Living without a rectum after having a temporary ostomy reversed is a unique journey that involves retraining your body to adapt to new ways of functioning. If you're navigating this path, here are some helpful insights and advice from others who have been through similar experiences:
- Be prepared for a "new normal." Your bowel habits will likely change permanently, but with time and patience, you will see improvement.
- It's common to experience 5-8 bowel movements a day after the reversal, along with increased sensitivity in your gut.
- Achieving continence is possible, and accidents are not a certainty. Many people find they can still manage to "hold it" effectively.
- Healing and adapting to these changes take time, so be patient with your body's recovery process.
- For more detailed information on living without a rectum and understanding surgical connections like ileoanal or coloanal anastomosis, consider looking up these terms online for additional resources.