This topic is about someone who has been living with an ileostomy for 16 months and is experiencing difficulty passing rectal mucus. They are concerned about how this might affect their upcoming ileostomy reversal surgery, which aims to restore normal bowel function. Here are some insights and advice that might be helpful:

1. It's important to understand why there might be difficulty in passing rectal mucus. Sometimes, this can happen if the large bowel or rectum is diseased, removed, or if there's an issue with pelvic-floor function. Discussing these concerns with a surgeon can help identify any structural or functional issues that might persist after the reversal.

2. Not being able to pass mucus is a common issue when the rectum is inflamed due to disuse, a condition known as disuse proctitis. This can sometimes result in the presence of bloody mucus.

3. Disuse proctitis is often treated with short-chain fatty-acid enemas. These are usually prepared by hospital pharmacies, but there are also commercial options available under the name SCFA enemas.

4. For some individuals who cannot pass mucus or have significant pelvic-floor dysfunction, a rectal excision might be necessary instead of a reversal. Undergoing tests like defecography or manometry before surgery can help predict the success of a reversal by assessing rectal function.