Stoma reversal wound

Hi . Really sorry to hear this - it must be so frustrating when you’re looking forward to getting back to exercising again. I’m afraid I’ve no advice as I had a cats bum wound! Yes that’s what my surgeon calls it and they sew the hole up with a running stitch then draw it up like a purse string and it looks a bit like a cats bum! 

Hope things start to improve soon. Perhaps you could chase the consultants secretary and ask for a cancellation? I was once given an appointment 5 months away as that was ‘the first that they had’ but when I said he wanted to see me within 3 months they re-checked and found one.

Take care

Karen x

Hi NickyG21,

Am I reading this right that they did not close the wound after the reversal? Mine was glued (it was rather large as I had a loop colostomy; the scar is almost 10cm long), and it healed fine very quickly.

But I did have a small open wound after the resection due to a abscess that burst (minor infection probably caused by having the stoma relatively close to one of the incisions). It was only about 2cm across and did not need anything other than a fresh dressing every morning, but it certainly did not get any bigger before healing up.

Not an expert, but I would definitely press for an urgent appointment.

All the best,

Yolande

Hi Karen and Yolande

Thanks for your replies. The wound had stitches inside and is being packed. I was told it would heal from the inside out and it seemed to be but then has opened up. Since my post I have seen my GP and the practice nurse. I've had swabs taken for infection so I'm waiting for the results. I've also had a call from the tissue viability team and will be visited by a nurse on Monday. She has sent photos to my consultant and has said it isn't uncommon for a wound to open up. She has some ideas for sorting it and will discuss after consultant has been in touch. 

Best wishes

Nicky

Hi NickyG21

I had an ileostomy reversal in October 2018 and had a would that was left partly open to heal from the inside out. I visited my GP surgery nurses almost daily for two weeks for them to pack the wound.  It became very red and blistered around the scar but I think I had a bit of a reaction to one of the dressings.  I thought it looked terrible but the practice nurses were quite blasé about it. Eventually it healed after a good 4 weeks.

My surgeon did say that she would sew up the main bit of the wound really tight so it would be very sore for 2 weeks (it was!) but she also commented that it might come undone after a week. However she didn’t sound very concerned about this eventuality as if it was something quite likely and that would just heal on its own. It’s just the impression she gave.  I know that generally with this type of wound the main thing they worry about is it healing over on the surface and trapping infection inside.  Much better to heal from inside first.

As you can no doubt tell, I’m not a medical expert and I agree with the others that you should press for an urgent consultant’s appointment but hopefully it will be something that will not turn out to be too much of a problem.

All the best

Liz x

Hi again NickyG21

Having just re-read your post more thoroughly it is good that the nurse is visiting you on Monday and if she has managed to speak to the consultant hopefully they will be able to sort you out.

Liz x