Hello,
I had my reversal ten months after emergency colostomy due to bowel perforation caused by blockage.
The reversal was May 2016 and I have just now gotten my wound closed because I contracted a MRSA infection at the site.
It took a long time to get diagnosed and I even had an incisional hernia repaired in the meantime.
Pay attention to weight limits! Try not to lift any more than 5lbs for at least 2 months no matter what they say. Yes, it is very difficult to maintain but try your hardest.
They release you after 6 weeks but I felt nowhere near healed at 6 weeks. I'm retired and I was so glad I didn't have to go back to a job earlier than felt like.
In emergency surgery we had all our intestines and organs shifted around and manhandled so reversal is easier in that respect.
I had complete kidney failure and died a couple times during my first surgery. I was scheduled to have robotics perform my takedown but because of scar tissue and excess bleeding I had another full surgery.
I knew I had to produce a bowel movement before I could go home and that scared me a lot. It also scared me that I had to get up and walk to the bathroom when it came. I was not getting up and down well at all.
I was in the hospital for only 5 days and at home I take care of my mom so I knew it wouldn't be easy.
My support system felt I should be up and running when I wasn't. Instead of begging for help, I told mom she's going to have to do for herself because I just didn't have it in me.
With the other issues I had, I feel like I'm just now challenging myself into regular activities. I've been symptom-free for only 2 weeks.
I was diagnosed as an MRSA carrier in my pre-op visit. I didn't know what that meant and I didn't get any answers when I asked about it. I should have had at least one run of antibiotics prior to surgery. I could very well have infected myself not knowing what I was dealing with.
In an effort to protect my mom, I learned that we couldn't share the same bathroom and I had to keep our clothes separate and of course not share towels. I had to use antibacterial soap to bathe in and used diluted bleach on the opened wound.
I couldn't find an antibacterial shampoo so I added eucalyptus and tea tree oil to my own. I found out how hard it is to keep sterile in a home environment. Knowing I'd had the infection for months and it was late to be trying.
Back to reversal. You have to learn the new you. I used to have a b.m. every 3-4 days so when I didn't go for 5-6 days I didn't even notice. I now take stool softeners twice a day and Miralax once a day.
I'm often so loose that I don't notice I've had an accident! I really noticed that my "go" sensation down there was at a different spot and I can't explain that any better, sorry.
I think my organs are pretty much back in place now so I know more than what and where I feel in my abdomen is real now. It's been ten months again.
I'm dragging this out, I'm sorry. I'm trying to remember any important stuff but maybe that says a lot, I'm having trouble remembering!
Good Luck! It was worth it! I'm glad to be alive!
Charlotte