This topic is about someone who recently had an ileostomy reversal and is sharing their early recovery experiences and concerns. Here’s a summary of their journey and some helpful advice:

- After the surgery, they experienced mild pain and bruising around the former stoma site, but the surgery was deemed successful.
- Bowel movements varied over the first few days: 8 on day 3, 5 on day 4, and just 1 on day 5, with no gas passed initially.
- They are keeping an eye on how their bowel and gas activity progresses and are thankful for the support from others.

Additional updates and concerns include:

1. On days 6 and 7, they experienced severe abdominal pain, which led to doubling their pain medication. They had trouble passing stool or gas, possibly due to discomfort from staples. Eventually, they passed a large amount of stool and gas, which provided relief.
2. They were eating only once a day because pain and movement worsened their symptoms, causing concern about whether they truly lost their appetite or were avoiding food due to pain.
3. By days 8 and 9, they had a bout of diarrhea that relieved cramping and bloating, their appetite returned, and their pain decreased. They noticed the smell of hospital medications in their output.
4. By week 3, they were nearly back to normal, averaging 4 bowel movements a day, and were cleared to return to work in another 4-6 weeks.

Here are some pieces of advice and insights for those recovering from similar surgeries:

- For gas pain relief, try lying on your side in a fetal position or take short walks to help move trapped gas.
- Be cautious with pain medication. If pain is severe, contact your surgical team instead of adjusting narcotics on your own.
- Monitor your appetite and nutrition. Determine if you’re not hungry or if you’re avoiding food because it hurts. If a true loss of appetite continues, reach out to your surgeon or an on-call intern, and consider video appointments if needed.
- Use meal-replacement shakes and stay hydrated. Check your urine color: clear means fully hydrated, light yellow is normal, and darker indicates dehydration.
- For general recovery, continue gentle walking as tolerated to help stimulate bowel function. Keep your medical team informed of any significant changes in pain, bowel habits, or appetite.
- Remember to be patient. Staples, internal healing, and fluctuating bowel movements are normal in the first weeks after a reversal.