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Rectal Stump Mucus causes extreme pressure and discomfort (no pain)
(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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Hi @piki, I'm tagging fellow member @mahmudhasan @kenc @patriotspride @marco789 @rioa21 @katey122 and others to join this discussion. You may also appreciate this related discussion:
- Colostomy problem: Rectal discharge 18 months out
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/colostomy-problem/
It is tough when solutions are not easy to find. I hope you get answers at your second opinion. What do you do to get relief in the meantime?
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2 ReactionsI’ve had my colostomy since the end of October. I have read a lot about mucus discharges. Fortunately for me, I haven’t had to deal too much with it. I’ve had some discharge but not enough to have any pain or discomfort. I had enough of that before my treatment shrunk the cancer. Everyone is different.
Hello, @piki
It sounds to me as though you have some type of perianal disease? Mine began as perianal Crohn's, then progressed throughout my colon. I ended up having a proctocolectomy at Mayo Clinic in October, and I got my life back! I had a loop ileostomy for over year beforehand, and my biggest problem was uncontrolled mucous discharge. It made life difficult for me, as I had to consider some factors before I went anywhere. I read somewhere about a mucous plug forming in some people's rectums... is it possible that you're getting backed up?
I pray that you find the answers that you need!
Peace and love 🙂
Marc
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2 ReactionsJust found these replies but it's late night here and I have to shut down for the night. I'll reply tomorrow. Thanks ever so much for your replies.
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2 ReactionsThanks so much. I'll look at that discussion.
I flush out the daily mucus using warm water in a Fleet enema bottle. It doesn't remove the one which is solid and stuck up somewhere, but it does help.
Yes, a mucous plug is up there, above the higher sphincter which won't open. The daily discharge, while not something I am dealing with very well, is only part of the problem. I did not have Crohn's...my ostomy was the end result of a bad accident many years ago and I ended up with Paradoxical Anal Syndrome which means that when the sphincters should open, they close tightly instead. Not fun I can tell you. Thanks for your reply.
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1 ReactionI did read the post you put up for me. Thanks. I hope that some of the folks you tagged will have something to add to this discussion.
I have similar sensation, but I do not have rectum. The sensation you are experiencing maybe a result of surgery or scarring.
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1 ReactionI think somehow the mucus is irritating me and I'm still sure there's a solid piece stuck up above the second sphincter. But I'm not ruling anything out. Thanks for the idea. I'll certainly keep it in mind.
The new ostomy nurse talked to me on the phone and told me to use Fleet enemas, probably for an entire week, to try to break up the mucus plug. I tried one this morning, #1, and it did take out some formed mucus and some output also. First sign of output in my rectal stump so far. But it's still not all gone and that's for sure.
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