To reverse or not to reverse

Hello FostermumMandy

I have an Ileostomy too but I’ve not had the same journey as you. 
Stage 4 is really frightening and now you’ve been offered  a reversal. It’s a lot to process and I think your in a good place to find lots of experiences from others that have had similar which will give you more information to make your decision 

Mine was rectal and I’ve been told I’m a candidate for Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome. 
If your operation was higher up maybe a reversal will not have too many issues  

Would a reversal inhibit your treatment if you needed it? I’m not sure it would but I’m not a medic 

I have asked to be on the list, it’s a very long wait I’ve been offered lots of support and a colostomy if I an unable to manage. 

Good luck with you decision. If you click on any names their bios will come up. 

Hello 

I had an ileostomy reversal in 2018 and it was successful. I had stage 3  rectum cancer and following chemo/radiotherapy I had a low anterior resection where all of my rectum was removed I have been very lucky and don’t experience incontinence issues.

A reversal is a very personal choice and only you can decide I personally am very happy with my decision.

Good luck

Hi Panda21

Thanks for this info. I’m a candidate for LARS Could I ask please did you follow the exercises here for regaining bowel control before your reversal? 
I am on a very long waiting list  so I am trying to follow the exercises to get as strong as possible  and wondered if there was anything more I should be doing?

Hi Artsie Ann

I followed the exercises religiously and still do since I love the freedom of not having my stomach although it did save my life!

When I had my reversal I wasn’t allowed out of hospital until I had opened my bowels… I found drinking hot water helped move this along since I don’t drink tea or coffee and walking the corridor of the ward to wake up my bowel.

There are certain foods that I can’t tolerate even though I’ve been told I can eat anything following the reversal. For me it’s mushrooms, beans, peas, sweetcorn etc

so keep up the exercises and good luck any further questions let me know 

Best wishes 

Panda21

Thanks Panda21

Youve really given me some positivity. I’ve decided to be put on the list they’ve said that if it’s intolerable I can have a permanent colostomy. That was my request. 
It’s given me the inspiration to keep trying those exercises. Though I do find the very hard. Think my bottoms asleep. 

Morning Artsie Ann

I am pleased I have been of some help and it is a very personal decision if from a medical perspective it’s your choice.

For me I accepted it would be a new chapter and I would never be the old me however feel far more free without my bag.

 I can confirm your bottom is definitely asleep

Good luck 

Panda21

Hello Redhead

I want to cut my carbon footprint down however if I have no control I think my footprint will double. So that’s why I’ve ask for a reforming of a stoma. 
The one food I have really missed is sweetcorn so I’m very disappointed that it can cause a problem. 
Still upwards and onwards. 
Im still trying to wake my bottom up.

She’s totally refusing and I can’t seem to find her.

I am waiting for a reversal and very often I get depressed I don’t know how long the waiting time is.Have signed my admission form but no feed back I’m on remote.The other problem is I am living with a catheter so I haven’t had a holiday.Even before my stoma opp peas sweet corn beans etc have alway gone straight through me 

Hi FostermumMandy

If you are managing well with the stoma and, on balance, are ok with your current normal, you might be right to be reluctant to take on a reversal. One way to assess the possible outcome would be to complete a LARS questionnaire. I found one on-line and this is a predictor of how easily you will adapt to reversal, and what the next new normal may be like. 

There are quite a variety of ways and means to assist post reversal. I’ve found them helpful, although my post reversal diet is much as it was with a stoma!  I would have stuck with the bag had my stoma behaved better - it kept prolapsing. In the end, my reversal was something of an emergency. There were times of regret in the early months, but now, 18 months on, I’m glad to be free of the stoma, even though some days can be tough - recent record was 10 visits to the throne room in one day after 5 days absence…

I’m stage 4 with recto-sigmoidal cancer so very little of the business end of the colon left. In my mid 60’s if that helps.