This topic is about a person who had a reversible colostomy surgery and is experiencing some unexpected symptoms five weeks after the procedure. They woke up with a firm, gassy feeling in their abdomen and passed a small amount of gas and brown-tinged blood from the rectum. The bleeding continued for several hours before stopping, and they are wondering if this is normal or if they should see a doctor.

Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. Many people recommend contacting the surgeon or primary doctor right away. It's better to get checked out than to assume everything is okay.

2. Bleeding in the early weeks after surgery can happen, but it's still a good idea to get professional confirmation to be sure everything is fine.

3. It's normal for the rectal stump to discharge mucus:
- The disconnected rectum still produces mucus to keep things lubricated.
- If the mucus dries out, it can be hard to pass, which might cause discomfort and minor bleeding.

4. Long-term diversion of stool can lead to a condition called diversion proctitis:
- This happens because the rectal stump isn't getting short-chain fatty acids from stool, leading to inflammation and possible bleeding.

5. There could be other reasons for the bleeding, like a bleeding polyp, and only a medical evaluation can determine the exact cause.

6. The main takeaway from several contributors is to get examined, explain your symptoms, and report any recurrence immediately.