Question about rectal stump

I’m one week away from surgery. Seeing someone post about rectal stump issues made me realize I didn’t know anything about this. Is it a likely source of issues? I understand there will be mucus, how often is this a problem?

Hi Chai Lover,

You've come to the right place! This community is full of people who are ready to share their experiences and offer support.

Regarding your question about the rectal stump, it's understandable to have concerns before surgery. While some people do experience issues, many manage just fine. Mucus discharge is common, but the frequency and amount can vary from person to person. It's usually not a major problem, but it's good to be aware and discuss any concerns with your healthcare team. They can provide guidance tailored to your situation.

Congrats on being part of this community! You'll find a wealth of support, information, and some really great people here. Don't hesitate to reach out with any more questions you might have.

Hey there, your doctor should have told you about this. I am sorry he didn't .

so yes there will be mucus that's needs to come out . Your rectum will continue  and constantly make mucus and sloth . And all our bodies are different. Some have it everyday , some constantly, some every other day some once a week. We can't say how yours is going to be.  Just know that it is something that will happen. 

What Beth said 100 💯 %.

Your doctor is an idiot too.  Glad yur here to gain  answers to question yur doctor.  

You can also develop proctitis..

as I did  where all meds were exhausted  to control it...leading to 2nd surgery 8 yrs later..

I'm hearing Iggie- another member chime in- saying have it taken out ..bc u do have other g.i issues I would agree as well.

1 surgery. It's done.  Get details from doctor or members here.

No b.s.  no need to gamble.

Be prepared with research since yur doctor  didn't bother explaining pros and cons of the full story. 

Good luck and keep us posted. 

.

I am afraid that there are too many doctors falling short of what they should know and/or be able to do. I don't even have a stoma nurse, have no idea where there is one.  Then again, I guess I would still muddle along more or less on my own. Luckily, what I read on these pages will help on occasion.  It is galling to be ignorant, but if one does not know what to ask, one does not get answers. 

The problem is that I have had too many,  sometimes laughable, experiences in my long life, to muster up much trust in the medical profession.

Old Timer,

WE hear what you are saying - but sometimes the medical 'profession' needs to be called to account - otherwise things do not improve and the non professionals become the lower standard of practice!

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

Okdtimer medical professionals don't know what they are doing anymore. Well actually the problem is they aren't listening to the patient and they are being cocky. And if a patient requires more than what they see in a normal they try and say it's something else so they don't have to deal with it or push the patient off to someone else. And an ostomy nurse well they have no idea at all what in the world they are doing. You are better off not going to one. You know more of ostomy care then they do. And I can't list so many reasons why . And all this  from doctors to ostomy nurse I say from first hand experience. Why I was misdiagnosed for 15 years no one wanted to deal with me because I was totally different. Then they try and add age and other bull crap. Which is why you have to be your own advocate. And tell them when they are wrong . And speak up of what you need testing and otherwise. If they don't listen to until you find someone that will listen. 

Unless it's pelvic floor dysfunction then take the rectum and leave the anus. Living proof 

Hello,

I've had a sigmoid colostomy for 2 years.  I had a punctured colon with no underlying intestinal disease.

I slowly learned about the rectal stump basically from information posted on this web site (thanks everyone).  From that, I did a bunch of my own research and consulted with my colorectal surgeon.

Even though disconnected from the colon, the rectal stump continues to produce mucus.  Which must be expelled from time to time.  We are all different, so the amount and time frame differs. 

The colon is very efficient at removing water from stool.  Thus, water gets removed from mucus, drying it out.  Mucus will ball up and irritate the rectum and anus.  Causing discomfort, or possible pain.  Additionally, stool no longer passes through the rectal stump.  Stool provides vital nutrients to keep the rectum and anus area healthy. 

The result:  Inflammation and bleeding. Blood will be pooped out (for lack of a better term).

I know all this because its happening to me now.  2 weeks before last Christmas, I started pooping a little blood once a day.  Then several days later, 2 times a day.  Over the next several weeks, it worsened.  I was pooping out blood 4-5 times a day.  It was hard to hold it in.  I had a big leak one night while sleeping.  So, had to start wearing a pad.  No fun.

