This topic is about someone who is 15 months into their recovery after having an ileostomy reversal. They are dealing with some ongoing challenges and have shared their experiences and the advice they've received. Here’s a summary of their situation and some helpful insights:
- They experience daily tenderness at the site of a former hernia and occasional sharp pain near the old stoma site, which sometimes radiates toward the pubic area.
- There is occasional rectal pain when passing gas while seated or when stool is withheld.
- They feel pain across the midsection when they overeat or delay meals. This is managed by eating small, frequent meals and carrying snacks.
- They have had five bowel blockages between January and March, likely due to adhesions and scar tissue. Their surgeon advises against further surgery to prevent more scar tissue, hoping the adhesions will loosen over time.
- They have been advised to start a daily fiber supplement, specifically psyllium husk, after eliminating leafy greens from their diet due to a blockage thought to be caused by spinach.
- The surgeon believes the midsection pain is due to scar-tissue traction on the abdominal wall as the intestines move. While lifelong discomfort is possible, it is not expected to be severe.
- They are gradually resuming cardio and light weight training to rebuild core strength while being cautious to avoid hernia recurrence.
- Occasionally, they notice intestinal movement accompanied by a fleeting urge to urinate, which is assumed to be related to adhesions.
Advice and insights from others include:
- Someone who had similar pain after hernia repair believes it was due to mesh trapped in scar tissue, and the discomfort gradually resolved over a few years. This offers hope that the pain may diminish over time.
- Several people have offered encouragement, noting that recovery often involves "two steps forward, one step back," and expressing confidence that the issues may improve as healing continues.
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