Hi all
In Oct 24, I was diagnosed with a low bowel/rectum cancerous tumour and in Dec 24 I had a 10 hour operation to remove it, accompanied by an ileostomy and stoma.
I got on ok with the stoma bag; but I always hoped I'd have a go at REVERSAL as it is, surely, the gold standard to aim for?
fast forward to late October this year and I get a slot for the reversal operation -October 27th 
Operation goes well, the stoma site is stitched up and my large intestine-or what's left of it- is asked once more to join in with the alimentary canal! I can almost see a dark tunnel, full of spiders and webs and dust, unused for nearly a year creaking back into life....
It's been tough, won't lie. I had almost no appetite for 4 days and what came out of my bottom doesn't bear describing -'emaciated alien' is one description-...my sleep has been awful , I've felt nauseous often. But today, 1 week later, I feel green shoots of recovery. My tummy is not quite as tight as a drum and I fancy food!
I've acquired a few tricks and tips to date so if my experiences can in any way help anyone who might be about to undergo a reversal, or be thinking of having one, then please allow me to help! x
Hi Longing and congrats to you on getting this done!!! Yes, those first few days and weeks are a challenge-but you know what, things get better and better . I am now about 6 months post reversal and I visit the loo 3 to 5 times a day-I know things will never be like they were before . But everything is MANAGEABLE , if I need to go I can hold onto the need for a while, I don't get woken up in the night to go and poo urgently ..it's al good 
You will curse andd cry a bit as these days get ticked off , but like me you'll look back soon and think 'Wow!!! So glad I had that done!'`
X
