Stinky Co Worker

allnurses Guide · Jun 12, 2006

Seriously, ask her about her weight loss plan and go from there. The gas might enter the conversation and then you can give some of the tips others have given you. I know rotten feet really get to me. I feel for you and for her too if she has such bad gas. I truly think if she is able, she should try to be as considerate and polite as possible. Most women are very conscious to be polite re. this problem, but I have worked w/ a couple who just didn't have very good manners and thought it was funny. If that's the case (it doesn't sound like it is), I would tell her to go visit the bathroom when she has the need, not share her problems w/ me.

I like your post.

I have to say that almost everyone is bending over backwards to assume that this is some medical problem that she can't help.

But the truth is there are simply some people who do not think it is a big deal to pass gas around other people. Some think is it funny. Some think it is a natural body function and so shouldn't be a problem to pass gass whenever/wherever.

I've met many men (they think it is funny) and women (they think it is normal). One of our ward clerks was a young hippie sort who was very gassy at the nurse's station and didn't bat an eye. She didn't see the problem when confronted kindly about it. A guy I knew thought it was hilarious to lift his leg and pass gass on the nearest pretty co-worker - guess he thought it was flirting . . :uhoh3: Another young woman I knew, another hippie-type girl, didn't shave her underarms or legs, wore no makeup, passed gas and didn't apologize for it. "It is natural - deal with it". She was a kick - I liked her alot but was glad I didn't work directly with her.

While this woman may have a health problem, she also MAY not and she may just not think it is a problem at all. In either case, her co-worker has the right to mention it to her and she is obligated to attempt to try to pass her gas in the bathroom. We all have accidents - no one is perfect. But attempting to solve this problem is just plain old courtesy.

Please don't jump on others who think that maybe the "stinky co-worker" needs to try to be not quite so stinky. Regardless of whether it is a medical problem or she is just one of those people who accepts gas as natural and no big deal.

steph

lovemyjob · Jun 12, 2006

We all do it, and whether it is "discussing" or not, it is part of life (sorry, couldnt help myself.) Now, throwing your legs up in the air and doing your best to make it loud as possible is uncalled for, but I dont think this is the problem the OP is having.

buildingmyfaith57 · Jun 12, 2006

i was going to say more but i think im going to stay out of it.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 12, 2006

If this is disgusting to some, there's always the option of avoiding the thread.

ortess1971 · Jun 12, 2006

The co-worker has to know she is doing it..no one has said that she didn't.
The only thing I can figure is that she thinks hers don't stink.
How about a whoopi cushion..every time she lets one fly, squeeze the whoopi cushion... do like behavior modification

The other thought is if she has a documented medical condition and people proceed to do something like this, they could end up being reprimanded. Happened to some co-workers of mine...one of the techs had Crohn's disease and was in the bathroom frequently. Some of the other techs and RNs would make snide comments where this woman could hear. It was very humiliating for her. She ended up going to HR and lodging a complaint. The guilty parties got written up and I can't say I feel badly for them. On a side note, anyone who is a Farto-Phobe should stay away from yoga classes. Very gassy environment......

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 12, 2006

Some of the other techs and RNs would make snide comments where this woman could hear. It was very humiliating for her. She ended up going to HR and lodging a complaint. The guilty parties got written up and I can't say I feel badly for them.

Can't say i do either. That's just downright childish.

ortess1971 · Jun 12, 2006

love milk but it can get the best of me and no i cannot control it every time
of course you don't get any brownie points for the ones that you do control
once i went and used the facillities and an aide came in after me...she howled and waved the air freshener and really made a fool of herself\
i told her that that was the way it was suppose to smell

And I hate when people do the above when they walk into a bathroom. Nobody's poop smells nice....Poop really used to bother me but since I've been in the OR-I've smelled far worse. The latest gross thing was a rectal wound that was infected with Pseudomonas...so not only did was there the fecal smell, it had a nice death stench over top.:barf01:

buddiage · Jun 12, 2006

I would never just let it go in front of people that don't want to be an audience, but I'm one of "those" who thinks it's funny and at our house we have endless jokes about it- two of my closest girlfriends try to out do eachother. My HUSBAND, however, does it in public, loudly, and that makes me exit stage left, because that is really pushing it in my opinion. We'll get into clashing matches over it. If it's around someone who appreciates the silly side of body functions, then no biggie. But not everyone appreciates it, and you should respect that.

Yeah, it is natural. If it is CHRONIC, then, it probably wouldn't be so funny. I'd spray Ozium to get rid of the smell. Maybe just start spraying when you smell the stench? You wouldn't have to say anything- she would know you smell it and thought it was nasty enough to spray over. If she doesn't seem to care, THEN bring up the subject with her to reach an agreement that you both can live with.

smk1, LPN · Jun 13, 2006

There is this "orange mist" spray that is all natural and really neutralizes smells almost immediately (instead of just adding the perfume smell on top of the poo smell). I'll have to go look it up because it is really great stuff.