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
I thought I would dip back in with an update, in case it's useful to anyone... I'm now four weeks post-reversal and things are looking good!
My first week was a misery, having to RUN for the toilet on a moment's notice over and over again... but in less than a week my colon woke up and started doing its job again, my output solidified, I started adding regular foods back into my diet, and although I still go to the loo ten times a day (a number that is slowly decreasing) I HAVE CONTROL again!
My surgical wound is healing nicely, though I'm still rather swollen around the stoma site and I've been told I should expect that to last a few more weeks before it subsides.
So for anyone who reads this in the future... it really does get better! 
Longing Great news! Reversal doesn't work for everyone does it, but it's worked for me and it's working for you
In my house I still see the odd colostomy bag lying around, or those black bags, or the little tub of calamine lotion and I cannot say I miss any of that. For anyone thinking of getting a reversal-well it's a tough call in truth and I know that for some, it's a bad move that they regret -but delighted to read of your obvious delight that things are settling!!!!!
JillM26 do let us know exactly how you get on -certainly no need to brick it! I would just add that for me , there is a very clear link to 'the more I eat the more I poo', so to avoid multiple toilet trips I am forced to modify my stupidly big appetite!! Or try to, rather 
But I do not miss the bag one tiny bit.
Great news JillM26 Best case scenarios are those we so crave for yet too often miss out on.Good for you!!! The loo trip will happen...my first visit generated what I can only describe as a deformed alien ,and that took a day or two 
