I had a stoma installed due to diverticulitis on May 21, 2025, and after 3 months, my hair is falling out like crazy. Dr. thinks this is due to this trauma. Then today, 8/28, I had what looks like a bowel movement from my rectum. How is this possible? Anyone had these experiences?
Help, Sandy
I don't know about the rectum thing.
For the hair, if your blood work is okay, yes, it can be because of what you just went through. Your body and health took a hit. Take supplements, eat well, and check with a dermatologist to get a hair spray that helps with the hair fall.
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In my experience of hair loss, even as a female in my early 20s, it was all related to malnutrition and not getting enough nutrients. This was my experience.
G-Day Sandysclub,
The drama of everything you have gone through can create hair loss. As for the bowel movement, it is probably mucus, and that is normal, as the mucus is what is formed to help poo fall out easier.
Regards, IGGIE
Hello, I can address both. Yes, I agree the hair loss is probably due to malnutrition. Even if eating well, you may not be absorbing it. And the bowel movement after getting a colostomy. I have had that asked, and the doctor said it can happen, not to worry. I have noticed it is more likely to happen when my stool is too stodgy or thick, so to help that, I was advised to take Miralax every day. And yes, for me, it definitely makes a difference. I use the Costco brand; it's just as good. Hope that helps.
Hair loss after surgery is quite common. Your body has gone through trauma, and this can be one of the responses. I went through four surgeries in a little over two years' time. My hair was falling out like crazy. Eventually, it stopped and went back to normal. I agree that what you think is stool is probably mucus. Your body still produces the lubrication it thinks you need to move stool along. It didn't get the memo that its services are no longer required. Sometimes mucus can look an awful lot like stool and be quite dark in color.
Terry
My hair fell out after my major Crohn's attack, and it eventually grew back. I went and had my hair chopped off with a number three clipper. And if you have a loop colostomy, you will get mucus and stool coming out periodically. At first, I was upset as I thought something was wrong, but now about once a week, I use a glycerin suppository and a warm water enema in the shower to clear the stuff out when it's convenient for me. Also, if a lot is getting past your stoma, Imodium helps. Thank God for the internet, as I had no idea this would be an issue.
I am guessing the "poop" from your rectum is mucus. It can come out as hard or soft. It can look like poop, but it's really mucus.
Thanks, everyone, for your replies. Sure wish the surgeons would give out more info about what might happen. For me, the more I know, the better I do; otherwise, I kind of freak out when I don't know if it's normal or not.
Thanks again, Sandy
I got my colostomy on March 23, 2025. My hair started falling out like crazy about a month and a half ago. It is so thin now that it definitely worries me. I started taking Balance of Nature fruits and vegetables and changed my shampoo/conditioner to Nexxus made for hair breakage, and it finally has slowed down. I can run a brush through my hair and only have a few pieces in it instead of it being full of hair.
As far as the poop goes, my surgeon told me that sometimes poop can leak through the staples, and some people actually have poop out of their rectum occasionally, especially if you are very gassy and have a high output. The pressure forces it through, I guess. I have had one instance of passing gas not long after surgery that resulted in what looked like blood and some stool coming out of my rectum, but then it didn't happen again until I got a barium enema a few weeks ago, and I actually pushed a few pieces of either stool or mucus out with the barium after the procedure. The part that freaked me out was the barium went in through the rectum, and some of it came out of my bag. I really thought they were separate, but apparently that was normal too. Hope any of this helps.