Having my colostomy reversal early next year. What should I expect? Is the surgery as intense as my first to get a colostomy? Will recovery be similar to my initial surgery? I know I'll have a procedure done beforehand to run a scope down my stoma to see the healing. Is that rough as well?
Sorry for the onslaught of questions, but I figured where better to ask.
I had mine last May and have a temporary ileostomy for the joint to heal, and my final reversal will be very soon. I am sorry to say it is a major operation; for me, it was much harder to heal than the original colostomy. The most difficult part was to close the colostomy hole, which goes through the outer skin, stomach muscles, abdominal cavity, and then the large intestine. There could be 3 layers of stitches on top of each other, which takes a long time to heal. You will feel a hard lump with occasional pain for at least 4 months. But don't get alarmed; eventually, you will be fine. It is best to have it done the way I have, in two stages, for the wounds and bowel joint to heal. Please see my profile to understand why all these happened to me.
Good luck, you will be fine as you are still young and strong.
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Well, I hit the two year mark. I went back and read my posts from when I first found this site. I was very fortunate in that I stumbled upon it only 4 weeks post op. I have said many times that this community really saved me. The first 2 weeks after my surgery I shut down completely. It wasn't until about the 3rd week that my son came in to my room, flicked on the light and told me I was going to have to get back to living because I was scaring him. I had fallen into such a depression. He ticked me off, but it also made me stop and think- what was I going to do? Feel sorry for myself and sulk, or be grateful I was alive.
I've re-read my journals from that time and it was after my son kicked my butt, so to speak, I took an honest inventory and had to dig deeper than I've ever had to. I mean, I had survived a pretty nasty divorce, after a pretty crappy marriage and that was tough. But this was different. I felt like I was now a handicapped person who would be limited in their life and be looked at as a freak. My mental state was precarious, at best.
But then I found this site. I just lurked a bit before posting. I read so many of the other stories and I started to see just how full my life can be, I was not handicapped, and certainly not a freak! The stories of survival, the sense of humor, the support and compassion was inspiring. It was then I made myself get out of the dark, and get my sh*t together.
Not all rainbows and sunshine at first, hardly! But with grace from myself - to myself, and the kindness and willingness of the folks here to be supportive, non judgemental and openly share intimate details about their life circumstances, l not only survived but thrived.
I think of all the years I had suffered with such extreme pain, barely functioning, and the many hospital stays and how that is all behind me now. (All fingers, toes, and legs crossed that I never have to go near a hospital for myself ever again. I think I'd rather have a fork stuck in my eye. I loathe every about them.)
So, to everyone who has been a part of this journey with me, to say thank you is not enough. I'm forever grateful to know you all. My Angels, each one of you.
And as the Grateful Dead famously said,
"what a long strange trip it's been!"
Im so happy I'm tripping with you all.
My reversal surgery went really well. It was easy compared to the first surgery on all levels: pain, time spent in hospital, and recovery. As far as the scope went, it's pretty straightforward and, yeah, easy. Of course, it does take a little for your bowels to start working again and you may have some accidents. But for some, that's just not the case at all. I was right after a week or so.
Hi, I found this really hard!!! Completely worse than having the ileostomy.
My stoma site was not stitched and was left open to heal. I was in the hospital longer because I got a chest infection, and the pain from having a cough was unbearable. The massive amount of wind, the poo was jelly-like and painful because I had a new rectum made from the colon; it never stopped moving. When I finally got home, I had a district nurse coming in every day to change my dressing, which took 6 weeks to heal.
The first actual poo was the most painful thing ever.
It took 2 hours of crying and some screaming to pop out a pebble!
I was fortunate enough to have one of the best surgeons in the Pacific Northwest, my surgery went perfectly. He straightened out the rather horrific looking surgical scar from the emergency colostomy I received while traveling abroad, and fixed up the parastomal and incisional hernias I had developed.
Getting back to using a toilet is an incredibly happy thing. The first two weeks things are off a bit. First diarrhea, then the post-ileus movements, but after two weeks I was back to my quick and easy morning constitutional.
I had 57 staples holding my skin together, and a whole lot of stitches in the inside. Everything has healed up well, I notice skin sensitivity with my stoma scar, my surgeon says that can last up to a year.
My guidance for anyone getting a reversal is to pay careful attention to your intake. My surgeon told to ensure I'm getting me 30+ grams of fiber every day. Hydration is also very important. Additionally, rebuilding your biome is crucial. All those antibiotics will decimate your biome. Find a really good probiotic... I recommend a brand called "Seed," it's expensive but has a better variety of cultures than most and it has a two layer delivery system to get it into your colon safely.
I wish you the very best success with your reversal.
