This topic is about someone who has been living with a colostomy for 10 months due to complications from diverticulitis, which led to a perforated bowel. They are considering a colostomy reversal but are concerned about the risks, especially since they have been using steroids for chronic arthritis. The steroids might have weakened their tissue, which could make the reconnection surgery more challenging and possibly lead to another stoma. They are looking for real-world experiences from others who have gone through similar situations.

Here are some pieces of advice and insights shared by others:

1. Explore existing stories about reversals on the forum. You can find detailed first-hand accounts by navigating to COLLECTIONS, then PREMIUM CONTENT, and finally OSTOMY REVERSALS.

2. A positive experience shared by one member involved a successful reversal after living with a stoma for six months. Initially, they experienced frequent bathroom visits, about 10–12 times a day, but this reduced to 4–5 times a day with careful eating. They reported no complications and described their life as a "new normal."

3. On the other hand, a cautionary tale was shared by another member who faced challenges with two reversal attempts after complications from diverticulitis. They encountered issues like a C. difficile infection and scar tissue, which caused both reconnections to fail. After undergoing four surgeries over two years, they now have a permanent ostomy.