Leakage and Gas with Ostomy Bag - Need Advice!

I have had an ostomy bag for a little over a year, and within the last 2 weeks I have had leakage coming from my anus and a lot of gas. Has anyone ever experienced this?

Hi Suzzie,

From what I hear from many of the ostomates that still have all those parts, it is a common occurrence. It may be spurred on by what you have eaten or just the mucus that the colon still generates. If you are concerned, you may want to contact your surgeon's office or Ostomy Care Nurse so they can ease your fears. Everyone is different, and the same event can mean different things for different people.

Hope it stops as that can be a real pain, I would think!
PUPPYLUV

Hi Suzie.  Do you have a colostomy or ileostomy?  Not sure it matters but we need to understand there is no way the food you ingest can get into your rectum then exit your anus.  I'm not medically trained so this might sound like an oversimplification but I think it makes sense.  Your rectum is still alive and well but isn't smart enough to know It's  not getting any more poop deliveries so it continues to lubricate itself like it did before.  That lubrication can harden and come out eventually resembling stool.  I guerss it could also cause gas.  Hopefully some folks knowing way more than I do will offer more help.

Respectfully,

Mike

Hi Suzzie,

I have had an ileostomy for two years now. I started to get pain and gas in my anus a few months after I got it! My consultant told me it was a build up of mucus which the bowel still produces which hardens! She told me to use a suppository, after only about a half hour I was able to expel without much effort, it's amazing what builds up! Every few weeks I get build up and just repeat the procedure and I'm fine! Hope this helps!

Hi Suzzie, I have mucus discharge just about every day. Some days are more than others. I have a colostomy and it was a good while before it started. I had a build up just like you described and it was hard the first time. Then now it is just mucus and it just comes out. It is like Mike said, the rectum continues to lubricate itself like it did before. It kinda scared me at first when it started but I learned from this site about it and then looked it up. So from what I understand, as long as you still have a stump it will continue. Hope this helps.

How to Manage Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Thank you, Lovely. This does help. I was in a panic. Thanks again.

Thank you 2marilyn2, thank you very much for the response. I was in a panic.

I have a colostomy. Thanks for responding. I feel better now. I was in a panic.

I went through a period about a year ago when I had a lot of mucus passing multiple times a day for a week or two. To this day, I can't say why. It subsided, and I was fine right up until I was reversed.