Reversal Complications: Inflamed Rectal Stump - Anyone Else Experienced This?

So I had my sigmoidoscopy today and was told by the lady who did it that they probably won't reconnect me as my rectal stump is inflamed and bleeding. Previous to this, my surgeon told me they can remove the whole stump and still do the reversal. Just curious if anyone has been told no because of this?

Hello rachel-louise.

I wasn't told this but my ostomy nurse asked me who my surgeon was and then commented that he would make any excuse not to do anything else after the original surgery.  It rather dents one's confidence about whether we are being given the correct information.

Best wishes

Bill

Hi Bill,
Thank you for replying. I know what you mean - one person says one thing, then another says something else. If my surgeon won't do it, I think I'll get a second opinion from a pouch specialist I've heard of close by.
Hope you're well.
Rachel

Hi Rachel-Louise...thought I might throw in a few comments on this issue as I was in a similar position as you, following an operation for an ileostomy 3 years ago due to ulcerative colitis.... In the several months following the surgery, the disease in my rectum stump receded considerably, or put another way, the frequency of discharge went from daily to once every 2 to 3 weeks... However, that trend reversed to the point that I was back on the daily discharge routine. So here is where things get complicated... You don't want to have to deal off and on with a diseased rectum stump, I would assume, nor chance rectal cancer, which is a risk that must be considered with having a diseased rectum. If you remove the rectum, then you must depend solely on the strength of the anus to hold back the waste... Mind you, with a reversal, a greater portion of the water in the stool will be removed during the digestive process, however, it will still tend to be more liquid than solid. My decision around this issue was to stay with the bag simply because I did not want to deal with incontinence, risk anal or rectal cancer, and minimize the need for future surgery... But I am 60.... You're much younger and the prognosis could be quite different, and besides, medical know-how is advancing rapidly... That all said, I can speak for many here which would offer the following advice... TAKE YOUR TIME IN MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY DECISION, surgeons seem at times to want to get right to it!!!! And most importantly of all, IDENTIFY THE VERY BEST RECONNECT SURGEON THAT YOU CAN FIND AND GET HIS OPINION.... SUCCESS IN THIS BUSINESS DEPENDS ON THE SKILL OF THE SURGEON. It could make a huge difference in your quality of life over the next decades... Good luck, Scotiaman.

Good news! Saw my surgeon yesterday and he will do the reversal! I'll be having pouch surgery in the new year, he is doing it in 2 more stages with 3 months in between each so hopefully all being well I'll be all reversed and I'm for summer.

That's great, Rachel. Keep updating us, and we can all celebrate with you!

Rachel, your last post on this subject was from 2012. You had an inflamed rectum and there was surgery lined up to have the stump removed and the small intestine then attached to the anus. Well, then what has happened? The stump I have has colitis and is active but being controlled by meds for the moment. However, the day will come about the procedure you have had and I am very interested in knowing how you are doing with it. Since you may be off the site by now, I don't know if you will answer or someone else will. We shall see. People get info here and leave, and it's sad because there are folks looking for answers. I wait patiently and anxiously for your reply. Thank you. Tony

Did you bleed every time you had to poop the rest of brown stuff?

Was your colitis severe in your rectum?

After your J-pouch what changed in your life and do you have problems with it?