ileostomy reversal - the operation

Hi,

I had my reversal operation at the end of May. The operation was small compared to the previous LAR. They don't really need to make a new cut. They basically free the bowel, stitch it up and push it back in! I had an open wound which was left to heal from the bottom up. It took about 6 weeks to be completely healed but didn't cause me any problems. I think it is the surgeon's preference if it is done like this or with stitches.

I recovered quite quickly from the operation and was only in hospital 3 nights. They need to make sure that your bowel is working before you can go home - sometimes it goes into 'sleep mode' apparently. My bowel started working on the second night, which was pretty horrible. I was prepared for frequency and urgency but not for the griping tummy pain which went with it. This settled after a few days though. In myself, I felt quite well after about a week.

I expect you've been told all the horror stories about bowel function. I found that the first couple of weeks were difficult but then things gradually settled down. I went back to work, as a teacher, four weeks after my op and was fine. I think I was lucky in that most of my 'running to the toilet time' tended to be in the evening.

I hope this helps,

Good luck! You'll soon be able to join the Dyson club again!

Jenny

 

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for your response. I think I would take your outcome as you do hear some horror stories. Did you have any issues with the dressing, did you pack it yourself or did someone visit, I've heard a district nurse visits some people. I'm going private for the op so as you say it will be the surgery (same one as my LAR) that will complete the procedure

Thankfully I've retained some muscle control and have been doing the pelvic floor exercise so I'm prepared for the urgency. If needed I'll wear adult nappies :) Thanks for the heads up on the griping pains, can you take anything for this?

Did the open wound cause you any issues eg getting around etc? I have two boys aged 2 and 5 so concerned if it gets knocked accidently.

I'll be glad to get it over with and start 2014 a fresh, its been an eventful year.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Yes, I do think I'm lucky with my outcome, especially as I had the ileostomy for 15 months (had to have chemo and then a wait for the op).

I didn't have any painkillers specifically for the tummy pain but it really only lasted a day or two. I was given loperamide to help with control but didn't take it regularly. I still take some sometimes when my bowel misbehaves. I know some people are told not to take it, because the bowel needs to be retrained, but again this will depend on the surgeon.

The district nurses visited for the first couple of weeks to change the dressing and pack it. Strangely, this doesn't hurt at all, even though they are poking about in a deep wound. I took paracetamol for the first few days after surgery but was soon able to manage without. I was able to drive after about three weeks and then I had it dressed at the GPs surgery so that I didn't have to wait in all day for the DNs to come (their idea).

I wouldn't worry too much about your boys. My job was as a primary school teacher, with a class of 30, 9 and 9 year olds and it was fine. Just don't encourage them to jump on you for 2 or 3 weeks!

You sound very positive about your op. I hope your bowel co-operates, though you may have an 'interesting' Christmas this year!

Best wishes for 2014.

Jenny

Wow even more impressive if you had chemo. It's been six months since my chemo and radio. So hopefully any effects of that are behind me. Luckily it did the trick so I didn't need post op chemo. I think I'm ready, looking forward to christmas and starting 2014 Merry christmas to you and your family

Hi Tull

i had my reversal early In october  in and out within 3 days a bit of pain around the wound site controlled with paracetamol, my wound was stitched up with eight inline stitches, if i remember Jenny was given a purse string stitch which i had never heard of but is also widely done

I had no problems with the stitch area and only visit to the nurse was to have stitches removed 

Happy Christmas 

Paul

Hi Paul,

How were your bowels post op? Are you operating with a new normal now, from memory and previous posts I think your tumour was low?

After a minor leak during the night Wednesday cant come soon enough. Sounds like three options, just depends on Prof Sagars approach.

Merry Christmas to you too.

Jeff

Hi

Post op days 1-14 where horrible most evenings spent on the loo, most days i could get out and about tho and i could tell when it would be ok to go out and when maybe i should stay in, i was advised by the surgeon not to take loperamide for the 1st two weeks so the bowels get get working again 

On day 15 i took loperamide things improved so much so i went to the loo every 24 hrs almost at the same time tho thus could still last for about an hour back and forward

 Day 21 stopped taking loperamide for about a week before i felt the need to take it again, i can now go two weeks without taking it but on some days i take when i feel i might need to( you learn to get a feel for when things might get a bit loose)

I have been out drinking alcohol twice and it upsets my routine for about a week i could control this with loperimide but choose not to so as to try to retrain my bowels, ive had my rectum removed and all of my descending bowel and yes my tumor was very low down

At the moment j have good days and bad days but on the whole im delighted with the way things are going and lead a normal life 

ive been told it can take up to a year for your new normal to arrive so things will improve for me as they will for you 

Its a great christmas present for you, be patient and by week 6 you will be so glad you had it done

Good  Luck Jeff

Thanks Paul,

Comforting to hear that things improve and relatively quickly, I have had as much removed as you so your progress is brilliant. I'll be happy to control matters with loperamide if needed.

Sorry about the additional questions but did you even have the need for pads or adult nappies?

I guess you watch what you eat and are prepared for the downside if you opt to stray. How is your diet now things have settled?

Jeff

Hi 

I have never had pads or nappies ,only on the journey back home from the hospital wwould i say i could have done with them

I eat all varieties of foods but never a lot of fiber i only eat a third of the RDA so if i eat a slice of brown bread i would try and avoid high fiber foods for the rest of the day, i tried a couple of times eating more fruit and fiber but found the following day i spent hours on the loo, 

I was before my journey started aware of my food intake and i find now that if i keep my food intake around 2500 calories balanced between fats (lower fat foods) protein and carbs i can get a reasonable idea when i might need to go to the loo, it really is a case of trial and error and i would say time

I can add that i train almost every day at the gym sometimes hard without any problems such as leakage, wind or sudden urges to go to the loo

Dont worry about asking questions Jeff im happy to answer any you have, this site helped us all at the start of our journeys so im happy to give a little back

Regards Paul

Paul's reply shows how individual this all is. I ate a high fibre diet before my illness and do so again now. I find that I feel much better and it doesn't seem to affect frequency or urgency. I usually have a 'window' of about 2 hours, usually in the evening, where I go maybe 4 or 5 times. My tumour was in my rectum so I assume that this is because I no longer have the storage capacity I once had.

The key for me is to eat at regular times and not to eat too much. I eat anything I want, including spicy foods.

I echo what Paul said about this site. I've found it really helpful to share things with people who really understand.

Jenny