This topic is about someone who has been living with an ileostomy for 13 years and is experiencing recurring pain in the rectal stump area. Initially, after their surgery, they had "phantom" pain that eventually became mild and infrequent. However, recently, the pain has returned with the same intensity as right after the surgery, making sitting and walking very uncomfortable. Over-the-counter pain medications and heating pads have not helped, and they are looking for advice from others who might have experienced similar issues.

Here are some suggestions and insights shared by others:

1. Consider stump removal: One person shared that they had similar issues with increasing pain, discharge, and bleeding from the rectal stump about 10 years after their ileostomy. They opted for surgical removal of the stump, and once they healed, their symptoms were resolved.

2. Try soothing soaks: Another person recommended taking warm baths for 20–30 minutes with either baking soda or Epsom salt. They found this helped reduce discomfort during flare-ups.