I have hunted online for months on medical doctor web sites and the stats for reversals don't look that good. They state the big concerns are if you have another condition that might add more risk to surgery. (heart disease, diabetes, pulminary problems)
if you are obese
if you are over 55
If you can be considered for the reversal, sucess is not garenteed. You may deverlope problematic scar tissue, there is the risk the surgeon may nick something nearby, you may have colon or anal leakage, or wake up with an ileostomy that may be more difficult to manage than your previous colostomy. Of the total patients in one study I read said of the actual reversals sucessfully done. After 6 1/2 year follow up. 44% were dead, they did not say why, of the living they all reported a better quality of life after reversal, compared to the patients that refused to try the reversal that reported a lessor quality of life with colostomy.
My surgeon is discouraging a reversal attempt and feels like if we can manage our colostomy, they chances of having anal leakage and needing diapers is very high, and they are more visably noticible and smell more than bags.
I know this post is not encouraging but this is what I have found so far. Please ask your doctors to tell you the down side of surgery to make and informed discission.
Also if you do have a reversal, studies show the Drs. perfer the scope because they can do it quicker and you can leave the hospital sooner. However, they do often report more oops, during surg. because they can not see the surrounding area that is visible in an open surgery. Like if you need more staples for leakage in an area, nicks are easier to miss. And in my case in an open surgery they can check surrounding areas for other problems, like the tumor on my overy that would have gone undetected.
Hope this helps alittle, and I am still searching for second Dr. opinions for honest answers, keep you posted
if you are obese
if you are over 55
If you can be considered for the reversal, sucess is not garenteed. You may deverlope problematic scar tissue, there is the risk the surgeon may nick something nearby, you may have colon or anal leakage, or wake up with an ileostomy that may be more difficult to manage than your previous colostomy. Of the total patients in one study I read said of the actual reversals sucessfully done. After 6 1/2 year follow up. 44% were dead, they did not say why, of the living they all reported a better quality of life after reversal, compared to the patients that refused to try the reversal that reported a lessor quality of life with colostomy.
My surgeon is discouraging a reversal attempt and feels like if we can manage our colostomy, they chances of having anal leakage and needing diapers is very high, and they are more visably noticible and smell more than bags.
I know this post is not encouraging but this is what I have found so far. Please ask your doctors to tell you the down side of surgery to make and informed discission.
Also if you do have a reversal, studies show the Drs. perfer the scope because they can do it quicker and you can leave the hospital sooner. However, they do often report more oops, during surg. because they can not see the surrounding area that is visible in an open surgery. Like if you need more staples for leakage in an area, nicks are easier to miss. And in my case in an open surgery they can check surrounding areas for other problems, like the tumor on my overy that would have gone undetected.
Hope this helps alittle, and I am still searching for second Dr. opinions for honest answers, keep you posted
