Seeking Support and Connection After Colostomy Reversal

I have had a colostomy since June last year due to suffering severe endometriosis for several years. Sadly, complications occurred during surgery, resulting in a stoma, which I have recently had reversed—very recently—and I am in recovery at the moment. I wish I had reached out for support sooner when having my ostomy, but I didn't have the courage at the time, and I am not entirely sure if I am able to be on this site now due to being reversed. However, it has been and still is a very challenging time physically and mentally, and I thought as a young woman it would be nice to perhaps speak to people on here. I am not entirely sure what I want from this site yet, but I thought it would be good to meet like-minded people, make friends/relationships, chat, and even maybe meet. Also, even just to get advice would be lovely, so yeah, hello :) 💕🌺

Hello and welcome to the site. This is a great place to share and make friends along the way.

Thank you, that's really kind of you. xx Lovely to meet you. x

Welcome from Scotland.

Welcome Gaia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ waves ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From a fellow creative in mid Wales borders

You've found a good site - caring, sharing folk - members of all ages and many reasons why we are here - no need to feel alone - there are others with whom you can share and feel affinity as others come forward.

BW

Virtual hug - key away and don't feel afraid of expressing yourself!

Jayne

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Welcome. I am currently in the process of deciding whether I want to take the risk of having a surgeon reconnect my intestines or take the smaller risk of having him do a more simple process of just fixing my current stoma. Mine is quite inverted and in a skin fold with a hernia behind it all, so my skin is a disaster area. I can get a Convatec bag to stick on the outer rim, but closer to the opening just won't stick because the skin is so sad. My colostomy arrived because I had an intestinal blockage caused by radiation scarring after my hysterectomy 5 years ago. I still have part of my rectum, but the scarred part is also adhered to my bladder, so things could get worse if I try to reconnect by going around the scar tissue part.

So, I would like to ask you how the surgery to reconnect went and what your recovery is like?

Welcome! We are happy to have people around who've gotten reversals. We do get a fair number of people seeking advice on reversals, so your input would be invaluable.

Check out the social and humor topics. This can be a fun group of people.

Hi Gaia, Welcome to the site, stoma or not! You are still going through a transition, and as long as you need advice and/or support, we are here for you.

Terry

G-Day Gaia,

Welcome aboard; you just joined Stoma City.

Regards, IGGIE

Welcome from across the pond 🌈

Syncing from Oz 🇦🇺

Thank you :) I always wanted to go to Scotland; it looks beautiful. x

Hello x lovely to meet you x virtual hug, it's really nice to be able to speak with like-minded people as my circumstance was pretty unexpected too, and as much as I am grateful to have been reversed, it still feels very scary and early days, so it's really lovely to be able to meet people who truly ‘get it' xx and of course always wonderful to meet fellow creatives xx

virtual hugs xx

Hello, lovely to meet you. Bless you, it really sounds like you are going through quite a journey too. I really feel for you, definitely happy to chat more about it if you'd like to. Maybe drop me a message if you are able to?
To be honest, my reversal was always kind of on the cards, but I nearly had to have an ileostomy beforehand for further healing, so I was lucky to wake up with a reversal. But it was a very big operation involving hernia repairs and other complexities. It was a very big operation involving lots of other aspects due to my endo, and it's still very early days for me, hoping it will all be okay. But yes, definitely happy to chat more on message if you like. x

Hello, lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for the warm welcome.

Hello, lovely to meet you! That's so kind; thank you so much! x

Thank you xx

Thank you xx

Thank you xx