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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 | Oct 12 4:58pm
In reply to @kenc "I was told they usually do not remove the entire rectum, such as my surgery, which..." + (show)
@kenc

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.

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So. how do you cope with it? Talk about a pain in the a**.

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1 reply
kenc | @kenc | Oct 12 8:02pm
In reply to @piki "So. how do you cope with it? Talk about a pain in the a**." + (show)
@piki

So. how do you cope with it? Talk about a pain in the a**.

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I take oxycodone and if that does not reduce the pain, I go to the ER.

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piki | @piki | Oct 18 8:41am

Remember, I have a loop colostomy, so there are two openings to it, the one I poop out of every day....and the other which just is there...except that it isn't visible right now.

So much for getting rid of the mucus. Yes, I did get a large piece out using a Fleet enema, but it's right back again, and it's now hanging down into the rectum area of the large bowel and of course I can't actually dislodge it at all. I am really distressed about this. Next Thursday, I'm in the hospital while the surgeon tries to find the lower stoma which is not under the flange, as he suggested, but under the skin. Not looking forward to the procedures at all. And the flex sig which will mean anaesthetic - fine - but that's supposed to be AFTER he locates the second stoma and shows me how to put an enema into it.

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pez01 | @pez01 | Oct 19 7:35am

I am so sorry that you are going through such a rough time My prayers are with you

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piki | @piki | Oct 19 10:20am
In reply to @pez01 "I am so sorry that you are going through such a rough time My prayers are..." + (show)
@pez01

I am so sorry that you are going through such a rough time My prayers are with you

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Thanks so much.

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piki | @piki | Oct 19 10:26am

Just realized that its been 24 days since that enema I wrote about and so did one this morning and lo! and behold it worked...and I was quite taken aback by the resultant piece of mucus...once again photographed for posterity . Maybe I can actually cancel that hospital trip this coming Thursday. Any thoughts on it? I already have more than enough on my medical plate. Never rains but what it pours.

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piki | @piki | Oct 29 7:21pm
In reply to @piki "Just realized that its been 24 days since that enema I wrote about and so did..." + (show)
@piki

Just realized that its been 24 days since that enema I wrote about and so did one this morning and lo! and behold it worked...and I was quite taken aback by the resultant piece of mucus...once again photographed for posterity . Maybe I can actually cancel that hospital trip this coming Thursday. Any thoughts on it? I already have more than enough on my medical plate. Never rains but what it pours.

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I did cancel the hospital appointment and today, a mere ten days after the last enema, I was pressured to do another and was staggered by the amount which came out. Sorry...this may simply be tmi.
How om earth to stem this horrible and endless problem. I've yet to find any useful answers.

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kenc | @kenc | Oct 30 7:10am

I have had my rectum removed and now having extreme discomfort and pain. Almost like wanting to have a constant bowl movement. The doctor said it was from mucus collecting on a piece of muscle that remained after the surgery. The space where the rectum use to be is sealed shut. Any advice on how to remove mucus.

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piki | @piki | Oct 30 9:09am

If I understand correctly...you now have no outlet on your rear end and you have an ostomy stoma higher up which is quite separate from the problem area. And you still have some lower colon which is producing mucus but has no outlet . So there is no way to use an enema on this situation to clear out the mucus. And I take it that the doctor is unwilling to give you any help. I wish I could it's hard to believe but it ain't.

Except for offering you my best wishes, which does nothing to solve your problem, I don't have any useful ideas. If you are in the USA you could have access to another doctor. Or you could go to the Emerg and they might help you. I'm so sorry, kenc

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