I have an ileostomy. I had a J-Pouch for 38 years. I had emergency surgery in May of 2023. I am interested in finding ostomates who have had successful reversals connecting their small intestine to their rectum. The pros and cons of this surgery.
Twisted Sister
Jan 13, 2024 6:26 pm
w30bob
Jan 14, 2024 3:27 am
Hi Twist,
I had the option of reconnecting my small bowel to the 1/3 of my colon that's left... and I said hell no. I spent most of my young adult life figuring out where bathrooms were wherever I went, and it wasn't fun. I would never want my life to revolve around bathrooms ever again, although the large chain department stores do have the nicest bathrooms! If you have a terminal ileum, ileocecal valve, and your sphincter is intact... err... uhhh... maybe? If any of those is missing... think long and hard about what you're contemplating. And note that your sphincter isn't water-tight, as it's designed to hold back solid waste, not what comes out of your small bowel, and your anus isn't going to like any continued wetness. You'll end up filling your underwear with baby powder... and it still won't work. But I'm not you and your situation, so hopefully others on here can give you some better, more specific info, who've done what you're thinking about.
;O)
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Posted by: iMacG5
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
IGGIE
Jan 15, 2024 3:35 pm
If you had a J-Pouch for 38 years, then you had your small intestine fitted to your butt through the J-Pouch, so you should already know. Regards, IGGIE
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