Hi i'm daisymayalbie, I have had my ileostomy and fistula since 25 October 2017. I had breast cancer and one round of chemo which perforated my bowel and developed sepsis. I spent 3 months in hospital 3 of the first weeks on intensive care unit with several days in an induced coma . I hate my situation now as it's totally destroyed my confidence and life. I have bad lungs through having pneumonia 4 times so anaesthesia is very difficult as my lungs tend to collapse. I want to reverse my ileostomy and fistula because my flow is constant and I get very sore around where the bag goes. I don't feel I have the support I want it's as if I have to put up and shut up. The chemo has caused other illnesses, RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and diabetes 2 due to having to take Methotrexate for the RA, which also lowers my immunity. Makes me wonder what else it's going to cause. I do try to put on a front and say i'm ok but really i'm not. Has anyone got any tips on coping and dealing with things. I've found family and friends avoiding subject basically because they don't know what to say to help.
I was 67 and had thirteen months of an Ileostomy diet so I wouldn’t say I was that healthy
A colostomy normally means that your diet can be healthy.
I can’t say about the fistula and I think that you may find more info from others if you start a new thread in this group
The reversal is not a big operation. The stoma is removed then the loop joined and then closed. It’s quick with very little GA needed so your mum should not experience long side affects from drugs. I was on very little pain killers over the counter tablets and home.
It’s the managing the bowel movements afterwards but like I say there’s lots of support and it improves with time.
Im fine now I manage my food intact and have smaller bowel movements more times a day but I had my rectum removed so that’s different and mine was an Ileostomy so others can advice on their colostomy reversal
Ann
Thanks JoshA
I worried my children and it really hurt me to see the pain on their faces especially my daughter she cried and it was tougher than any diagnosis.
Your mums been through a lot and this is quite a small operation it’s the bowel training that can be challenging
Keep us updated and try and not worry
sending you a hug
Ann
Hi
I think the actual op was about an hour probably the surgeon was fifteen minutes the rest was prep etc
I went down at 4.30 last of the day he’d probably been doing major surgery and squashed me in at the end.
When I had my LAR there was two in front of me and I went down at 9.30
Its not a long op and there’s not much GA needed.
Ann
