hey little one....
well i cant tell you if its normal or not for YOU as my situation is a bit different, but i have a little bit of info on it
i have a temp ileostomy done in april and i still spend quite a bit of time sitting on the toilet to pass mucous (from the bum lol)
in talking with my doc about it, he told me that it is normal in my case, even though most others with stomas only have mucous pass on occasion.
i *think* that the following is correct, but dont take my word for it lol
your intestines make mucous for 2 reasons:
1) it is a normal part of digestion and helps all the food/poo pass through the intestines. even normal people's intestines secrete mucous for this purpose
2 BUT excess mucous is secreted when your intestines are sick. the mucous is your bodys way of trying to heal and fix up sick parts of your insides. this is a major point in the "breaking the vicious cycle" book. the vicious cycle is that your intestines secrete mucous to try and heal, but in doing so it inhibits digestion and absorbrtion of nutrients because the mucous acts as a barrier between the passing matter and the intestinal wall (through which nutrients are absorbed through).
SO mucous is a normal part of every person on earth, but in sick intestines (hello crohnies) there is an excess amount as its our bodys way of trying to help itself. but in the process, can inhibit digestion (hah i know that wasnt really part of this thread here, but it came out in my explanation lol!).
its like when you have a cold and your nose gets all snotty? LOL same thing, your nose is just fighting against the germies in there and trying to heal itself.
good way to think of the same function in your intestines...
the reason that i have a lot of mucous coming out still is that my colon is still really inflamed and sick in there, even though it doesnt have waste passing through anymore. and also now i NOTICE the mucouc more cause there isnt poo coming out with it you know?
ok hope that all makes sense. like i said, im not sure if passing that much mucous is normal for YOUR body, but my guess is yes.
i would def make note of it to your doc though ok? even if its not a *problem*, he needs to know that youre having this symptom.....
edit: just wiki-ed this and found out that the mucous goes out and traps pathogens.....like it sucks them up and suspends them in the gooeyness! then they cant do anymore damage that way. who knew??
since in crohns, your body *thinks* (or ther are unknown) invaders in your intestines....the mucous is trying to serve the same puporse. it wants to suck up all the little germies so you can poo em out!
