Rectal Stump Bleeding After Ileostomy - Seeking Advice and Help

After three years with an ileostomy and no major problems, I have started bleeding for about three days. The first day, the blood was very red and heavy, but only when I went to empty my bag. The second day, it was light, and on the third day, it was dark reddish-brown. I don't know where it's coming from. I only have a primary doctor who knows nothing about ostomies. My stoma surgery was an emergency with no knowledge of an ostomy to follow. At the present time, I don't have a surgeon that I can go to and get answers and help.

You don't have a gastroenterologist? I suggest you see one. I have had similar issues recently, and a proctoscopy showed my rectum is inflamed. My gastro doc thinks maybe colitis (which I have had when I had a colon) or Crohn's. But, I am waiting on the biopsy to hopefully rule out anything more serious. Rectal bleeding is nothing to monkey with. A proctoscopy can show what is going on. It's a quick thing. Mine was less than a minute to do the procedure, and no anesthesia is needed.

Daniel

Hi RedSneakers, do you mean bleeding into the bag? I had this in July of '19. No pain but bright red blood in my bag. I will admit that I let it go for too long, just didn't want to admit that I had something going on. I was admitted to the hospital with severe anemia and required three blood transfusions. They found the source - a section of my small intestines - and used endoclips to stop the bleeding. I did continue to bleed after discharge from the hospital so was readmitted two more times that July, with more endoclips, until the bleeding stopped and it has not come back. It was determined to be an area of my small intestines that was sewn back together during one of my surgeries, an anastomosis, and that was having a hard time receiving blood and oxygen flow. Yours could be as simple as this but it needs to be looked into. Sounds like you need a gastroenterologist. Please let us know how this works out and if you have any other questions.

A lot of hospitals here in the USA have a dial-a-nurse line. If you're having trouble getting a hold of a gastroenterologist, you can always start there. If it's any blood, they're likely to ask you to come into the ER for a fuller exam, or if they have an in-house gastroenterologist, they might be able to set you up with a quicker appointment or referral if they can.

I agree with Daniel. You need to contact your doctor.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

I'm assuming you have Medicare. If so, do you have an Advantage C plan, or Original Medicare Part A and B?

Most Advantage plans are HMO style, so you need a referral to see a specialist along with pre-authorization for many diagnostic procedures. Part B, you can see anyone that accepts Medicare, no referral necessary. Either way, you need to be checked by a Gastroenterologist.

Bleeding is not normal. Even if it goes away, you still should be checked by a Gastroenterologist.

My story... a cautionary tale about not following up.

A few years before I had a colostomy, my Gastroenterologist told me my blood tests showed a low hemoglobin level. He said I was bleeding somewhere. But... where? Being healthy, I refused his offer of CT/MRI scans, various scope probes, and ultrasound. I felt fine, no blood was coming out anywhere. A couple of years passed. I had a colonoscopy... showed all was well. But every blood test still showed low hemoglobin. Then it was noticed my pulse was at 110, blood pressure 90/60. Yikes. But I still felt fine... until I didn't.

Decades ago, I had 3 hernias repaired with mesh. 1 umbilical, 2 inguinal. The 2 inguinal repair meshes had migrated onto and wrapped around my colon, causing it to bleed. The blood was absorbed by my body. That's why I had the low hemoglobin level. Eventually, my colon was punctured in 2 places, which allowed colon contents to spill into my abdomen, causing a sepsis infection.

If I had undergone my Gastroenterologist's recommended screenings, the wandering meshes might have been discovered in time to save the 12 1/2 inches of colon that were destroyed, resulting in a permanent colostomy. I was very lucky. One mesh had adhered to my bladder, nearly puncturing it too. That mesh was removed just in time.