colostomy reversal

Had my reversal last March started working out about a month later without working abs. added abs 2 months after reversal still tender . At about 8 months noticied no discomfort at all . You will get there just keep working . Probabley will help that you were active before colostomy. My qestion with continued exersise will stomach level and smooth out . Flat where colostomy was and not on other side. Just uneven all over from middle insition too. If anybody has suggestion please reply Thanks

I underwent emergency surgery Thanksgiving 2011 for stage 3 rectal cancer, I've had my colostomy for 14 months now and my doctors have cleared me to have the reversal surgery next month, I am excited to have this surgery done so I can feel like a woman again without the bag and read your story about the constant bathroom runs, did this ever get better and was it hard gaining control over your bowels? That is the part I am scared the most about, is not having control. Thank you for your time

Hi,

I had a reversal done the end of June. I am truly watching what I eat...but am gaining weight by leaps an bounds. The incision is right down the middle of my abdomen. Due to the horrific weight gain it now looks like two pouches of fat. Please, any help would be so appreciated.
Thank you.

Dear Brandi
Each person is different. I had similar, except mine was stage 1. The amount removed has the impact as the colon is the 'spin dryer'. The shorter the colon, the shorter the 'spin cycle', the less liquid removed. You can lessen the impact by taking Loperamide Hydrochloride (used to treat diarrhea). Apart from the first week, I have not had much difficulty gaining bowel control, although urgency is more than previously. I have to watch how much I eat with certain foods, and my motions are looser than previously. My op was 3 years ago.
If you want to talk about it, please feel free to message me.

You went thru a great deal but came out stronger. I underwent emergency surgery for a perforated abscess and now have a colostomy since January 2012. Presently choosing not to reverse and have learned to live with it. We are all stronger than we think. I wish you the best of luck and know that any decisions you make will be the right ones.

Hi,
Had colostomy reversal a couple years ago and never healed. Using opiate tincture for a year because cannot control constant bowel movements but that seems to be less helpful now. Walking seems to help. Have trouble w raw veggies and chemo doesnt help. Seen many specialists/nutritionist s cannot figure out cure to be able to empty bowels in a couple trips instead of ten. Any advice?

Dear Brenda
Opiate tincture is used for diarrhea, but being an opiate I would not want to be on it long term. I use Loperamide Hydrochloride. I had an ileostomy 'reversal' after a low anterior resection (with loop ileostomy) over 3 years ago.
When you say you never healed, what do you mean? The 're-plumbing' never healed? The abdomen never healed? Or what?
What was the initial stoma a result of? I take it you had bowel cancer and had a section of your colon removed, and that you are still undergoing chemotherapy. Which part was removed?
I still have to be somewhat careful regarding fruit and vegetables.
Does your "constant bowel movements" mean diarrhea or just repeated bowel 'emptying' need? I vary in the number of times I 'go', and how loose the motions are.

Hope your okay, I've have not had a revision yet, I would give my left nut to have it done.....blood is uaslly not good though

Last summer I had an emergency colostomy.  I was able to tolerate the ostomy because I knew it was temporary.  Three months later I had the reversal.  The recovery was a bit more painful and there were several difficulties.  I was not prepared for the amount of blood during the early bowel movements and passing of gas.  I was also not prepared when I went home for the shock of drainage through the staples.  It lasted about two weeks and it took some ingenuity to manage when I returned to work.  The surgeon reminded me it was better then the ostomy. He is right.  I eat more carefully, as my digestion is more sensitive.  I am careful to eat fiber, cranberries, figs and high fiber bread.  Is it a challenge?  Yes.  Is it good to be alive?  Definitely!   Good luck you will be happier after a few weeks post op.

I had my reversal 13 months ago and still am not regulated although it is much better than at the beginning. It does not seem to matter what I eat. It still starts out quite hard{ the stool } than normal consistency and I get a warning to go. After that it is WHATCH OUT. It happens without a warning and is like soup. Just lately I have ventured out to friends or shopping but I watch in what state I am in. I had no problem with my bag [8 months] and could have lived with that for the rest of my life. I am 85. The doctor did not inform the negative side and I guess it is different for everybody. I can't wait for the day everything will be fine again.

Please tell me what foods trigger an urgency.

Thanks

For me it tends to be acidic fruits like strawberries, pineapple, & oranges that can trigger an urgency, and also lead to diarrhoea. But sometimes the urgency seems unrelated to a specific food.
Dark chocolate 70%+ can also be a problem if not rationed. I also have to be careful not to eat too much in the way of fruit and green-vegetables. Taking loperamide hydrochloride tablets helps.

I HAD AN EMERGENCY OPERATION IN FEBRUARY AND A BAG I FEEL OK BUT AS EVERYONE SAYS ITS A PAIN I HOPE REVERSAL WILL BE IN JUNE. MY DR SAID 4 MINTHS WAS GOOD. SCARED TO BUT IF I DONT HAVE TO HAVE THIS I WANT IT GONE GOOD LUCK EVRYONE!!

I FEEL FOR YOU MY FRIEND. MY SITUATION STARTED WITH A RUPTURED APPENDIX WHICH HEN TURNED TO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED IN A COLOSTOMY. WORE THE BAG FOR A YEAR JUST HAD THE THING REVERSED IN JAN 2013. DEALT WITH STAFF INFECTIONS AFTERWARDS DUE TO THE HOSPITAL ITSELF. MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE PAIN HAS NEVER REALLY GOT ANY BETTER AND I HAVE BEEN ON NARCOTIC PAIN MEDS FOR 15 MONTHS. THEY WANT T0 STOP THE MEDS N OW AN D I AM SCARED TO DEATH . WHAT AM I TO DO AND DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW LONG THIS SEVERE PAIN WILL LAST. I KNOW ONE THING I CANT LIVE LIKE THIS WITHOUT SOME PAIN RELIEF. 57 YEARS OLD NOW AND AM NOT BEYOND ENDING IT ALL.

Thanks for your posting.
I just had the ostomy in late March '13, and they are planning a reversal in October.
I just thought I would read up on them.
Thanks, I hope life is going well for you and your family.
Pat