My surgeon recommended loperamide (Imodium) to help with the lava poops. I started with one pill at every meal and slowly increased as needed. Be careful not to go overboard and get constipated, because that's even less fun. If you live in the US, it's far cheaper than here in Canada. I get mine in the U.S. when I can. It's about 1/10 of the price. I have a prescription for it, but my insurance won't cover it since it's available over the counter.
Regardless, it helped me and it did get better.
I share the views expressed by notexpectingthis.
I too was on life support, in a coma for over a week, and hallucinated badly for weeks. I spent nearly 60 days hospitalized, the first month of that in a critical care bed. Lights on 24/7, no call bell, and unable to walk.
Now, in my case, the original surgery was not due to disease, so I guess that factored into my decision to have it done. The small notion that it wouldn't (knock on wood) happen again.
I also agree with the comments about losing the extra pounds. Not only can your blood sugars rise after surgery, it also puts a strain on your body and incision sites.
Yes, leaks are possible. That directly factored into my surgeon's decision not to put mesh in me the first time. If I did develop a leak, he didn't want the added mess of going through mesh to fix it.
Unfortunately, I herniated some months later, but I take the blame for that.
Talk to your doctors. Educate yourself to your own risks and benefits.
My reversal took about 6 hours, I was in the hospital for 9 days, had home care for weeks to change dressings (the leave the stoma site open) and back at work in about 8 weeks.
I consider mine a reversal success story. Yes, I still have trouble walking due to other complications from the emergency surgery, but I am alive, back at work, and no longer under a surgeon's care.
Your mileage may vary.