Hello All
Well, I had my colostomy reversed 2+ weeks ago after partial colon resection with colostomy due to ruptured Diverticulitis on Easter Sunday. The first 2-3 days went well with expected pain. That’s when the wheels started to fall off. I developed an Ileus (gi tract not moving causing fluid build-up). My Dr and I discussed not using an NG tube unless necessary (bad choice on my part). By day 3-4 pain was unbearable and I could not sit up, or roll from side to side. It was required to place an NG tube and I puked the entire process. I filled three 2 liter containers within 10 minutes. I was NPO for 11 days and in ICU for 6 days. I was delusional for 3-4 days (due to sepsis and lactic acid build-up) and would not identify myself because I thought I was in a secretive ICU that you had to “picked” by Dr to be in. I am a physician at that hospital and the part of the ICU that I was in was brand new and I had never been in there before. It took me 8 days to have 1st BM. Then I would have 2-3 a day, until the 9 th night when I woke up having an uncontrollable Bm. Luckily my nursing staff collected a sample and sent it to the lab for C diff. I turned out to
be positive for C diff. My Surgeon says that he sees quite a bit of C diff with multiple abdominal surgery patients. I have been home for 3 days now.
My best advice for anyone who is thinking of reversal or any abdominal surgery is
#1- get up and walk frequently post-op, even if it’s short, do it as many times a day as possible
#2- we are all going to have a lot of BMs but if you are having cramping with diarrhea consider being tested for C diff.
#3- I did not post this to be negative about this process, but to point out that complications arise and can be dealt with. This is a major surgery!
Many thanks to all who have posted before me, I have learned a lot from you all!