This topic is about the positive experiences people have had with colostomy reversal surgery. The person who started the discussion had a colostomy after surviving severe sepsis and peritonitis and is now considering a reversal. They are looking for encouraging stories from others who have gone through the same process to help them make a decision.

Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. Surgical Difficulty and Hospital Stay
- The reversal surgery is generally shorter and easier than the initial life-saving surgery, with an average hospital stay of about 5 days.
- Many people describe the reversal as much simpler compared to the first operation, with stitches often removed in less than two weeks.
- It's recommended to have the surgery done by a colorectal specialist who focuses on bowel reconstruction.

2. Pre-Surgery Preparation
- It's important to optimize your weight, nutrition, and manage any medical conditions to improve your chances of a smooth recovery.
- Schedule a detailed consultation with your surgeon to determine your suitability for the surgery after necessary imaging and tests.

3. Pain and Recovery Timeline
- Most people report significantly less pain than the first surgery, with pain managed by epidurals or short-term opioids.
- Full recovery typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, although some fatigue and abdominal tenderness may last longer.

4. Bowel Retraining and Continence
- Initially, expect frequent bathroom trips as your body adjusts, with the brain struggling to distinguish between gas and stool.
- Pelvic-floor exercises before and after surgery can help regain sphincter control and reduce accidents.
- Adult protective underwear might be useful until control improves, which can take several months.

5. Diet and Hydration
- Consulting a nutritionist for a balanced diet that supports healing and helps firm up bowel movements is beneficial.
- Pay attention to your body's signals, which may be confusing at first, and stay close to a bathroom during the initial weeks.

6. Quality of Life
- Many people are thrilled to no longer need a pouch, enjoying greater freedom, easier clothing choices, restored confidence, and the ability to pass gas normally.
- Some wish they had not waited so long to have the reversal, with one 74-year-old calling it "the best thing I ever did."
- Friends and forum members report a quick return to work and normal activities.

7. Cautions and Alternative Views
- Reversal may not be successful if there is an undiagnosed underlying disease, such as Crohn’s, so a thorough pre-op work-up is crucial.
- A few people choose to keep a well-functioning colostomy, following the "if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it" approach.

8. Miscellaneous Information and Resources
- One person mentioned that the anticoagulant Lovenox (enoxaparin) caused their colon injury.
- There is ongoing regenerative medicine work on bladder replacement at Wake Forest University Medical Center for those also living with urostomies.