Tips for Recovery After Reversal Surgery

Hi...

I am new to this forum and just wanted to ask people who have gone through reversal surgery if they had any tips for the days and weeks after surgery. I have gotten a bit of info from the net, but any and all help would be great.

You have no idea how much I am looking forward to having this 'astern'...as Jimmy Buffett would say..!

I have no input on your upcoming reversal as I opted out - wishing your “astern” is as happy and easy as any Jimmy Buffett song - he was my idol and the best philosopher ever!!! Best wishes… keep us posted….jb

G-Day Steve,

It all depends on whether you have an ileostomy or a colostomy. Can you let us know, please?

Regards, IGGIE

I reversed last July..... It will take a few months to get somewhat "regular" again, and sometimes it is frustrating to retrain that issue like a baby, but MARCH THROUGH IT!!! ....... It will be OK ........ A buddy of mine was an oracle about the situation.... Dude wipes!!! Damn, that was a lifesaver, and I strongly suggest A&D ointment because it WILL get sore..... You will figure it out...... Trust me!! best of luck

Arnold

No info .............

But

Sending you

Good luck

Airport Security Tips Living with an Ostomy with April | Hollister

I cannot provide any advice but want to wish you the best of luck and a quick, event-free recovery! My ileostomy is temporary, but I do not plan to have a reversal - too many issues every time my body has surgery.

Hi Iggie... Thanks for the reply.

I have an ostomy. Soon to be gone... :)

Yes... I watched a few YouTube videos, and it was mentioned that your butt would get very sore. I have already picked up a tube of Calmoseptine cream and a can of Durmoplast spray. Have you heard of these products? I will look into your suggestions too... Thanks...

Fate favors those who are prepared

Good luck

BW

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Waves from the UK ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jayne

Bajan, all stomas are called ostomy, but do you have an ileostomy or a colostomy? Is it on your left or the right side? Left is normally a colostomy and right is normally an ileostomy. It makes a big difference if you're having a reversal.

Regards, IGGIE

Good luck on the reversal. Do you have an ileostomy or colostomy? Why do you have an ostomy? Accident? Disease? How much intestine was removed, and where?

All this info makes a big difference.

I refused reversal for my colostomy. I've had too many surgeries already.

I had my colostomy reversed about 18 months ago. It all went well for me. As someone already said, wet wipes will be your new best friend. Also, when I got home from the hospital, I slept in a recliner for the first week or so. My advice would be to rest and don't rush things; let your body heal. Good luck with it all, and let us know how it all went.

I had my ileostomy reversal nearly 5 months ago, and it was plain sailing for me. Bowels returned to normal pretty quickly; pain was minimal. Just take your time reintroducing foods, etc. I got all the wipes and creams suggested to be prepared, but thankfully didn't need them. Hope it all goes well for you.

Hi, I had my colostomy reversed and it went great. You may be able to look up my old posts about it. Best of luck to you!

Hi Iggie... Had no idea on the terminology, but mine is a colostomy. On edge here waiting for the hospital to call...

On another note, I saw the pic of your truck. Is it a Land Rover... International...?

I was lucky enough to have a place in Barbados for about ten years and picked up a Toyota Land Cruiser Troup Carrier from the CBC when they were getting rid of it. Fabulous truck. Would climb Mt. Everest...

Would send a pic, but no idea how to do that...!

G-Day Bajan,

My 4x4 is a Toyota Landcruiser Troop Carrier 75 series. It has a pop top and is set up as a sleeper with a bed, cooker, fridge, and everything I need to travel the outback of Australia.

It has never let me down, and being a diesel, it can and does climb the steepest of hills.

Regards, IGGIE

Hi all,

I've had an urostomy and a loop colostomy since cancer surgery in November and just had the colostomy reversed two weeks ago. So far, everything has gone well, but the pain of the wound is pretty bad. Some of the worst pain I've ever experienced, and I've had 5 children. I have a hole in my belly about 2 cm in diameter x 2 cm deep that needs to be packed and dressed daily. That is painful. It is getting smaller, but not fast enough. I just want to be done with it.

Stay tough, my lady. The wound needs to heal from the inside out. My prayer to you is that sometimes my stoma scar is sore from time to time. You survived!

Just got a call from my surgeon's office. My reversal, which was to happen within a week or so, has been put off to at least the end of April... and the way things go... probably longer than that.

...bummed out at the moment...

Hello, I had surgery on Jan. 8, 2025, for an abscess on the outside of my lower colon. I'm told the reversal will be in 4-6 months, from May to July. I see comments from both sides. Some choose not to have the reversal. At first, I couldn't wait for the reversal, but after reading about issues after the reversal, I now am not sure. I had lots of diarrhea before surgery, so do I expect the same to happen after the reversal? I sometimes didn't have warning that diarrhea was going to happen and couldn't make it to the bathroom. I have a nurse who changes my ileostomy bag every 4 days. I haven't been able to change my bag due to having spine surgery in 2017 and having a neck fusion too. So I have difficulty being able to bend my head down far enough to change the bag successfully. What tips can you give me, please? I'm 72 years old. Thank you,

                                                                                                                 Chris

G-Day Princess6834,

If you can't bend your neck far enough forward to see what you're doing, you can do what I do and look into the mirror. I have located a mirror in just the right spot to be able to see my ileostomy close up. I am able to guide my equipment very accurately in place. Give it a go. And if for some reason you can't get a reversal, you can live with a stoma very successfully like most of the people in here.

Good luck and keep in touch.

Regards, IGGIE

I had difficulty seeing my stoma due to its placement and because it was in a dip of my not-flat tummy 😀. The easiest way for me to change it was sitting on a chair at a desk with a magnifying shaving mirror on top of it to help me see what I was doing. Hope this helps you.