Hi Liza.  I have a retired (disconnected) jpouch with a rectal cuff and an ileostomy and I do still get mucus discharge.  Probably about 1-2 tablespoons every few days.  I usually can feel a slight cramp and head to the bathroom, but I always wear a pad and tuck in a folded up paper towel just in case (which is sometimes needed if I don't get there in time).  I think it's totally normal as those cells (for me, from both the small intestine that was used to make the jpouch and the small bit of rectal cuff) still have to naturally shed/regenerate to stay healthy.  If I ever have to wait with a pad/tuck with discharge before I can go to the bathroom, it can sometimes cause a rash and then I use a great product called Boutreaux Butt Paste which is loaded with zinc and clears things up really quickly.  Good luck!

I'm 6 years post surgery, and yes it's normal.  I only have a 2cm rectal stump, and it amazes me how much mucus that little bit of rectum left pumps out. It's not too bad during the day when I'm active, but at night I find I have to sleep with a washcloth in my bum crack to soak it up, or I'll be dripping all over my sheets!

Of course because mucus is so slippery, no amount of pelvic floor exercises are going to prevent it from flowing.

On the plus side, It's a good indication to me that I'm properly hydrated :-) 

I only had my rectum after my ileostomy surgery for a few months before it was removed and I also had rectal stump mucus "with urgency". It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but totally normal as the others have pointed out. 

im nearly 5 years post surgery and i still get lots of discharge from my stump , probable not for much longer as im seeing a colorectal surgeon this Friday with the view of having it removed sooner rather than later

Thank you all for your responses. I was getting worried because it is so frequent, but it sounds like it is normal, so I will just mention it at my next dr appt, rather than scheduling a special appt to ask about it. You guys are the best!!

I was really bothered by excess mucus in my rectum before my colostomy, but things are much better now!  Every couple of weeks I feel the urge to "go" on the toilet; I end up expelling a big ball of mostly-dried-up mucus.  It feels so good to have dry panties!

Hi all

I’m going to pose the opposite question!

I also have a rectal stump - about 6 inches - but I don’t have any mucous discharge at all. I had my ileostomy following removal of my colon December 2019 and I remember having a small amount of discharge about three months afterwards but nothing at all since. I do occasionally feel as though I need to go to the toilet in the old way but the feeling passes and nothing happens. Is this also ‘normal’ and something other people experience? I suppose if not, then I’m going to be concerned that maybe this may cause me some problems in the future! So I’d be really interested to hear others’ experiences. Many thanks.

Hi Rose, I can relate to both sides of the conversation. I still have my stump 27 years after surgery. I do have it tested so check all’s ok. I can get some mucus and then nothing for months. This has always been the case for me! But if you’re concerned I would ask a medical opinion. 

Posted by: @lynne

it can sometimes cause a rash and then I use a great product called Boutreaux Butt Paste which is loaded with zinc and clears things up really quickly.

The mucus discharge is an ongoing problem for me too.  I will get cramping and urgency but due to nerve damage am usually unable to expel it without an enema and it can build up to become a thicker plug like thing.  When it does leak out I was surprised at how irritating it is to my skin and I can get a rash too. So I always need to keep some kind of protection ointment like A & D.  Thanks for the Butt Paste tip!

It’s a long time since I’ve posted here, but after looking up my last post it seems my concerns at that time have come to pass!

For the last four months or so I’ve been experiencing urgent need to go to the toilet but am unable to pass anything. Despite straining to do so. Occasionally I can feel/see a very small amount of mucus - just traces really - but it feels as if I’m really constipated. So, I saw my colorectal surgeon (fortunately the same chap who did my ileostomy 4 years ago). The situation is that there’s clearly an amount of mucus accumulated that needs to be expelled, but my back passage has closed up to such a very small diameter from lack of use that the mucus can’t get through. My surgeon has given me an anal dilator to try and expand the passage and also glycerine suppositories. He wants to try the least invasive interventions first. The trouble is I’m having real difficulty in using the dilator and the suppositories because the passage is so small, and the whole process is becoming really painful.

I will get back to my surgeon about this but in the meantime was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem? If so I’d very much appreciate any comments.

Many thanks.

@rosepritchard I don't have that problem for only one reason, and talk to your doctor about doing it: We have all used a bidet on our toilets for decades here on the farm. so when I got  my ostomy, it was a no brainer that  I would use it to clean out my drainable bag, and also to irrigate my rectal stump to rinse out the impacted mucous. I give it a rinse every couple of days after emptying my bag and have had no issues!