Rectal bleeding

[HoustonBrit]

I had an ileostomy 6 yrs ago.
Off and on over the years I get rectal mucus and rectal bleeding. Just recently I'm having more bright red blood from the rectum.
I am on Xarelto which might be much of the problem but am still concerned as to what is rupturing to cause the bleeding.
Any ideas?

[cdogtom]

could be a infection,i would see a doctor

[steiconi]

It might be disuse proctitis, inflammation of the rectum that occurs in ostomy patients.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic say about proctitis:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20376933

[Diane C]

Ostomates get rectal bleeding and mucous often caused by diversion colitis. Stool contains beneficial short-chain fatty acids or SCFAs. Without those beneficial acids which are diverted to the pouch, the rectal and anal canal can become inflamed, leak a brown, smelly liquid, and bleed. If you search this forum for diversion colitis (the name of this condition), you'll find some answers. It's supposedly "natural" but I had terrible cramping and the build-up of mucous became challenging to live with. I used a rectal tube to extract the blood and mucous. Others have found ways to wash the anorectal canal in the shower -- search rectal lavage as well. After years of this, I had my rectum and anus removed. My surgery went pretty well and I had this rather drastic surgery at a time when my colostomy was being closed and I was getting an ileostomy anyway. Talk to your surgeon about it or perhaps your GI doctor. There are intermediary steps like taking Canasa suppositories or Rowesa enemas but I didn't find they helped. More recently, some doctors suggest fecal transplantation (google that) but it's very messy and our stool may not be the most healthy to put back into our rectal areas. Most surgeons now are aware of this. I am irked that they don't tell prospective ostomates of this outcome and primarily only those with cancer have their anorectal canals removed. I'm glad I did back in 2018 and others can pipe up about some complications and the need for drains.

Good luck to you!

Diane C.

[Golden_Road]

I also struggled with rectal bleeding after my ileostomy surgery in 2018 due to UC. After my ileostomy surgery, I found out I had extremely low vitamin D levels, test results at the time came back at 14 ng/mL. My rectal bleeding stopped when my vitamin D levels got to about 40 ng/mL.

Currently, I use Superior Source vitamin D under the tongue and SPERTI lamp every other day to increase my vitamin D levels. I monitor my vitamin D levels myself through Labcorp PIXEL. Yes, I go to Labcorp and have blood drawn for this test. Since monitoring vitamin D levels myself, I have noticed my time in the summer sun does make a difference for the better.

Cheers!

[theRabbit]

I had a little for a week or so once and it stopped on its own. According to the Dr. it was probably a flare of UC since it was still in my rectum even though I had had my colon removed.