Experiences with Cancer Surgery and Loop Ostomy Reversal

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98
Supermom57
May 30, 2025 11:10 pm

Hi. I'm having cancer surgery in a couple of weeks with a loop ostomy reversal.

Has anyone else been through this before? How long was your surgery? How long after surgery before you were able to start eating? Clears first? How long before solid? How long did it take for your intestines to "wake up"?

Thanks.

Zuzu
Jun 01, 2025 2:25 pm

Hi Supermom57:

I have been contemplating a reversal, but in my case (ileostomy), the negatives will likely outweigh the positives. Please keep me updated on your surgery and post-surgical experience! Thanks...ZUZU

Gray Logo for MeetAnOstoMate

iMacG5

When I found this web site, I didn't think its name had anything to do with actually meeting an ostomate but I later learned there were some folks who did meet and develop relationships. How good is that? That wasn't my intention. I definitely didn't want anyone to meet me. I felt broken and wasn't prepared to express those feelings. I thought it was a place where ostomates wrote about themselves, posed questions, shared thoughts, told jokes and, sometimes, just vented. I thought of it as a community of folks with similar interests and various degrees of experience. Mostly I found some of the most caring, selfless, wise and understanding people I ever imagined. I was so impressed with some of the writings; not because of their literary value but the way in which they addressed such a very complex environment. I read hundreds of exchanges and admired the way folks cared for each other. I became hopeful with my own situation and looked forward to the next day's offerings. Certainly some contributors stood out with their experience or particular skills in addressing some things but it seemed like a total effort with synergistic results. I felt blessed to have found this site. I still do.
Mike

corlsharonl49
Jun 01, 2025 8:02 pm

They attempted reversal on me, but I had a leak, so back came the stoma. However, I was able to start eating pretty quickly after the reversal and remember things waking up within a day.

corlsharonl49
Jun 01, 2025 8:02 pm

They attempted reversal on me, but I had a leak, so back came the stoma. However, I was able to start eating pretty quickly after the reversal and remember things waking up within a day.

Supermom57
Jun 02, 2025 3:49 am

Well, I've only had my ileostomy for 2 months, so hopefully there won't be any issues with the reversal. I initially received it because there was a blockage in my colon due to the cancer, and I wasn't able to eat much. It was too painful, and I was getting malnourished, dehydrated, and losing weight, so they couldn't perform the cancer surgery. I had to build up my strength first, so now I am back at that point.

 

My Ostomy Journey: Bruce | Hollister

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Supermom57
Jun 14, 2025 3:39 pm

Well, I'm home from my surgery. The doctor said everything went fine. I'm still waiting on the pathology report. My bowels are very, very watery at this point, but they are no longer bloody. The incision from the stoma is sore and stings... especially as the pain meds wear off. It hurts to walk around or bend because of the incision. All of this will improve by and by. I slept quite a bit the three days I was in the hospital... dozing off and on 🙄! My poor husband and daughters were just sitting there while I was sleeping away! But I feel better today so far. I slept pretty well being home.