I had my colectomy/J-Pouch surgery on 2/19/2007. My reversal is scheduled in late April. Since my initial surgery, I have experienced rectal drainage. Initially it was brown and appeared and smelled like GI blood. Now the consistency is more like mucous. Fairly heavy drainage occurs about every other day, usually at night. I've started wearing adult diapers to prevent the mess. Is this normal? My surgeon who is very experienced doesn't seem to be too concerned

I also had that. I'm pretty sure that this is completely normal. In fact my surgeon told me that this means that the pouch is healthy. Do a find on this and I think you'll see more on the subject.

Yep, normal. I started to try to learn to empty every time I emptied the bag. You're there anyway. Flex the muscles and give it a push. The lower part of the intestine and pouch still create mucus. Some other stuff gets past. Learn to empty it now and it will help you later. If you can empty it before bed, you have less chance of leaking at night.

Terry

Thanks! Your responses are reassuring.

Some people, including my surgeon, told me to practice holding this mucus in. They said this would give me some practice for the "real thing" after I was reconnected. Well, that mucus is super slippery and no way could I hold it in if it wanted to come out! I was so discouraged, thinking this was going to be my future after the takedown. NOT!!!! There was absolutely no comparison with how well those sphincters (or sphincter) worked after I was put back together and had to deal with the "real deal". Thank God!

I had that too, but no leaks, fortunately. I used the "stuff" to practice clenching my muscles so I'd be able to hold back poop when I got my TD. I never had a leak before TD and never after it either. My doc also recommended I use this mucous to practice continence. Good luck!

That's normal. I had drainage at night quite often and used bed pads. I could hold it during the day and just used the toilet.

Even had a few small staples from the surgery come out too!!!

Just keep flexing to try and keep it in, considerate practice for the real thing. It is just mucus like TerryH said. I even got to a point that I felt that I had to go poop, and after I would empty my bag, would sit on the toilet and go because I was able to hold it in, and it was just thick mucus. Make sure you do your Kagel (spelling) exercises.

hi i was like chris felt i need to go to the toilet and would empty this out then after sorting or empting the bag i found i could control it most of the time and yes i can hold my own now its been reversed im pleased to say except harder to do after a curry i must say lol