This topic is about the journey of recovering from colostomy reversal surgery, which was initially needed due to diverticulitis with an abscess. The person shares their experiences and insights over the course of a year, detailing the challenges and progress they encountered. Here’s a breakdown of their recovery timeline and some helpful advice:

- June 13, 2022: Underwent sigmoid colectomy with an end colostomy.
- November 1, 2022: A flexible sigmoidoscopy confirmed that a reversal was possible.
- November 14 to December 7, 2022: Pre-operative visits and testing took place, along with a rigorous bowel preparation routine involving several medications and solutions.
- December 8, 2022: The reversal surgery lasted four hours, and the surgeon was very pleased with the outcome.
- Early post-op (December 9-12): Experienced low pain but some bloating. There were over 10 diarrheal bowel movements per day. The first solid food was consumed on December 10. Discharge was delayed until bowel function returned, and they were sent home on December 12.
- Home recovery (December 13-19): Frequent gas and stools occurred hourly. Medications included Gabapentin and Methocarbamol, though the latter was stopped due to dizziness. The first solid continuous stool was on December 15. There was some bleeding at a port site, which was cauterized. The surgeon explained that half of the anal canal was removed, affecting bowel control.
- 3-week update (December 29, 2022): Started taking fiber capsules and managed the first outing without pads. Bowel movement frequency was stabilizing, and patience was highlighted as a key lesson.
- 3-month update (March 3, 2023): Cleared by the surgeon with advice to avoid heavy lifting for over six months to prevent hernia. Activity levels were good.
- 1-year update (December 8, 2023): Bowel function returned to normal with no issues, though there was some struggle with residual abdominal fat. The person suspects that core muscles cut during surgery are resisting toning. Overall, they felt satisfied and grateful for the support from the forum.

Additional insights and advice include:

- The decision for surgery was confirmed to be right, with a stable and symptom-free bowel schedule.
- Efforts to lose belly fat through exercise and swimming are ongoing, with curiosity about whether abdominal muscles will tighten after being cut.
- Body hair helps to hide most of the scarring.
- Recovery is a process, and finding balance takes time. Patience is crucial.
- Maintaining a sense of humor can help in coping with postoperative changes, such as reduced anal length and stool frequency.