ileostomy reversal - the operation

Thanks both for your comments. Here's hoping for a positive outcome. Only 3 more days :)

Jenny

Are you eating a full range of fruit and veg? i would like to eat say my five a day but i supplement my diet with vitamin pills at the moment 

I also usually go to the loo in the evening  i also find that my toilet is usually fragmented (is yours)and on the occasions when i have eaten around four or five rounds of fruit and veg i felt that my time in the toilet the following day is extended and a  involves a bit more traveling there and back ,im  now wondering if this coincidence, i also wonder if because we have less bowel would fiber move food through faster than normal

Are you using loperimide?

I have also noticed that its best to eat at regular times, i sometimes get a week of going to the loo say on  a Monday then not again till the Wednesday then back to each day, that is why i started to up my fruit intake as i would prefer to go each 24hrs 

Have you monitored your intake of food atoll ?

I have read that people usually improve gradually over a year so hear is hoping this time next year things are even better 

Happy Christmas 

Paul

Yes, I eat lots of fruit and veg and it seems to suit my system. If I eat less fibre I feel 'bunged up'. I still go lots of times but it is more difficult to clear things. (Sorry if this is too much information but bowel cancer does rob you of your inhibitions!) Food doesn't seem to travel through more quickly than before.

Sometimes my rectum seems to go into overdrive and tries to expel things that aren't really there. I find that, if I take a small amount of loperamide, it helps to settle things down. I don't need to take it regularly.

I don't know when you had you reversal but I am now 6 months down the line and things are pretty good really. 'Normal' is not quite the same as before but it's easily liveable with. I've also been told that it can take up to a year for things to settle but I think that this is probably how I'm going to be from now on. I'm so aware that things could have been so much worse.

To put things into perspective, my husband and I have just returned from a dream holiday in Australia (shame about the cricket!) In summer last year I was feeling more ill than I have ever felt in my life - caused by chemo - and couldn't believe that I'd ever be well again.

Enjoy your Christmas,

Jenny

Hi all Operation was successful and had my first, second, third, fourth and fifth BM yesterday :) Hopefully going home today, still a bit sore from the op but my support vest is helping and walking too. Had weetabix this morning so just waiting for further movement. Thankfully nothing to mention at the time of writing. Definitely think I'll be getting some pads just for peace of mind. Have a great christmas everyone

Congratulations, am really pleased to hear you have successfully joined the Dyson Club, great news.  I would recommend the pads definitely, I needed them for peace of mind as much as the odd accident.  Have a fabulous Christmas, and a happy New Year.

Carla

Well done on the BMs - isn't it amazing what we now talk about openly? I hope the Weetabix has worked its' magic!

I also had pads for peace of mind. I didn't really need them very often but it made me feel more confident.

Enjoy Christmas at home with your family. Here's to a healthy 2014!

Jenny

It is but after all we've been through we are allowed to be a bit crude. :) I'm home now but the BMs have stopped after the explosiveness of last night. I hope this is just normal? Can't believe I've gone from wanting to poo to wanting it to stop to wanting it to start again and all in the space of 24 hours. I think I'll try some fruit tomorrow Also how long does it take the swelling to go down?

Sadly I was readmitted on Sunday following a bout of sickness and constant nausea, consultant said it was my bowels being slow to work and backing up. Thankfully my bowels sorted themselves out but I still had a lot of gas and pain.

When I got home last night I had a hot bath (works for my constipated toddler) and hot water bottle my bowels are now working and sound like an old central heating system sparking into life. Stools are still watery but I haven't had much 'food' over the past 48 hrs.

The only problem I have is a pain at the LAR joint I assume this will ease in time but just wondered if it was normal. I'd hate to think I was passing fully formed stools as the pain would be unbearable.

Merry Christmas everyone

Sorry to hear that things have not gone as smoothly as you would have liked. I hope things improve from now on.

I don't remember having pain which was definitely from the LAR join but I did have quite a lot of pain after frequent visits to the loo. It eased after a week or so I think.

The baths sound a good idea. I found it very soothing to soak my bottom area in warm water apart from anything else. I echo the noisy bowels! Even now mine seem to make much more noise than they used to!

Wishing you well as soon as possible,

Jenny

Stick in there Jeff, I'm sure it's just a matter of time for things to improve for you, i had pains and aches, all checked out by the doc and all turned out to be nothing, I'm sure by week six you will be feeling much better
All the best.
Paul