What to expect post ileostomy reversal?

rigneygrainne@yahoo.com · Guest

for how long should the symptoms of bowel frequency last?

Borelli · Newbie Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: na

I had colon cancer and lost my entire large intestine and rectum. I have a bag for two years. My hospital provided psychological counselling for free. Cancer and chemotherapy changes the chemicals in your brain. Medication and counselling made me feel good again. Because my mother has had a bag for 45 years, I couldn't feel sorry for myself but grateful to be alive. Plus I have the option to have my ileostomy reversed, my mother didn't. Now she is 92 years old, I am 66. But now I worry about what life will be like after the reversal and want to talk to people about how my life will change. I cope very well with the bag but I fear that after the reversal I will always need to be close to a toilet. Some say it took years for the "J" pouch (false rectum) to stretch and hold large amounts of waste. Some say the best to expect is bowel movements 10 times a day. Are they evenly spaced throughout the day? Do they occur shortly after eating? Will I awake in the middle of the night? How many times? I talked to people who had ulcerated colons and also had the large intestine and rectum removed. They are different. They had to go to the bathroom 30 times a day before surgery. Now they only go 10 times a day. For them, this is an improvement in the quality of their life. For me, going to the bathroom 10 times a day would be a hardship because I retired last year and my wife and I want to travel the back roads of the USA. I fear that the only way I could do that is to have a motorhome so I have a toilet with me all the time. With my bag, it would be easier and can not decide whether to keep my bag or reverse the ileostomy. Can I help you with answers to your questions? Can you help me with my questions? With love and best wishes to all. Frank (fborelli@msn.com)

Guest · Guest

I have just read your post and wondered if i could answer a few questions for you. Im 27 and i had Pre Bowel Cancer at the start of this year i had my large bowel and rectum removed and a j-pouch made and ileostomy constructed in April 2008. Last week 14th july i underwent my reversal and i was so worried about the result! i was told to expect to need the toilet upto 15 times a day!! but although in the first few days i was probably going roughly 8 times a day 1 week on im now only going 3-4 times a day and i have complete control i feel so happy with the results and all i would say is take things as they come for the first few weeks as things do settle down in time im very lucky with the speed mine has settled down i have had set backs this week as i had an infection which was very painful but all under control now. Make sure you keep to a very soft diet in the first week but im now 10 days post op and im eating as normal a set 3 meals a day! i would say go for it its so nice not having a bag now, the freedom is great!! i hope this post helps a little xx

What to expect post ileostomy reversal?

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