Is Liquid Stool Normal 18 Days After Loop Ileostomy?

I'm 18 days post-op with a loop ileostomy. Occasionally, I experience an urge to push, similar to wanting a bowel movement. This morning, after drinking some electrolytes, I felt a strong cramp in my stomach. When I went to the bathroom to urinate, about 50 cc of brown liquid came out of my rectum, along with a few black specks. There was no odor. Is this normal?

That does happen, being only 18 days out, residual effluent may still come out of the rectum temporarily if the rectum and anus are intact. This is not actual feces but leftover effluent or mucus produced by the lining of the bowel. Residual effluent may still come out of the rectum for a few days to weeks after ileostomy surgery, depending on the amount of effluent or mucus left in the rectum at the time of surgery. Over time, the rectum continues to secrete mucus, which may occasionally be expelled.

Thanks for the feedback. It kinda caught me off guard this morning. I just expelled a little more.

Hello,

I have a colostomy 2 years post-op. I expel mucus quite a bit. It goes in cycles. Sometimes every day, or once a week, or even once a month. Right now, it's every day for me.

After my ostomy surgery, a closed-off, 7-inch piece of colon remained connected to the rectum/anus. Even though disconnected from the colon, it continues to function.

Mucus performs 2 main functions:

Lubrication: Mucus lubricates the passageway for stool to move through.
Facilitation: Mucus helps stool move gently and easily.

Right now, I expel a little mucus every day. You should have a gastroenterologist check the rectum/anus once a year, or right away if any blood is passed with the mucus.

The colon is very efficient at extracting water. Mucus can become dried out and irritate the rectum and anus, causing inflammation and discomfort. Medicines are available to help with this condition.

I remember the first time  I experienced this. I was so alarmed that I could "poop" out my butt when I had almost no colon left. I even called the surgeon's office in alarm. They calmly told me it was mucus and was to be expected. I wish they had told me that before I left the hospital. It could have made me much calmer. All I can say to you is that it is to be expected and try not to let it worry you.

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One more note about mucus: If your sphincter muscle becomes weak, mucus could leak out at any time. If you experience leakage, there are exercises you can do called Kegel exercises. They are designed to strengthen the muscles that control the opening and closing of the bladder and rectum.

I can remember having exactly the same WTF experience ...  no one had told me to expect these sorts of things 🤣