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So I had a loop ileostomy and j pouch created on the 27th of Jan, a few days after this I started having anal discharge, as of now exactly 3 weeks on it is semi controllable but I feel like I have to clench nearly constantly or it isn't and it leaks at night. Only twice has it really been bloody the rest it is either clear or sort of yellowy and thicker? My issue here is I'm also getting the feeling of pressure like a bm and every time I go a small amount of this discharge comes out, this isn't a once or twice a day thing more like 5-8 and it seems to wake me up 2-3 times at least every night since coming home from the surgery. So is this normal? I had no issues with my end ileostomy and I know the loop is meant to be more difficult but haven't seen anyone mention about getting rid of mucous discharge this frequently. I'm wondering if it could be pus and maybe I have an infection or leak in the j pouch but I don't have a fever or anything. At this stage I have no idea if it could be pouchitis or cufitis, a stricture?? Or maybe I'm overreacting and having phantom bm type issues? I really have no clue, on a side note I'm much better sat down and notice things a lot more when standing up/walking. I will be contacting my gastro doctor soon but wanted to see if anyone could shed some light on my issue before this.

 

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Hello, VESP. 

When I had my ileostomy (loop), I had some discharge. A few times I even had solid BM as if I still had my colon. I told my surgeon and I don't think he believed me. I wasn't too worried about it since the nurse told me some discharge was just old blood and mucus from the big surgery being expelled, and I was getting nearer to takedown so i was okay with it. I think with the loop ileostomy some food can bypass the exit to the ostomy bag and food will go down into your anal area and be pushed out just like a BM. If you google for a side view of a loop ileostomy, you will see one part of your small intestine leads out of your body ending in your stoma and into your ostomy bag, and the other end leading down and out of your body through your anus. I knew this was my case because I could see things I had eaten, such as spinach, coming out like a solid BM even while I was seeing waste filling my ostomy bag as expected. I also worried it was a leak. But I had no fever or pain. I was just expelling from every opening!  When you notice it more from standing or walking around, that is usually what happens when you are active. Remember this is what nurses and doctors will tell you over and over after bowel surgery:  get up and walk, walk, walk so that your bowels wake up and start working. I hope you get reassurance from your surgeon, especially if you are experiencing this many times a day and leaking at night. It's good you do not have signs of fever or infection. Each day you are getting closer to takedown and your new life with a j pouch. 

thanks for the reply and things actually seem a bit better the last day or so, I think it was partially phantom bm feelings down there, my body was probably used to movement down there meaning I need to go, as with my UC it was always urgent. Been trying to stay calm and unlike with UC the feeling of actually needing the loo seems to pass. I managed to do small walks with out the urge to go after as well and actually slept through the night for the first time since surgery, though I did take a tramadol before bed as the walking seems to of made my stoma site tender (I think it's just where some of the stitches are starting to come out/lose, I remember similar feelings after stage 1) so not sure if the tramadol helped me sleep, either way feeling more positive and as you say getting closer and closer to takedown  

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