woman at work keeps farting

[poppytea]

I know this might sound stupid but the smell is horrific, like egg, and it's really putting me off being in the office especially when eating. It's a small windowless room and it is very smelly as obviously there's nowhere for smell to go.

AIBU to pass this up OR will I just be laughed at?

I have IBD (ulcerative colitis) and sadly one of the symptoms is noxious farts! Like onionchutney, sometimes it's as much as I can do to make sure I don't actually crap myself, let alone trying not to let said fart out. Also, attempting to hold it in can result in the most excruciating abdominal pain.

It's all very well those people saying that you shouldn't have to put up with it etc but if she does have IBD (Crohn's Disease or colitis) then she's probably very aware of the problem and absolutely mortified by it already.

Unfortunately, those of us who do have IBD are stuck between a rock and a hard place. We are not considered 'ill' enough to qualify for disability allowance but then are discriminated against in the work place. I was actually fired from a job in the past because I was constantly late for work (through having to spend hours on the loo in the morning), and spent a good deal of the day in the toilet. So you're not ill enough to be disabled but then are too disabled to work and so get fired. Great!

I had a problem with a colleague who was a bit smelly. Scented candle and open the door. All the women on my floor knew why I was lighting the candles!

My mother had to take a particular tablet and it made her pass wind. She had no control whatsoever over when it would be emitted. A bit like having no control over your sweating. You just can't stop it. It just happens. Perhaps the OP's colleague is taking something with similar effects?

I have a more sensitive nose than most and would hate to be in a smelly office. I also have friends and relatives with Crohn's disease, they can not hold it in and it has affected their confidence. If their employer asked them to address the issue they would essentially be asking them to resign because there really is nothing that they can do.

My husband had ulcerative colitis, his farts used to stink. He now has a ileostomy bag and that also smells pretty bad sometimes.....he gets a room spray from his stoma nurse to help!

I would just put up with it OP. Putting up with temporary smells is not the worse problem in the world, and certainly not nearly as bad as having a horrible medical condition like your colleague.
I used to sit next to a guy who had bad body odour. He clearly couldn't help it and I would not have dreamed of complaining. It would just have humiliated him.

I definitely don't think the OP should ignore it. Too much of anyone's life is spent at work to be able to ignore an unpleasant work space.

How on earth has this thread managed to conclusively diagnose the colleague with a "horrible medical condition"?

The only known fact is that something stinks and op is suffering unpleasant working conditions. The only way to resolve it is by saying something. Then if it IS a medical condition, maybe the colleague can be given more support. Regardless of the reason, maybe the office can be made more suitable.

Why have people diagnosed this woman this is a common theme on mn. Nobody knows the reason for her stinking up the office. The op needs to speak to her manager because she should not have to put up with this.

I love the way people are so certain that people shouldn't have to put up with the consequences of other peoples disabilities....but no one thinks the person with the disability also shouldn't have to put up with it....

I mean clearly everyone doesn't automatically have the right to work in a fresh smelling office...until we can extend that right to people with bowel disorders.

At least the OP gets to avoid it at home.

IceBeing where did you get that the lady has a disability

Given most people who can control their bodily emissions actually do so, the most likely explanation is that this woman can't.

Or just that people could be that inconsiderate.
You read about these types all the time on here.

Ice farting isn't always a disability. My DH farts all the time because he eats too fast and he's a vegan.

He stinks. It's his own choice.

It doesn't really matter what the truth of this case is...it still stands that in general one doesn't have the right to live a life free of the consequences of disability and illness.

I can totally understand how horrible it can be but I have family/friends with digestive & bowel conditions such as IBS and Chrons and they are very embarrassed by the fact they often pass wind, they totally can't control it most of the time. I know it's horrid for you but imagine how mortified the poor woman must be

It's difficult though because although it could just be being rude/inconsiderate or having a rubbish diet, it also could be an illness, in which case OP is going to come across as horrible/inconsiderate. So it's a question of how risky it is to bring it up.

How about a smallish electric fan on your desk pointing in her direction so you're up-wind of her? You could justify it in terms of the lack of ventilation and avoid any unintended offence.

secret santa?

Surely even those who can't control their farting don't want their colleagues sitting in fart air? So what's the problem with addressing it? (Sensitively). Fresh air all round, literally.

It sounds like better air exchange in that space is needed.

Butt plug?

Could you try and tackle it another way?

Would both of you like to try and lose a few pounds before xmas? If so, why not suggest you try a low carb diet, make it into a friendly challenge.

When I went on one, as I'm the only cook in the house, I banned bread and all baked goods (wheat), rice, pasta and potatoes for the whole family for a week, just so it made my meal planning easier.

We all noticed that what we'd assumed was a normal level of farting stopped almost overnight, no more bloated feeling either. Hope she's up for going along with that as it honestly doesn't take long to figure out what's causing it in otherwise healthy people.

noooo blanklook that's just adding a new layer of offence! You're fat and stinky .

Ice I have to disagree with you. People DO have the right to work in a pleasant environment. They just do.

My flatulence does not trump your right to clean air.

ILovePud oops, didn't think of that