Scheduled for Ileostomy Reversal This Friday

I am scheduled for my ileostomy reversal on Friday.

Had surgery on June 10th due to diverticulitis with an abscess. Spent 6 months prior to that on antibiotics, 8 weeks with a PICC line, 4 weeks with an abscess drain that finally resulted in surgery with 10" of my sigmoid colon and abscess removed and an ileostomy.

I appreciate having been able to get so much helpful information from this site. Thank you all. 

While I'm apprehensive about this surgery because of how good I feel right now, I am looking forward to life again without the bag. 

Because of the posts on this site, I feel a bit more prepared for what to expect after surgery.

Wishing you a successful surgery, and sending healing thoughts!

I am getting the reversal surgery in a few weeks. I understand the apprehension. I feel like same. Although I have successfully managed the situation, I am looking forward to life without the bag. Good luck and keep us posted. I’ll do the same. 😊

Wishing you good luck.  

Wishing you good luck and a speedy recovery.

How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister

All the best. Speedy recovery. 

Good luck and get back after the operation and let us know the outcome. Regards, IGGIE

Hello.  I had reversal surgery on Jan 30 - colostomy, not ileostomy though.  Best of luck - you will do great! 

Surgery went fine on Friday. Came home today. Managing pain and hoping the bowels calm down soon.

So glad  that your surgery  went well. Thanks for the update.

Day 3 post surgery. Pain is a little less. Using oxycodone every 6 hours right now during the daytime hours. I have 6 staples holding my incision together that will come out next week. My daughter is working on putting a bidet on our toilet to help ease my behind pain. Hoping that helps while waiting for bowl functions to return to some kind of normal. I'll let you all know how it goes. 🥴

Day 5 post surgery

The pain is nearly gone from the incision site. Took a pain pill last night and slept pretty well. Only got up once during the night. (A blessing to not have to get up to empty the bag several times during the night.) 

The bidet my daughter installed has been great. Still have some "behind" pain, but not near what it was. The bidet was less than $40 on Amazon and I would highly recommend it. 

I try to walk down the street 2 - 3 times a day and do small chores around the house, but mostly lots of rest during the day. 

On a low fiber diet for now. Bowels are moving less frequently which helps minimize some of the pain. 

While my journey has been comparatively short, it has been helped immensely by the people in this group and I thank all of you. I just hope that some of my reports might be helpful to someone on a similar journey. 

Thanks for sharing.  I am sure it will help others.

Please keep posting on how you're feeling

I will try to keep posting for a while.

Day 8 post-surgery

Had a couple of soft-formed bowel movements the last couple of days, but today is back to small amounts of output.

Still some pain with bowel movements, but not as bad as the previous few days. Saw a suggestion for Calmoseptine ointment in another post and that has been helpful along with Preparation H wipes. The bidet has also helped with not having to wipe so much.

I am so appreciative of all the helpful posts on this site. It has been invaluable to have a source that is reliable with so many people that share their journeys.

I go in next week to have the reversal. I've heard some post op horror stories. I hope mine goes as well as you.

Cheers

Rowsj2, I hope you have a good experience. Prayers for you. 

My biggest issue has been the "butt pain".

I just wish I would have had Desitin available to use right away after surgery to help prevent some of that pain. It's getting better each day, but overall it has been a fairly good experience. 

I had the staples removed 2 days ago and my surgeon released me and said the only restriction I have is to not lift more than 10 lbs. for the next 6 weeks.

2 weeks post reversal

This morning I can say that there is no pain during a bowel movement. I expect there will be some as the day goes on, but I'm very encouraged that things are going in the right direction. Still using Desitin max after every bowel movement. 

The incision still weeps a little and I have some pain when coughing or sneezing, but that is getting better also. 

I don't have any regrets having the reversal done. Not only is there no bag changing, but I'm also able to sleep through the night again. 

I have been so encouraged by all of you.

Having gone through this, I have provided samples of what I was using to our school nurse who teaches a couple of medical courses at our high school so that she can use them in class. I have also offered to talk about my experience with our students to give them more insight into what ostomates deal with.

Blessings and well wishes to all of you on your journey!

So glad that you are doing so well. I think it's  great that you will be educating  others.