Bag less

Hi not happy anymore, it felt so good reading this !  I can’t wait for my reversal!  I’m coping with my bag but I’ll never get used to it. 
Thanking you for sharing and good luck xxxxx

Hi not happy anymore, it felt so good reading this !  I can’t wait for my reversal!  I’m coping with my bag but I’ll never get used to it. 
Thanking you for sharing and good luck xxxxx

Hi nothappyanymore,

That is good to now. My surgeon says I will need to wait at least six months to a year before he will consider a reversal because my body needs to recover from major surgery.  I get the impression he is hoping I'll opt to keep the stoma but your post has made me more determined than ever.

Are you doing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your muscles?

AEC

Hi AEC

Not doing any pelvic floor exercise yet as still in quite a bit pain and discomfort and I need to run to the toilet, but it’s only 10 days since my operation, I thought I was ready after 3 months but the collection of fluid held me back, it was six months in the end , I kept telling them that I am ready and will come in next day and that’s what happened, scanned on a Tuesday in surgery on the Thursday 

keep going as there is a light at the end of the tunnel 

Fantastic!!!! My mum should be having an early reversal next week and I think she is very much looking forward to being bagless. I hope your recovery is very speedy and you continue to improve every day!

Wow that’s great news I am pleased for you and your mum

Brilliant news nothappyanymore! I hope that you’re recovery goes well. I’m now nearly 3 months post reversal & am pretty much back to normal. Any questions just ask. x

Hi jersey lily 

i have bouts of going to the toilet, once I start I just keep going maybe 10 times or more,I have just about enough control to make it to the toilet in time but if I was out there’s no way I would make, so at the moment i haven’t really left home, is this something you had and if so how long did it take you before it’s safe to go out?

Hi nothappyanymore, 

My tumour was in my sigmoid colon so I still have most of my rectum. I see from your profile that your cancer was low in your rectum, which will mean that you have less left. My understanding is that this means that retraining your Bowel will take longer than mine did. Did you do any pelvic floor exercises pre surgery? My advice ( from personal experience & what I was told pre reversal) is to do pelvic exercises, practice ‘holding on’ before you go to the loo (often the urgent need to go passes), & stick to a low fibre diet. Keep a food diary so that when you reintroduce food you can see if it has any effect - and don’t be downhearted if does, just try again in a few weeks. Try wearing incontinence pads, as then you have a ‘safety net’ when you go out, & take some wet wipes & a change of underwear. I never took Imodium but I know that others on here do. Maybe have a chat to your stoma nurse? Good luck! Remember this too will pass. x