I visited my "most excellent" Colorectal Surgeon.  He examined the rectal stump with a scope.  (UNCOMFORTABLE).

Result:  Inflammation.  Ok.... what to do about it?   I initially decided to see if it would get better on it's own.  Doctor agreed.  A week later.... Damn stump was worse.  I was concerned how much blood I was pooping out.  Called Surgeon back and asked for medication.  He prescribed Mesalamine 1000 mg suppository, 30 units.  So for 30 days I will use this.

After the first dose, bleeding stopped.  I'm now on day 14.  No bleeding, no pain.  I'm  very happy.  After I complete the medication, I'll post an update.

Suppository is easy to use.  It's shaped like a large bullet.  Only thing I don't like:  The back end is flat, not rounded.  After insertion, you constrict your anus, this pushes the suppository farther in.  The flat end rubs the anus... slightly painful and uncomfortable.  Once the suppository is farther in, I don't feel anything. 

After 3 or 4 suppositories are used, I expel the left over, used medicine.  It comes out black.  I'm careful not to wipe too hard.... easy to get a very sore anus that way.

Any questions, let us know. 😊

Yep , mucus. Most times when I empty the bag. Not much of a big deal for me. And I also knew nothing about it beforehand.

As Warrior stated, get rid of it, and then you have no problem with Mucus. 

Regards IGGIE

G-Day BB,

I hope this fixes it now, keep us up to day. Sending good vibes mate.

Regards IGGIE

I also have pelvic floor dysfunction. Do you suggest removing most of the rectum? 

Ditto.   jb

“Knowledge is power” be powerfully informed…research, get all questions answered to your satisfaction, make sure you have confidence in your medical team……and then ….”you do you boo”….  jb

P.S.  Folks have suffered from lot’s of various medical procedures.  Just remember, we are all different and all have had unique ‘individual body and health issues’…then there is the variety of quality professionals doing all these surgeries and procedures.  Sadly, for most, it was a journey they had to make and the choices made along the way were daunting - then there were those that were not given a choice and had emergency surgery.  Chin up, you have the option of research - just feel comfortable with what you believe then move forward….you will do fine…🫶🏼. Hugs

Hhmmm..re: drs...

It's my experience with my own surgeon that leads me to believe he knows quite a lot from a medical stand point.

It's what he doesn't offer me about the negatives of the surgery I had, he did on me.

The power of suggesting anything negative will sit heavily on yur mind- make u go nuts- and in fear, u think u will suffer from those negatives.

 And all of a sudden u got these negative surfacing..

So he goes dumb. Says nothing.. until YOU  present the negatives.

And his response? 

" yes that happens". 

For me it was loss of taste.

' yes that happens". I'm like why didn't u warn me?  His reply was it happens but not often. Why worry abt it.

Then with a ken butt, " I'm having trouble peeing".

" yes that happens". 

WTF? GRRRRRRR..

Social stand point- drs are clueless abt what we endure with a stoma or a reversal. 

They nodd their head in agreement to our story.. and offer very little comment..

That's my 2 cents.

And as this web site has shown from members chiming in..drs are not giving us proper instruction after surgery.

The nip..and split. 

Aka slash and dash. jb

I recommend taking the rectum and leaving the anus.  

Thanks IGGIE.  

After one suppository, bleeding stopped.   Amazing how quickly it worked.

I was really tempted to use the medication for a week, then stop.  But... that's how trouble starts.  

Yes, Jayne, I agree.  What has been done instead, and I hope this is a relatively new thing, but who knows, the unelected bureaucrats slipped in the DEI requirements for being chosen to get education in health care.  Not sure if nurses are included, but certainly those aspiring o become physicians.  Does that inspire trust or confidence that the outcome will be different or better? 

Standards are being lowered everywhere. We see results all around us.  As calling the medical profession to account, methinks that the product coming out of medical schools (just like teachers' colleges) just demonstrates what has been taught them.  Of course, one must remember that teachers as a whole will teach better if there is more money in it. That alone is a travesty.  Used to be that professions had to do a lot with a calling,not just the bottom line.  As you may know, our universities are heavily subsidized by the tax payer. Universities have huge savings, but have no shame in charging students out the yang-yang while putting mush into their brains. I think what I am saying is that the outcome will mirror the input (kind of like with us ostomates, don't you think?).  Garbage in, garbage out, and if the receiving brains is not very capable in digesting and keeping information related to their chosen field, and if the input IS not much related to their chosen field, that's what we get.

