ileostomy reversal - the operation

Hi Tull,

I'm sorry to hear that you were readmitted, but glad to hear that you weren't in for too long.

My bowels still grumble and rumble, some 7 months after my reversal, but wouldn't change a thing.

I still get pain occasionally below where I had the reversal op, apparently my practice nurse tells me this can be due to scar tissue forming, and getting stuck sometimes.  I sometimes frighten the life out of people at work when I have to jump up out of my seat to jiggle about to help loosen things - it does make for some funny faces in the office sometimes. 

Merry Christmas.

Carla

Thanks Paul/ Carla, It's reassuring to hear that. Obviously I knew it was probably nothing but just good to read it as well. Got a call this aft from hospital advising that my stool sample from Sundays admission showed a bug so now on antibiotics. Feeling better thought

So now 9 days in and recovery from the op is fine and my wound is healing nicely. Staples come out on Monday. Bowel habits both day and night are another story. Plenty of small BMs but never able to clear out properly. Also starting to get that stinging sensation due to the number of movements. Thankfully no diarrhea so eating plenty of different foods turkey, veg, fruit smoothies, soup, toast, etc also keeping fluids up. I must admit I'm a bit depressed with spending so much tine on the loo I just hope that over the next few weeks it will improve. Is there anything else I should consider doing or just stick with it?

It sounds to me as if you're doing fine, though I know it may not seem like it at the moment. It WILL get better!

The small BMs are also normal. I was like this at first and still, after six months, go 4 or 5 times in a period of a couple of hours, rather than in 'one go'. It's frustrating but I've mainly got used to it now. Have you got some cream for your sore bottom? Any baby nappy cream will help - good old Sudocream is cheap.

Your diet seems fine. Though it sound a bit contradictory when you are having so many BMs, you need to avoid getting constipated so keeping the fluids up is a good idea. You'll soon find out if there are foods to avoid. I ate dried apricots a couple of weeks after my op - oh dear! (I can eat them now though)

Nine days is a really short time after the operation, especially if your bowel had not worked for a while (I don't know how long you had the ileostomy) Hang on in there!

Jenny

 

Got plenty of cream as my youngest is still in nappies so should be well catered for soreness. This afternoon has been a bit easier but still experiencing small BMs.along with urges that don't materialise into owt. As you say time will help. I had my ileostomy for little over 15 weeks. Tomorrow is another day :)

I know from personal experience that the constant urge to 'go' is horrible. It's as if the rectum goes into overdrive and tries to expel what isn't really there. I still have days like this occasionally,Christmas Day being one of them, if my eating pattern is different. Gradually you'll get better at ignoring the urge until it is strong enough to produce something.

What have you been advised re loperamide? I know it sounds strange, as I rarely get diarrhoea, but on bad days I take a small dose and it settles things down. I think I got this advice from someone on here (can't remember who but thank you anyway!)

Tomorrow IS another day. You'll soon find that the good days become more frequent. I went back to work full time 4 weeks after my operation and it was fine. I found it helpful to having something else to think about other than my bowels! :)

Jenny

 

HI Tull,

I hope that things are settling down for you.

I had my reversal in May this year after having had the ileostomy for only 10 weeks. For the first 2 - 3 months I was going to the bathroom between 10 - 15 times a day, and when I asked my Cancer Nurse about this she advised me that it could take anything up to a year to settle down. I went back to work mid October this year, so it can't all be bad, and I cope with it all ok.  I tend to find that I mostly need to go after eating an evening meal, but sometimes this can take up to an hour to happen, there is just no reasoning why.  

Unlike Jenny, I do still suffer from loose stools/diarhhea but found, for me, reintroducing the foods I ate before I had cancer helped. In fact, I have had my first week this week where I have gone a whole 7 days without having to pop a loperimide, yippee.  Pre cancer I ate loads of wholemeal and fresh fruit, so I started to reintroduce this slowly after a couple of months.   I also found that reintroducing foods I ate previously can give me loose stools, but was advised that if at first I didn't get on with them, to try them again a few weeks later. 

It will get better, mine has, but you are still at a very early stage.

Carla

Hi Carla,

Things have been ok over the last couple of days (touch wood). My diet has remained bland but I have ate a small bit of xmas chocolate and had a few fruit and veg smoothies.

My stools are very small but formed and the urgency has significantly reduced. When the peristalsis waves I was experiencing a few days ago got too for me I took a Loperamide and this really helped. I still get it now but its not as paralysing.

When I go no now I'm making 3 or 4 visits in quick succession and usually in the morning or later afternoon so I'm focusing on building bulk in my stool now by adding Lepicol (psyllium) to my diet and following the MD Anderson bowel training programme.

Having read a lot re the issues I've been experiencing these can be made easier by stretching the reservoir of my new rectum so adding some bulk should assist in this.

A few days ago it was unbearable but it has got better. I'm still on a course of antibiotics so nervous of things going the other way.

Happy New Year

Hi Tull,

I'm glad to hear that things are improving for you.

Was your tumour in your rectum? Mine was and I think it explains why my bowel habits are different to Carla. My colon is intact and appears to work normally. My problem is storage and, as you have suggested, bulk in the diet does help. I eat lots of fruit and veg, whole grain cereals etc. I still eat wholemeal bread but find that some white bread is also good for me. I also eat spicy food, as I did before my diagnosis, with no ill effects. (I know that I am probably unusual in this - it must be years of chilli addiction!)

 I'm glad that the loperamide helped as well. I only take one about once a fortnight now.

I was also told that the bowel can take up to a year to settle completely. I'm seven months on today and life is normal really but it's a new normal. I don't think I'll ever be exactly as I was before but I can enjoy life as I am. You're obviously younger than me (I'm 60 now and I retired in the summer) so I would expect your recovery to be even better. Just be as patient as you can.

Happy New Year!

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

My tumour was low down so I had a lot of my rectum removed, not all of it but a lot. My consultant never told me how much but it was just pleasing not to damage muscle.

I'm a big chilli lover and will be trying a little more spice over the next week or so. At 35 I plan of eating what I like although appreciate there will be some rough periods ahead. Just a case of suck it and see.

I ventured out today, only to the shops. I felt ok with only a couple 'moments' of urgency. I'm hoping that with time the urgency feelings will subside further. If I can get the feelings sorted then I'll be happy with that.

Hopefully all being well I'll be able to return to work within the next week or so. Continuing life as normal played a big part during my chemoradiation treatment as I worked all the way through and this helped me a lot.

We are moving house at the end of March so looking forward to focussing on that.

Have a great 2014!!