Dealing with Persistent Rectal Discharge Post-Ileostomy

Rectal discharge

#I have had ileostomy now since 2007 and though my rectum was stitched up , leaving  atiny hole , i still get horrid discharge 4 -7 times daily . Sometimes the pressure is very fierce like a red hot poker pushing within me. I did speak to surgeon couple years ago he said  it would clear in time  but it has not stopped. Has anyone else got similar problem ?? I would love to hear from you



many thanks



Jas.

I've experience that but not all day everyday. Do you think it is an acid type of problem from bile salts? My GI gave me Questran for the burning, it neutralizes the bile salts (it is a cholestorol drug). By the way, I was born in Partick, I have most of my surgery done in Edinburgh. I now live in Florida.-A Glasga Kielly-Margaret

Hello Jas.

Many of us suffer with rectal discharge and you can find a few posts about it in the archives.  I understand it is because the rectal stump that they leave behind produces the same mucus that it would have produced if you were still passing stools from the rectum. However, because the stools are not passing through and taking the mucus away it can build up and cause pain. Personally I wear incontinence pads and try to just let it out as and when it wants to come. If I start getting pain through a build-up of mucus I irrigate it out.

I have a gadget that I've made that links up to the shower in the bath. However, I think that the irrigation equipment I use normally would probably do the job reasonably well. If you have an ileostomy you will not be able to irrigate that,  but I would have a chat to the incontinence nurses and/or doctors to see what they have to say.  It's worth noting that the stoma doctors and nurses tend not to know that much about incontinence stuff. So whilst the one surgeon does the initial job the aftercare is often spilt betweeen stoma and anal incontinence staff. Anyway, that' what I have found!

Best wishes

Bill