UOAA Discussion Board

I have had a loop ileostomy for over 10 years due to Crohn's. About a month ago I started feeling like I had to poop and when I strained murky water squirted out (excuse the graphic wording). Basically looks like water that has had a few drops of milk in it. I have had an MRE and they couldn't find a fistula. Getting a colonoscopy next week to see what is going on.

Has anyone ever experience high output watery substances coming out of their rectum? Like it is seriously a lot of water and often throughout the day. Thanks for your help.

Common issue. Unfortunately, I don't have much time now but am sure others will add info. It's a condition called diversion colitis and pretty "normal" for many ostomates who retain their anorectal canals. Because your fecal stream is diverted and doesn't go out your anorectal canal any more, that area is now missing helpful short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) found in stool. Some use a method of lavage or washing the area out by various means. Others try Canasa supporitories or Rowasa enemas to ease the inflammation. These didn't work for me. May sound extreme, but I finally had my anus and rectum removed in 2018. I became crampy when the brownish mucous had to come out and didn't have much control over those muscles. Some with cancer have these areas removed when the ostomy is formed. Do a search for diversion colitis on this board and you should find info. I found much relief with these removed.

Ask your surgeon to scope the area to assess how much inflammation you have. Good luck and I hope others add to my post. More surgery tomorrow.