Painful Cramps and Rectal Mucus Concerns

Hi all, I've had a few days of painful cramping, and while it is easing off, I wondered if I could have some reassurance?! At first, I thought there might be a potential blockage around the stoma, although on the first (worst) day, I had a normal output. It's then gotten a little better each day, and the pain seems to have become lower; it almost reminds me of that low feeling at the end of pregnancy! 🤰 🤰🤰

But now I'm feeling the urge to push from my rectum and getting some clumpy mucus. I've had this before, but before it was once and then done for about a week, with no pain. I've passed several clumps yesterday and today. Could the rectal mucus be causing the tummy cramps?

I got my stoma last October, so I'm still rather new and experiencing this for the first time.

(Definitely not period cramps, as it's not the right time)

Thanks!

It could be the mucus, or it could have been a partial blockage, where you weren't fully blocked but just somewhat blocked. Where you are straining to use the toilet with the mucus, that could cause stomach pain.

The way you are describing this, as the urge to push from your rectum, sounds very much like mucus trying to make its way out. It sounds very normal, and I would not be concerned. Mucus can ebb and flow and vary a lot in consistency, sometimes thin and loose and sometimes quite thick and formed. It can also be quite dark in color, and many mistake it for feces.

Terry

Hello,

I have a sigmoid colostomy. I have had it for 2 1/2 years. Mine was from a punctured colon.

I've had some painful mucus discharges. Most of the time, it's been painless.

What part of your colon was removed, and how much? Ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid?

It's important to know, as it can affect successful reversal.

I had 12 1/2 inches (317.5 mm) of sigmoid colon removed, leaving 3 1/2 inches (88.9 mm) intact.

Once you discover what part of your colon was removed, research on the internet how long that piece of colon should be and what it does.

In my case, the sigmoid colon averages 16 inches (406.4 mm) in length. The sigmoid colon stores stool and gets it ready to be expelled from the body. So, I only had 3 1/2 inches (88.9 mm) left. Not enough to contain much stool. So, if I got a reversal, I would be on the toilet quite a lot and have soft stools. Not my idea of a good time.

That is like my situation too. I was told I could not have a reversal because I would be on the toilet all the time with soft to liquid stools and have the urge to go all the time due to not having enough colon left.

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It's important to learn exactly what was removed and how much during surgery. I didn't really give my surgery much thought. I got the colostomy; all was good until I had a consultation for reversal. After that meeting, I did my research and read my surgical report. I looked up the sigmoid colon and what function it provided.

Armed with that knowledge, it was easy for me to refuse reversal and be happy about it.