Ileostomy and bowel movements

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JMC

JMC

Joined
Sep 10, 2011
Messages
693
Three weeks after having surgery which left me with an ileostomy, I was rather surprised today when I produced a surprisingly large and firm bowel movement. This was surprising because: 1) my body had not produced anything that firm and well formed in the last 30 years! 2) my colon is not connected to anything.

Is this a one off clearing out what was in my colon before the surgery, or can this happen again?
 
It was at about the 3-week mark that I my output became firm. The ET nurse had explained that at some point, your small bowel starts to mimic some of the work that used to be done by the large bowel. And that 'firm' is better than loose.

Most likely, it will happen again. So long as the 'well-formed' wasn't something that wasn't chewed down well enough, although in that case, I'm guessing you would have been able to identify it as something you ate.

Welcome to stoma-land, JMC!

Kismet
 
I'm jealous!!!! I've got a colostomy and mine are never firm!

I'm wondering what your diet has been by the way to produce that? Inquiring minds...........and stomas. Stan perked right up.
 
To be clear, this did not come out of my stoma, it came out of my rectum which currently is not connected to my small intestine, hence my surprise! My stoma produces fairly loose output at the moment, but it is very dependent on what I eat.
 
Ah...Yes, that is perfectly normal. It's a mucus poo. I have them every few days or so, and frankly I quite enjoy them! It will continue. Sometimes hard, but dont be surprised if increasingly they are just soft mucus. Watch for blood, you dont want that.

I enjoy them because then I feel almost 'normal' for a minute. Makes me happy to know the back passage is working!
 
This is a reason why I'm glad I have everything taken out and sewn up. I still have dreams where I have my bag AND pass stool or wind and it feels so lifelike. Probably just because it's a normal body function that I've done for 27 years and no longer do. I'm not surprised that you were surprised!
 
Michelle, I was surprised the first time. I was still in hospital. I'd done my usual walk downstairs in the cold morning air = had a fag. Anyway, I had the 'urge' I couldnt understand, but I had to run to the loo.

I passed a stool. I bombed up to the ward to the nurses desk, my eyes as wide as saucers! I said, please tell me I'm not the lucky idiot of one outta a million that has to go through TWO holes???? They were in stitches with laughter. They 'forgot' to mention I'd have occasional mucus stools, etc thru me bum. Hha hhaaa...I was NOT amused they forgot to mention this!

So no, you arent alone in NOT being told!
 
How can they forget to tell you?!?!?! I had some air come out of my wound when I got home which freaked me out. I can still use my muscles to pretend to push one out lol.
 
Hi JMC, i had a similar experience 7 days after emergency surgery and was told that this was retained stool from before the surgery (there was no time to clear my bowel b4 it was defunctioned and an illiostomy formed) and that I could experience this over about a 4 week period. :eek:
Hasn't happened since although have had a little wind escape from down there!!::stinks:
anyway hope that helps xx
 
I spoke to my surgeon, it was just residual material left in my colon after the surgery, so probably won't happen again. Was a good dump though! haha
 
I'm a 3 time a weeker. Got to keep those muscles strong peoples!

Big Truck, you are one of kind! Hows the magnesium?
 
Thats impressive! How on earth??? What do the Drs say? How is it getting from there to there? Or are you like me and have nice little mucus poo's that are properly formed. (I say, it's almost like a normal person without crohns, and they plop and everything!!) That is normal. Although I cant say I've farted. If I could fart that way, I assure you, I've got years of revenge to catch up on with my partner, and I'd like to get started right away. :D
 
My colostomy is a loop so some stuff is passing the right way! I can actually feel the stoma working sometimes but then feel it going down rather than out!
 
Take it with a grain of salt Big Truck. I had one tell me I'd 'NEVER' be reversed. Now they are speaking of scheduling it. So, you never know. Keep the faith, and keep getting better every day. :heart:
 
They'll need to do something can't stay like this or I'll be ready for the rope. Are they going to connect ur transverse colon up to the rectum?
 
I've only ever had the sigmoid out, so I'm pretty much with most of my bowel. So, not too bad. However, my crohns is all in the colon (so far) so it can be a bit of a risk.
 
True but at least if there is a magic cure in the future you still have your bits! I'm on methylcellulose now to Try and slow things up! Had another beautiful bm this morning and it's a hell of a lot better looking than what was in the bag lol! Fuck it I wonder should I start smoking wacky baccy to see if it would chill out my insides.
 
Bowel movement number two (4 weeks post op) today. Not quite as voluminous as the first one, but still looks like something more substantial than just mucus.

The interesting thing is that my bowel movement urgency is now measured in days, rather than the few minutes warning I had before surgery! I started to get a slightly "full" feeling down there about two days ago, broke wind, once, yesterday and at the second attempt this morning produced!
 
I agree with the urgency thing you can put it off till its convenient must be what normal is like. !!!?
 

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