This topic is about understanding whether it's normal to notice what seems like feces passing from the rectum when you have a colostomy. Here's some helpful information and advice on this matter:

- If your rectum is still intact, it's normal to occasionally pass mucus. If this mucus isn't expelled regularly, it can dry out, harden, and darken, which might make it look like stool when it finally comes out.

- With an end colostomy, it's generally not expected to have true fecal output from the rectum. What you might be seeing is likely hardened mucus.

- However, if you have a loop ileostomy or another type of diversion that keeps the downstream bowel connected, it is possible to pass stool rectally. Therefore, it's important to know whether your stoma is a loop ileostomy or an end colostomy to better understand any rectal output you might experience.