. I think if we keep making a joke out of it he does as well we can all have a "stinky" good time !! lol They say Laughter is the best medicine after all. lol

Thank you all

Terri & JJ
 

JazzysMom

New member
There have been many time that we have cut a road trip short to use OUR bathroom. The ironic thing is that its usually for my hubby (non CF). He says there is nothing like a good sh-- in your own home...LOL


My daughter can keep up with the boys in the gross department. Even tho she does not have CF. I love her, but sometimes she is not very ladylike. Although she doesmt have CF I always tell her better out then in. Just try to me courtious about it.

The other day I think we had a contest going on between my hubby, daughter, dog, cat & I....the only ones that didnt seem to be included were the birds. Reminded me of the scene from Scoobie Doo on Spookie Island where Shaggie & Scoobie had a farting competition.....my daughter loves that scene. I think its disgusting!
 

Faust

New member
heh, i'd recommend him lighting his farts with a lighter and causing large flames to shoot around, but he is too young to have a lighter. I used to light my farts with friends and they thought that was the funniest thing ever!
 

anonymous

New member
jasonterriallen,

Do you think it would help if we started another thread about funny CF gas stories, and have you read them to your son? Perhaps through this he can realize that despite this odd "power" you can have fun with it, and even use it as a harmless "weapon"(Hehe), but that all CFers have this challenge to undertake and overcome, and that it is not something he should be embarassed by. Like they said in Spiderman the movie, "with great power comes great responsibility".

Let us know, and we can start another thread on this.

Grendel
 

anonymous

New member
Well this is one topic I just have to join in. My son Matt just couldn't have cared less where he was, if he had to go then he had to go. He always got a laugh out of clearing out the washrooms pretty quickly in school and had us in stiitches at times with some of his stories. I think the most "powerful" one had to be when my upstairs neighbour came down to ask us if we had a horrible smell coming through our vent in our bathroom as she had one coming through her vents. Needless to say we did not admit to anything but just couldn't help but laugh once our neighbour left. As he got that much older he had a few mishaps when he thought he was just going to pass gas, so he started to be a little more careful when he thought this was all he needed to do. I guess being a guy is a little easier when it comes to these situations, the majority don't get quite as embarrased as the girls.

Sandy
 
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Cutecurlz

Guest
Hi.....female with CF. I have had that same problem since I was diagnosed at the age of 3 yrs old, and still do to this day. I'm not sure what exactly it's from but I used to NOT take my enzymes when I was younger BUT I do now and the "Smell" has not changed. There are times when I get really really really embarrassed myself, sometimes it's so bad (farting, or having a bowel movement) that if I'm out I will try and hold it in til I get home and by then I have a really bad tummy ache to go with it. So tell your son it's not him it's the CF and there's nothing he/you can really do about it, sorry.
 

Faust

New member
Heh NOTHING worse than a nuclear CF fart. Just look at it like it's our god given natural defense mechanism. Always keep a good CF fart ready, in case someone tries to abduct you or something, you can let em have it and he won't want to have anything to do with you.
 

jasonterriallen

New member
Well he did it again! lol This time in the toy aisle at walmart, he was looking at the toy cars (as always) and let one RIP!! it was so funny he cleared the aisle and we all just laughed holding our noses!! He even had to this time. Usually he is very shy about it and will stay quiet, but some guy said "oh my god what is that smell" my little guy said proudly " that was ME!!" and smiled. I thought the guy was going to die of shock his mouth dropped to the floor and said to him "good one" lol

He is too young for a lighter right now but I'm sure when he is older he'll figure that out, as his mom I'm gonna have to say I hope he doesnt but I know he is a little jokester and will probably light his farts! lol

Since I found this site and talking to other people with these problems he is doing a lot better. I tell him that he isn't the only one with farts like his and he doesn't feels so alone. He is so funny if he smells someone else's fart he lets us all know! No matter where we are! It gets a little embarrassing for me on this one lol but in the end we all laugh. People look at us like we are nuts but JJ says "they just arn't cool enough to be in on the joke" he says only a CFer would understand.
 
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