If there would be billions of dollars more budgeted for research into what can make people with our problems better, then it might happen. Ergo, that is the only thing that would move the needle.

Hi Chai Lover

I ended up with a rectal stump, it was not really discussed when I had a closed permanent ileostomy made again in 2008. For 8 years I only had what to me felt like phantom pains. Nobody told me at the time that stuff would be coming out of there from time to time.
I've had my ileostomy for 28 years now. So I pretty much panicked when four days in a row I kept running to the toilet with very small explosive diarrhea attacks - and my rectal stump is only 4 cm's long.... Part of my problem is that during 8 hellish months when I'd had my ileostomy reversed that I was constantly running to the toilet up to 30 times a day, which lead to some horrific dehydration where I was so badly unable to use my brain due to lack of salt, that I didn't even recognise the nurses who'd cared for me for many years.
And when I had my reversal I over trained my sphincter muscles of my anus, that after I got my stoma back I could not expel the mucus and the lining that sloughs of that last piece of rectum myself, so I have to wait for it to liquefy and it becomes very inflamed until it finally comes out.
My surgeon sent me to a physiotherapist who he was hoping could help me, but she told me that while she taught people pelvic floor exercises that she could not undo the extend that I'd trained my sphincter muscles..... but I had no other options as we live far from toilets, and I didn't want to end up having an accident.

So, now you've heard my horror story....

BUT everyone is different, we all have different experiences.

Although I think you are doing the right thing and are educating yourself - and getting as much information as possible will help you.

And, as you have no doubt been told if you're worried or just need someone to talk to we are all here.

Look after yourself,

Gracie

You have come the closest to my problem, Gracie Bella.  it's just that any kind of more surgery is not an option for me.  Been there, done that with lots of bad feelings about the whole thing. 

Just chiming in.  I've had my stump since my surgery in 2005.  I rarely have discharge, only if I'm over caffeinated or if I'm sick.  At some point I guess I need to get rid of it, but I'm not in a big rush.

You said it best:  You must be your own advocate. 

If possible, a person must perform due diligence.  With the internet:  it's easier to research disease, hospitals, doctors, and surgical procedures.   Of course you gotta be careful, don't believe everything you read and consider the source.  

These days I already have a good idea what to expect when I visit my doctors.  And they are happy I'm being involved in my care, and have some knowledge when I discuss my medical issue with them.  

Knowledge is power.

Thanks for chiming in.  Wow, 2005.  I've had my rectal stump since 2022.  It's good to hear you've had little trouble over the years. Enjoyed your pictures too.

As the great Henny Youngman would say:

"Take my rectum............ Please !!

Thank you, Beth.

Yes, one has to be one's own advocate.  I am just so weakened and fed up, I have neither the fortitude or will anymore. On top of that, the answers to what one might google read like the daily horoscope.  Take your pick. Problem is compounded due to the inability to leave the  house without being attached to a commode. It frosts me that I, myself, did not recognize that my skin problem is most likely shingles again.  When I saw pictures, I knew that is what I had.  There are a lot of pictures, but several look exactly like what those lesions look like on me.

Anyway, thanks for caring.

Beth, i didn’t know they could leave the anus. Do you know if you can resolve UC if the anus is left? I have an ileostomy, no colon except they left the rectum for now. Will probably have it removed next year and was planning on Barbie Butt surgery. I have UC so removing rectum lowers cancer risk and flares but I thought I have to have anus removed too. Thanks for any info!

LPW hey no you don't have to have the anus removed too you can leave the anus and take the rectum. i had it done . I wish I could tell you about UC and the rectum. I don't have UC so I don't know if it makes a difference or not . I will say you should definitely do research.  Dive deep so you can have the best answers for you and your decision 

That’s good to know. Will def have to do more research. Thanks for letting me know!

LPW of course if I can end helping in anyway let me know.