So the mucus that comes out of my rectum has changed colors. It was clear, then about a month and a half after surgery, it changed to bloody and now it's brown. Is this normal or something I should be concerned with? Also, I think the bloody mucus has something to do with the fistula that's formed. I've got a fistula from my colon to my rectum.
DiverticWilos
May 25, 2023 3:50 pm
Mysterious Mose
May 25, 2023 4:58 pm
I am 5 months from my colectomy and my experience with rectal discharge is similar. The color changes from red to brown and back to red. For the first 4 months, I also had a JP drain that drained fluid from my pancreas. This also regularly changed color. My surgeon really had no explanation why it does that. I haven't recently discussed the rectal discharge with him, but your experience sounds similar to mine. I have an upcoming appointment with my surgeon and am planning on discussing this subject. I have thought that maybe my 3 substantial hemorrhoids have something to do with this. In my prior life of normal bowel movements, I had issues with bleeding hemorrhoids and planned on having them removed before my adventure with C. difficile altered my life plans. I have an upcoming appointment with my surgeon and am going to discuss this issue.
I don't have any answers for you other than to say my experience is similar, but different, as I have no colon and no fistulas of which I am aware. I have no explanation other than to say this should be discussed with your surgeon.
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Posted by: iMacG5
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
Ostomate & woundr
May 25, 2023 10:15 pm
Hey guys surprisingly this came up recently in my volunteer practice here in Central Texas. I meant to create a post about it but got sidetracked by life (I fell and broke six ribs in the back)
Anyhow let me explain for those of you who have a rectal stump in other words any part of your colon that connects with an anus that still has an opening. I'm going to put the majority of this post in a separate discussion.
Should I get to say yes you are normal nothing about it is abnormal and I will explain in my post
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