Still Passing Feces Out Anus Occasionally

Hi,

Does anyone else have this issue? I'll be 6 months in on the 24th of this month and I still occasionally pass small pieces of feces out my anus. It's pretty uncomfortable when it's in the process of working its way out. I feel like I have to have a bowel movement the "normal" way and I have a real full feeling. It usually takes several trips to the bathroom until it works its way out. When it does come out, it looks like it's petrified; white in color and hard. I asked my surgeon about it, and he said it's due to fecal matter left in my intestine when I had my surgery and since I have a fistula to my anus, this is why this happens. He said it's not going to hurt anything as long as I can "live" with it. I'm a high surgery risk, so another operation is not likely.

It sounds like you're having mucus come out. Did your surgeon also tell you about passing mucus?

Yes, he did, but the first time this happened, I took pics and that's what he said it was. I have two stomas, one for mucus and one for feces. The mucus from that stoma is liquid-like and sticky, not solid like this.

Hi Deb

I'm with Beth, mucus also solidifies and I have heard it referred to as a "plug"

When I had my loop, my first doctor didn't tell me about stool or inform me that I would still have mucus that needed to come out in the rectum. Do you have a loop ileostomy? One mucus comes out and the other output. So most should come out of the loop, but you will still have mucus in the rectum and there's stool in your rectum as well that will come out. The stool is overturning cells in your rectum. So, I should say shedding the old cell and new ones get created, and mucus is the body's natural lubricant to help slide out the stool (that's in everyone's body). We just get to see it since we aren't connected and we still have to pass it. It will vary in color as well, sometimes white, a yellowish color, and even a greenish color. And depending on how long it's been in there, it can get hard when you pass it. I got switched from a loop to an end, and I remember one came out looked like one of those darn golden fake nuggets. I just wanted to make you aware of and let you know if your doctor didn't explain or tell you all of it, like I had said my first doctor didn't tell me. I had no clue at all until I went to the doc I have now.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

You guys really get very bad assistance and I can't believe what you're going through. Tell me how bad the assistance that you don't get. Don't think I'm having a go at America but this site has really opened my eyes to how bad the medical system is in the States. Regards, a very worried IGGIE.

Hey Deb, when you say have 2 stomas, are you talking like 2 stomas in different places on your abdomen? Or a stoma with 2 holes? Trying to make sure I'm on the same page.

Are you near a bigger Inova?

The walls of the remaining colon reabsorb water back into your body. Like a camel. If you fail to drink enough water, a plug will easily pop up. Osteomates require at least 8-10 glasses a day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! No, my doctor didn't explain it to me like that at all, just what I told you all. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me! I feel so much better knowing it's a "normal" thing,

Hi,

I have 2 separate stomas. I guess I have a loop like Beth said. One for output and one for mucus.

Hi, I didn't even know two stomas were a possible thing.

However, I'm 10 years on from my colostomy, and mucus plugs or smears are part of life... Not last Christmas Eve but the one before, I spent having a procedure under anaesthetic to check the cancer hadn't come back - thankfully it hadn't, but a plug had got stuck in what is left of my rectum.... And it was pretty painful postoperatively after they had just about managed to remove it - lots of radiotherapy has left major scar tissue, but it was euphoric too, as it wasn't cancer showing up again.

I felt fear rising many times when a plug made its way out - so unused to sensation in that area - and no control whatsoever.... Not a great combination, but perfectly normal apparently....x

Oh, good. I am glad I could help out. And remember, we are all here for you with anything. If you ever need to chat and vent, I am all ears.

Rectal output is normal when you have not had your rectum removed.

Simply curious, how would this be handled differently in Australia?

Jodie

Hello Jodie

I think Iggie is alluding to that over time reading through this site, it appears again and again that people get very little support in the U.S, once they are tipped out of hospital.

Can't afford supplies, can't find a stoma nurse, no product information regarding supplies and on it goes so it seems.

Here in Oz they won't let you out of hospital without joining the local ostomy program, which for a yearly fee of 70 or so and 26 or so per month for one month's supplies e.g., 30 of everything you think you need, if you need them for that month. Experienced Stoma nurse at the hospital always available, Stoma nurse always available at the supplies branch and a plethora of supplies to trial at the nurses' locations. All it takes is a phone call and you have all you need at your fingertips. We could be wrong but it always sounds like a constant struggle over there which is very sad for people in need.

Axl

Hi Jodie,

Axl reported it well, but the main difference is Medicare. All our treatments, supports, and supplies are provided free under this government-funded program.

Having said that, my experience was slightly different to that described. Apart from being signed up to the local Stoma Association to get supplies, I got little advice or support upon discharge. Being in a regional town, we don't have access to a Stoma Nurse. Luckily, I came across a CSO from Coloplast who put me in touch with a contract nurse in Queensland. Thank heavens for smartphones. It took 4 months of texting photos to finally get my appliance right and stop the leaks.

Rob.