Stoma reversal

Just ask the medical team to explain to you about LAR Syndrome, You may not get it, but it is something worth knowing, i was not told anything two months ago, before surgery. I would have liked to.

It is no big deal, but the first few days, you will need to wear some sort of protection, like pads, as accidents will occur. You just will have to eat in small quantity, as your bowels will need to re-adjust to the new you. Be aware that fibres are to be avoided, at least until your body re-adjust. I cannot advise you on a diet, as it is more trial and error, everyone reacts differently and I am just a beginner ! I have discovered that some foods get well digested sometimes and the same food may create some issue some other times! Not easy!

But don't despair, I personally prefer it to the stoma bag! It is just a question of finding the right diet and having loperamide at all time with you! Good luck ! Brigitte

Hi Carol. Have you had a look on this page - there’s some good tips!

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../stoma-reversal-and-lars

Hi Karen,

Thanks for that I'll have a look

Carol

Hi Brigitte

Thanks for your advice, I will indeed discuss LARS with my surgeon before my op.

As you say it will be trial and error with diet and as you suggest wearing some sort of pad in case of accidents. I won't stray too far from a loo for the first few weeks.

Thanks also for the good luck wishes

Carol

Thank you for your advice. I will indeed discuss LARS with my onsultant.

I feel I am an expert with Loperamide already as my stoma output is almost always very liquid. 

As you say it will be trial and error with diet too.

Thanks for the good luck wishes

Carol

Hello again Carol, you must have had an ileostomy then, like me , I find the reversal is so much better, you have more control over the leaks! Despite the accidents! It's a plus !

Good luck with the operation.

Brigitte xx

Hi Carol 

My surgeon warned me that there was a long waiting list for reversals before he operated. Covid and short staff August 21 caused a very long list 

I was thirteen months so my bowel was fast asleep. I ordered incontinence pads. They were large and my big knickers helped them up. This was a bonus in the first two weeks at night as the pant type were really hard to pull down when I had an urgency in the night whereas the pads were easy access 

For the first two weeks I slept on the sofa purely because I could get to the small tiled toilet which was easy to clean up. Night times were tricky. 
I didn’t eat enough to thicken the consistency so my stools were watery. So no control. Get the beige stodgy foods started early. I made a mistake by not eating thinking that I would slow it down. No twas opposite 

I followed the info on the LARS group and I was finding I gained control quite well improving steady and surely. 
One of the very best tips there was when think you need to go hold on and it may pass. Then when you’ve been wait as there’ll be more 

I wear extra long panty liners now if I go out  I probably don’t need them it’s a confidence thing  Nights are great I don’t wear a pad at all then 

I bought Sudocrem, Vaseline and later found small travel bidets

( just a water bottle with long spray nozzle) available online was so good when I was sore 

You may not have any issues as you’re having a fast turnaround but if your like me it’s good to be prepared

Good luck 

with best wishes