Rectal Stump Removal Surgery

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing well! I know I've posted about this subject in months past, but now have the surgery to remove my rectal stump this monday and am starting to get a little anxious for everything. I’ve had an ostomy since 2009 after a bad flare of my Crohn’s. They left the rectal stump in with hopes of reconnecting one day, but unfortunately that’s not possible and in the last year that piece has gotten really diseased and hasn’t responded to any treatment. So I’m left having surgery on Monday for a completion of my proctectomy and make the stoma permanent. I was wondering if you guys could offer some insight into this surgery. How was the pain level? How many days were you in the hospital? How was the recovery process? I know my surgeon said he will have to do it laparotomy so I will have another large midline incision. Thank you!

Hi ccojei, I had my rectal stump removed in October last year. I found the pain not nearly as bad as I'd been informed. Pain meds and not over doing it was the best way to control it The Ken butt was very sore but got better with time. I was laying on alternate sides for about 4 weeks, moving every 4/5 hours. Awkward to eat and change / empty bag  but you'll find a way. Stay strong, feel free to reach out at any time. Take it easy...Simon

Hi CC i just want to wish you good luck with the surgery and find the softest pillow for sitting upright, dont use the donut type tho as they tend to spread the behind which you dont want to do.

My name is Paddy,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       I'm new to this ostomate forum but not new to my ostomy I had the surgury in 2010. I'm faceing the same thing. My gastro says the stump is to pecarious to continue sniping pollupes. I can almost hear the sigh of relief with each pollup he removes. I'm on blood thiners and the UC has gotten much, much worse. BTW I had a stroke In 2007 the same year I lost my wife to lung cancer. I meant to explain why i spell phonically. the stroke took away my spelling skills along with many other things. 

What my question is, is there a chance will I become impontent after the surgury. I am 72 but I have a normal sex drive and I don't want to lose that.  Well I guess that's it for now oh yea how do i make my font larger.

Because of the stroke my mind wanders Zender I'm sure I'll have more questions. 

  Hi Paddy, 
We're all different but my surgeon told me before the surgery that I would lose my ability to have sex and that's what happened. My cancer mass was at my anus and he said that I would have a permanent ostomy. 

Be sure to ask your surgeon what will happen. Obviously the choice of living or losing your ability to have sex, living took precedence over the other. But I get frustrated and feel broken.

Yes you will have to lay on your side for some time to help heal but when you start to sit up the only cushion that helped me was a air waffle cushion. Ask about getting one, they gave me one but they sell them on Amazon but they're $100.+/-    you guys let us know how it goes and what works for others  ...mtnman. 

I have had a stoma now since I was 27 and now early 40's they left a stump attached to my anus which it now seems to have the crohns in it not the actual removed bowel.

For years now my surgeon has been pushing me to have my anus removed and when I advised that I am gay and this is my sexual organ he was very unimpressed and quite rude

I then sort sexual psycological help in an attempt to try to become a top /active despite always being a btm / passive in a gay male relationship.

This did not change and further more due to the depression and mental health issues plus nerve damadge during surgery I am not able to always get an errection even with medication which make the use of my anus as a sex organ even more important as its the only form of sexual pleasure I would get.

I have read up that cancer survivers can have a procedure called Anterior Perineal Plane for ultra-low Anterior Resection which removes the rectum and replaced with some of their bowel and then reconnected removing the stoma.

Personally im not worried about reversal of the stoma and id keep it but the idea of having the rectum replaced to healthy bowel tissue which would allow me to have sex is a game changer for me. My only problem is this is seen as normal for cancer patients but not for crohns patients. I have also read up on human and equality rights as I am sure as a gay man I should not be assesed for this procedure as if I was a straight patient.

I just wish my Uk docotrs would see that not all men are the same and not all sexualities are the same, it also really worries me that as a single male with no working sexual organs im basically no use to anyone and destined to be on my own.

I totally understand your concerns and all I can say is make sure you get all the facts and look at all the options before making any decision