By far the most common question we get asked in Ostomyland is about the passing of mucous from the rectum after having a temporary colostomy formed. If only surgeons would warn patients of this happening before they leave hospital, it would save a lot of ostomates a lot of worry until they find out the information.
The rectum and bowels naturally produce a mucous to help "grease the wheels" so to speak. Although an ostomate may now have a stoma, if they still have their rectum in place then the rectum will not know that it no longer needs to produce this mucous. So, it continues to do so. Over time, this builds up and is passed out the rectum into the toilet, usually looking a lot like an off colour stool. Or if there is some old blood left behind from the operation, that can get mixed into the mucous and make it look totally like a stool. And this is what tends to freak people out and lead them to seek help online as they have a stoma and their bowel diverted but "Holy cow, ive passed a stool into the toilet! Hows that possible!".
Passing mucous from the rectum is perfectly normal. Here's some answers to the more common questions about the mucuous discharge...
It's impossible for me to say. Some people pass it weekly, some people pass it twice a year. It depends on the consistency.
Again, it depends on the person. It could be a liquid jelly (jello) consistency, or it could be very thick like putty which can be shaped into a stool shape by the bowels before being evacuated.
Normally, a thick mucous is a very light biege/snot-greeny colour. However, in the early days it can be much darker, and maybe even a dark brown if there is old blood mixed in with it from the operation. If it's ever red, or jet black, seek medical advice as soon as possible, as it means you are bleeding, or have been bleeding a lot. If you pass the muscous when it's liquidy then chances are it will be rather clear in colour.
If the mucous is passed whilst liquid then it wont smell much. However, if it is passed as a thick putty or stool like consistency then chances are it's going to stink to high heaven due to it having festered in the rectum up to it's evacuation into the toilet.
Firstly, if thats the case for you, dont panic. What will likely happen is you either have a bowel thats slow at producing mucous, or its so thick it's just staying putt in the bowel and doesnt need to be discharged yet. If you start to feel very full like you want to go to the toilet, but you cant then you might want to contact your GP or Stoma Nurse, or Surgeon and ask them about a possible enema. Sometimes some folks find they cannot pass the mucous normally into the toilet, and so they have to have a phosphate enema a couple times a year, or even annually or longer, to flush out the mucous and relieve the sensation of needing the toilet.
