Bowel movement with an ostomy?

[Ninjay503]

So I have heard of passing mucus but that is the only thing I have seem about a bowel movement with an ostomy. I am 27 days post op with an ileostomy, and I had a bowel today. Not some discharge. I mean an actual stool. It looked like a normal poo. Has anyone experienced this? Was it just in there before the surgery? Should I be worried?

[JackieRose]

I would be worried if I were you.

Do you have an intact anus? What was the site of your bowel movement, stoma or rectum? We need to know more.

[Bob Webtech]

Hi Ninjay,

Is your ileostomy a "loop" ostomy which is intended to be temporary? Loop ostomies (i.e., loop ileostomies and loop colostomies) sometimes allow some communication through them, i.e., they don't always completely bypass the downstream parts of intestine. For example, see a previous thread at viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24745

So, if you have a loop ileostomy, you should notify your doctor, but it may not be a serious cause of concern.

[JackieRose]

It is possible for a surgeon, through error or arrogance or factors unknown, to make a loop ostomy permanent. In such a case, it is better for the patient to know the truth than to spend an entire life as I have in painful ignorance.

[Ninjay503]

It is a loop ileostomy. It is supposed to be temporary. I have felt the urge to go and that was the only time something substantial came out.

[JackieRose]

The only thing I can tell you that might be at all useful concerns the size opening for your stoma. For a loop ostomy you probably have to cut the opening for your stoma larger than it appears. I have found that the stoma-adhesive by Convetec allows a large opening to shrink back to the exact size of the stoma. Good luck to you.
JackieRose