Grateful for Support After Final Surgery

Dearest friends

I am being discharged from the hospital after having my final surgery for my stoma reversal. I had diverticulitis resulting in a colostomy in May 23; I nearly didn't make it back then, but thankfully my wife was with me. On Nov 24, after a very difficult 10-hour operation and the first stage of my reversal, I was left with an ileostomy. I found this very difficult to manage. Moving on to today, I had my final surgery a week ago, and all went well. I am experiencing every feeling going. I'm glad it's gone, I'm anxious about the bathroom, I am still looking/feeling for my pouch, and I'm wondering why I went through this brutal process. At 58 now, I believe I'm still young enough to cope.

Anyway, I want to say to all those friends on this site, thank you all for your input. I have found you all so helpful and friendly, with plenty of advice and support. With the peaceful people on this site, I cannot understand why there are wars in our world.

Thank you all

I hope you all don't mind if I still check in even though I can't call myself an Osomate anymore 😁.

Thank you

Andy

Ireland

So happy for you. Do check in and best of luck moving forward.

Hi Andy, successful stories are what we like to hear.

Always happy to have you! Lots of folks ask questions about reversals; it would be good to have someone with a successful experience respond.

Stay with us, Amac. We want to know about your day-to-day life with your Reversal.

Once an Ostomate, always an Ostomate.

Regards, IGGIE

My Ostomy Journey: April | Hollister

Happy for you. Best of luck. Here's to making every day count 🍷

Very happy for you. Glad you got the reversal and things are going well. Stop by any time and check in. Maybe you can provide support to others who are going through the reversal process.

Glad your surgery went well. Hope your recovery continues to go well.

As someone who is contemplating an ileo reversal, I would love to hear how you are adjusting.

All the best in your future. I hope it's all downhill from here. Feel free to check back in any time!

Terry

Sorry you went through all the suffering, but I am so happy for your final outcome!

You see no wars if you people governed countries... Thank you all for the lovely replies.

To Hecate, my ileostomy was a loop one, so the operation wasn't that bad (for a change).

The first few days are filled with anxiety about eating. I look bloated, I can't go, I don't want to eat, what will I eat, etc., etc. I had been given a clenching exercise prior to surgery; this, I think, helped. I now seem to be getting more regular, but as my surgeon said, "urgency & frequency" is definitely part of it.

In Ireland, the surgeons leave the wound site open, so very little stitching, and this wound is filled with soaking products, which are cleaned and changed daily. It's excruciating; it's also very uncomfortable, but as the days go by, I'm finding it getting better. I hope this will help in your decision, but I would also add that I really watch my food intake: fresh fruit and vegetables high in fiber, avoid processed food where you can. If you have good help at home or from those around you, I have.

Good luck, Hecate and others. I'm here if needed.

Amac

My stoma is reversible, and I always tend to hear the negative stories. At the moment, I have chosen not to go back under the knife.

Well done, Queenie. I hope you enjoy many more years with your stoma.

IGGIE

Thank you, Iggie.