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Fantom BM's after total colectomy?

Wed, December 03, 2008 8:06 PM

Has anyone had "fantom" bowel movements after a total colectomy? I had a colectomy on 5-8-08, then had the last bit of my colon removed on 10-17-08 when my JPouch surgery was done. I still have a diverted ileostomy until my JPouch heals, but hopefully that takedown surgery will happen before the end of January. Since my most recent surgery in October I have been having these strange "bowel movements." I feel the urge to go to the bathroom and will sit there for quite some time with all my muscles contracting like I'm having a BM, and nothing happens. Then a couple of minutes later I might have some mucus or water come out. I feel the urge a lot. My worry is that the mucosa lining that was left in my rectum is still diseased (UC) and is flaring. I'm just wondering though, if these feelings I'm having are what people talk about when they say they have fantom BM's. Any ideas?

Thank you!

cash75
Joined Jun 20, 2008

Wed, January 07, 2009 1:00 AM

Reply posted for Cash75.

What you are experiencing is perfectly normal. I had phantom BM's with no mucus and then started to release mucus. I contacted my surgeon and he said that it is perfectly normal for this to happen and not to worry. I recently had my radiology procedure to make sure the J-pouch was healing correctly and everything was fine. I am now ready for my take down surgery so I guess the whole phantom BM thing was normal.

gvillevols
Joined Sep 29, 2008

Fri, December 05, 2008 1:00 AM

Reply posted for Cash75.

Hi,

I think that what your talking about is totally normal. I know for myself and others always ask this on www.jpouch.org forum, but we usually have mucus that has to be purged from the anus after the colectomy. When I had my temp ileo I was having movements of mucos frequently 6-8 times a day. And this was good for me because then I didn't have to worry about doing Kegels to keep my muscles strong, I just had to use my anus normally to a certain extent.

Mark (www.ucstory.wordpress.com)

mdhilton
Joined Nov 1, 2008

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