Colostomy Reversal - Recuperation and Post-Op Details

I am now 18 months post colostomy and Dr. said I am a candidate. I have been reading Charlotte's post, it sounds like you went through an ordeal! I am unclear about recuperation and why it takes 6 weeks. Are you bedridden? Wear diapers all the time? One of my biggest fears is the pain. I am a wimp. I don't really want to have an ostomy forever but on a good day I think like what the heck? I also think about when I age that maybe it's an advantage instead of diapers. I've gained 10 lbs. and have no desire to exercise with this thing. Can someone tell me more of the post-op details? Thanks and good luck to all of you

Hello Newstom. I think you will find that almost all major surgery takes at least six weeks of convalescence, depending very much on a person's metabloism. It's just a ballpark, minimum figure to offer some guidance as to how long it might take for things to geal sufficiently for people not panic that they might not be getting 'better'. I like your thinking with regard to getting old and not needing to wear diapers with the stoma. I thought precisely the same thing but unfortunately, I still have colon attached to the anal stump and it produces excessive amounts of mucus, which needs incontinence pads to catch it. I still think that the stoma was the best way to go but in my case, it did not prevent the need for diapers. 

Best wishes

Bill

I had my colostomy takedown on Dec 20th, 2017. It has been fantastic for the most part. I was out of the hospital in a day. Getting back to normal is kind of like a new normal. You become hyper-aware of regularity, etc. I haven't had any issues that would require diapers. I love my surgeon and wouldn't let anyone else touch me from this point forward. Make sure you follow their recommendations and know you trust your surgeon.

I am so happy to see a positive response regarding the reversal! I had emergency surgery on Nov 19 due to a blockage that burst. Five hours later, I woke up to a colostomy. I cried for days. My surgeon just sent a letter saying he will no longer be there. I have an appointment with a surgeon at the same place on the 28th of this month to discuss the reversal. My previous surgeon said it would take 5-6 months. I'm very nervous and have read so many scary things regarding the reversal. I have had a very hard time, going from watery stool one day to very hard stools the next. I can't find any information on that. Thanks for any input.

Did you have robotic or laparoscopic surgery? Wow, out in a day! That would be awesome. I unfortunately have to have another surgeon as the one who did my colostomy has left. I looked him up online. Says he likes to do robotic so people heal faster. That's what I'm hoping for.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

The DaVinci robot and an ignorant surgeon at Mayo were the reasons I had to have a colostomy bag in the first place. If you go to unplugtherobot.blogspot.com you can read our stories. Also on Facebook if you search for Unplug the Robot there are a lot of good scientific articles posted on its dangers and questions you should ask.

Again, I went to United Hospital in St. Paul after Mayo Clinic. It was the best decision I made and they are the reason I am alive today.

Jenterprise, I feel horrible for you. How scary. I did read that article. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely be asking lots of questions at my apt on the 28th, if he suggests the robotic I think I will look for another surgeon. I live in Wisconsin and had my emergency surgery at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. The surgeon I had was working from Health Partners and I received a letter stating he's no longer there and made an apt with the surgeon they have there. What are questions I should be asking regarding takedown? I assume you had laparoscopic and you're on the mend. Thanks again for your input!