This topic is about celebrating the first anniversary of a life-saving colostomy surgery. The person who started the discussion had the surgery due to severe Crohn’s Disease, which had left them in a very poor state of health. Before the surgery, they were malnourished, anemic, bleeding, and significantly underweight. Despite the challenges of adapting to life with an ostomy, they see it as a positive change that saved their life.

Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

1. The person had multiple fistulas and abscesses. When asked about the possibility of reversing the colostomy, they declined. After years of dealing with complications like abscesses, fistulas, fevers, and pain, they are certain they do not want to return to that condition.

2. Many people in the discussion agree that their ostomies, whether due to Crohn’s or cancer, were life-saving. They feel they could live permanently with a pouching system if needed.

3. One person shared their experience of having a reversal after an emergency colostomy. They had good results but mentioned they had already become comfortable with the ostomy and would accept another if necessary.

4. Another person cautioned that reversals can sometimes lead to prolonged pain or offer limited benefits. Some people eventually chose to return to having a stoma. They emphasize the importance of researching and carefully considering the pros and cons before deciding on a reversal.

5. Many responses highlight that maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on moving forward with life can greatly aid long-term adjustment, especially after undergoing multiple surgeries.