Rectal Stump Mucus causes extreme pressure and discomfort (no pain)

Posted by piki @piki, Feb 11 8:58am

(Loop Colostomy, Dec 2023) Every day, often a few times a day, I feel much pressure and discomfort in my rectal stump because of rectal mucus. No pain. But the effect is horrendous, like sitting on a golf ball or marble, and has sent me to Valium or alcohol on more than one occasion. (Not good solutions, I know.) I use a water enema to flush out the mucus which can be tiny solid bits, or thready pieces which look like egg white. And yes I've tried glycerine suppositories, and also zinc ointment. My surgeon did a Flex Sig (Flexible Sigmoidoscope) in hospital in late January and two weeks later a brief sigmoidoscope in his office and still found nothing. He scripted me Proctodan-HC (Pramoxine Hydrochloride, Hydrocortisone Acetate & Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate) suppositories. No help really. He's sending me for a second opinion to another doctor. He does not want to do a stump removal...they can end up being worse than the problem. I've read all I can find so far on the subject, talked to ostomy nurses and others. No one has any additional advice.

Any one else have this problem? Any solutions out there? Please.

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piki | @piki | Feb 23 4:09pm

In reply to @kenc "Because of similar complications, which led to abscess I had my stump removed, but not without..." + (show)

I believe that's part of the problem....the 'not without further complications' part. It's no guarantee of better outcome. I hope you have worked out these further complications.

piki | @piki | Feb 24 10:16am

In reply to @kenc "Because of similar complications, which led to abscess I had my stump removed, but not without..." + (show)

I am sorry there were further complications. Isn't' that often the way with surgeries? My bowel surgeon is going to redo my stoma as soon as he feels I am healed enough. Will there be further complications? Who can ever tell? It's not that the doctors are not completely competent...it's that the human body is so complicated and unpredictable sometimes.

I hope all is well now.

piki | @piki | Sep 23 2:47pm

It's now the end of September and my problem of mucus has not been solved. The enemas no longer seem to make any difference to the mucus stuck above the higher sphincter. I have an appointment to see my bowel surgeon next week and see what to do next. I am going to suggest a proctectomy or proctocolectomy although I have no enthusiasm for either of these. I also now live with a Foley catheter and a prolapsed bladder ... don't get old. It's not really any fun when your body begins to fall apart.

hardingv | @hardingv | Sep 24 4:04pm

In reply to @piki "It's now the end of September and my problem of mucus has not been solved. The..." + (show)

Ain't the truth!

piki | @piki | Sep 24 4:37pm

In reply to @hardingv "Ain't the truth!" + (show)

Forgot to add that I am tapering off Valium just to add to the mix. Had a breakdown when I had to get the Foley catheter and was put on too high a dose of Valium...a drug I basically knew nothing about. Now I know. I'd never take it again once I'm off it.

piki | @piki | Oct 3 8:00am

Reporting back about my mucus dilemma and yesterday’s meeting with the bowel surgeon. First of all, he said he would not consider performing the Protectomy/ Proctocolectomy surgery on some over 80…I’m 83…unless my life were at stake, as in cancer, etc.
So, I am now slated for a hospital procedure on October 24, a flexible sigmoidoscopy. Before the sedating part, he will locate the lower opening to my loop colostomy which he says must be under the flange…I’ll try to find it in the interim during my next change…and he’ll show me how I (or husband or maybe a home visiting nurse …I’ll ask…) will put a catheter down this opening to flush out the mucus.. And so the fun goes on forever and yes I am being sarcastic to put it mildly.
The sedated part will follow during which…I assume….he’ll remove the current plug. And then life goes on.
· ·

piki | @piki | Oct 10 9:01am

Update: Could not locate the other lower stoma opening and trust me I really did a thorough search. I suspect it's as I already suggested to the surgeon and is under the skin. Don't like to think about possible action he'll take.

jer22 | @jer22 | Oct 11 7:51am

Very interesting. please keep us informed on your progress, and wishing you the best
jp

piki | @piki | Oct 12 10:36am

Woke up this morning and the mucus, which until today, hadn't really bothered me all THAT much although I knew that it was getting worse day by day, and had resisted all attempts to dislodge it with enemas, finally I hit paydirt and out it came. I took a photo for posterity. Big and ugly! Hard to believe but the best news for me. This may just cancel out that procedure...there will be nothing for the surgeon to see or remove. What next I wonder. I could really use some good news.

kenc | @kenc | Oct 12 4:30pm

In reply to @piki "Woke up this morning and the mucus, which until today, hadn't really bothered me all THAT..." + (show)

I was told they usually do not remove the entire rectum, such as my surgery, which my rectum was removed, but the I continue to have the mucus issue, but now it is difficult to remove.