Experiences After Colostomy Reversal Surgery

Hello, I am very new to the site and have recently (very recently) had a colostomy reversal/hartmann's procedure and hernia repair. I just wondered if others have gone through this and how they feel generally? I feel incredibly tired, which I know is probably normal after major surgery, and finding diet challenging as I have been advised to now be on low fiber for a while, but I just wondered how other people may be doing xx

G-Day Gaia,

Like you said, it's very recent that you had your operation, and it's normal to feel the way you do. It's just a time factor, Gaia. But to be safe, go see your doctor and have a good talk with him as well as your stoma nurse.

Regards, IGGIE

Thank you, xx. I really appreciate it, xx.

Give it time. You'll feel better soon enough.

It was recommended that I stay low fiber for at least 6 weeks post-surgery and then add regular foods back very slowly. Try a little, then see what happens. Yours is a different surgery, so the timing of the low fiber diet may be different, but I think the advice about adding back regular foods slowly would still apply.

I'm sure you were told to be careful to prevent a new hernia from forming.

Hello, thank you so much. That's really helpful. Thank you for getting back to me. That's what I have been trying to do with the diet. It's just hard as they don't always advise how long you are supposed to do that for with the low fiber, but thank you, that's really helpful. It's really lovely being able to speak to people who truly understand, as it has felt very isolating. x Thank you again. x

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

I do understand the isolated feeling. I found this site shortly after my surgery, and it's made a world of difference.

Bless you, it's a horrible feeling, isn't it? Yes, I have to admit I do wish I had used this site so much sooner than I have, as it's been so lonely, and even just speaking to like-minded people who actually get it has been so comforting this week. x Thank you.

Hi Gaia. I'm 7 months post Hartmann's reversal for diverticulitis. Give it time; it's normal to be tired after such major surgery. You will get to where you want to be soon enough.

Hello, thank you so much for your message, really kind of you. xx Yes, I'm around a month and a bit post now, and it's getting better gradually, but I'm still struggling a bit with diet and fatigue. x It's really nice talking to someone who has gone through the same. x Hope you are keeping well. xx I'm not a premium member, but if you ever fancy a chat, drop me a message. x Best wishes. X

Hi Gaia. Hope you're getting your energy back and feeling more like your normal self. You didn't say how long ago you had the reversal done, but I'm now probably 80% there after 8 months.

Hello, thank you so much for your message. I'm glad to hear you are getting there. I had my reversal at the end of February, so I am getting there too. I have to admit I don't know if it's just me, but I am feeling worse recovery-wise from this operation than when I had my stoma, which probably sounds mad. However, I think this particular operation was pretty big; from what the surgeons said, it was a good 7 hours or so, I think. Thank you for messaging me back, though. It's really kind of you.

Hi Gaia, I do think that it is major surgery and you may have lost a considerable amount of blood in the process, which could definitely impact your energy level as your body is working to create new blood. I just had a revision surgery about a week ago, and that's what my chemo doc told me when I checked with them (they can see my file, so that's how they knew I lost a lot). Anemia makes you feel tired, but I like the advice about checking with your doc. Maybe try to get more high protein into your diet? I know my docs are always pushing that for me!

Hello, thank you so much for your message. I really appreciate it. I am sorry to hear you have gone through such a journey too. Thank you for the advice, though I appreciate it, and I also guess I never thought of it in that aspect regarding the blood. I have suffered with iron issues too due to my terrible endometriosis, so that does make some sense. Thank you again. Best wishes.

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

G-Day Gala,

I hope everything is getting better for you. Time heals all wounds.

Regards, IGGIE

Thank you xx

Hi:

Congratulations on your reversal surgery! Feeling tired is totally normal. I'm not a napper, but for the first 3 weeks after my reversal surgery, I took naps every day!

I had my colostomy reversal in late February, and 10 weeks out, I still have some pain from the 6 incisions (I had a robotic laparoscopic reversal). The incisions are scattered throughout my abdomen, so I am limited in terms of my length/speed of my walks because the motion of my hips irritates the deep sutures/staples holding my sigmoid colon back together. I have to stop and take a break. I started back with my abdominal core PT, and she said it may take up to 6 months before I get my normal strength back. Functionally, I was finally able to add some fiber back into my diet; just not all at once... gas pain! I've learned to limit my fiber intake in a 24-hour period, and it's better. Also, I found that I was taking too much of my probiotic, so I've cut the dose in half, so that's helping with the gas. My gastroenterologist and surgeon both said in my follow-up visits that I was doing well and recovering well for my age (I'm 75 and a pretty active person). The first few weeks, I was having small narrow stools several times a day. Now I'm back to one major one in the morning. So, I'm getting there, and I just have to realize it will take time. I'm a very impatient person, so I'm learning to listen to my body and not trying to overdo! But, it's frustrating. (By the way, my colostomy was temporary, and I had it for 4 months; it was a result of emergency surgery for a perforated bowel triggered by adhesions/an abscess/inflamed diverticula... that section of colon had to come out!)

Hello … thank you so very much for your message. I really appreciate this as honestly it's like speaking to someone who has kind of echoed my own experience, so thank you so very much for the advice. I am getting there, thank you. I had my surgery at the end of February, so I am getting there, but I do still seem to struggle more with the stoma site pain in the mornings. To be honest, it's like a weird painful tugging, and I often feel more fatigued as the day goes on, but I am trying my best with the diet and the introduction of more regular fiber. I am coping with that better than I was … it's just the tiredness still that sometimes hits me, which is frustrating as I'm not very patient, lol. But honestly, thank you so much for your message. I hope you are okay. Best wishes.