Topic Explanation:
The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by an individual almost two weeks post-ileostomy reversal. The person is struggling with frequent bathroom visits, severe rectal pain, and difficulty sleeping, similar to their experiences prior to the reversal. They are also on a low residue, low fiber diet, which they find unappealing and painful due to the acidic and liquid nature of their stools. The individual expresses regret about the reversal surgery and is seeking advice on managing sleep, pain, and dietary issues post-surgery.
Advice and Helpful Insights from Replies:
1. Sleep Management:
- Consider asking your doctor for a prescription sleep aid like Temazepam to help improve sleep quality.
- Some participants suggested exploring the option of reverting to an ostomy if sleep and other post-reversal complications do not improve.
2. Pain and Discomfort Management:
- It's important to rule out infections such as C. difficile, which can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms and could be mistaken for post-surgical complications.
- For gastrointestinal pain and frequent bowel movements, discuss with your doctor the possibility of using medications to slow down the gastrointestinal tract.
- Over-the-counter ointments like Calmoseptine, which contains cooling menthol, may provide relief for rectal pain.
- Loperamide (prescription Imodium) can be used before meals and bedtime to slow bowel movements, potentially reducing the frequency of bathroom visits and aiding in better sleep.
3. Dietary Considerations:
- Despite the challenges and dislike for the low residue, low fiber diet, it is crucial for allowing the gut to heal post-surgery. It is recommended to adhere to this diet as long as advised by a healthcare provider.
4. General Recommendations:
- Patience and time are essential after such a significant surgical procedure, as the body can take a while to adjust and heal.
- Continuous communication with healthcare providers is crucial to address any new or worsening symptoms promptly.
- If pain management is not effective with current medications, discussing alternative pain relief options with a healthcare provider is advisable.
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