Decision on surgery

Hi.  This is a great place to get thoughts from others that have been through it 
I don’t know what I’d do I wasn’t given a choice. 
I had a LAR with a temporary Ileostomy called Whoopi. I had her for thirteen months.My rectum was removed anew attached and left to heal

After the reversal I had a wobbly couple of weeks but as long as I eat the right things I’m fine. It depends how low your cancer is as to how much control you will have. 
Can you phone your team to discuss outcomes of each way.?

The bowel will be temperamental if you don’t have an Ileostomy/colostomy anyway so there could be control issues there. But I’m not experienced in that option
The one thing I had with my stoma was freedom, I travelled ate out and flew so it doesn’t stop you from doing anything 
Im sure there’ll be others with more knowledge on not having a stoma and the after effects 
Please click on my name to read my bio if you wish. 
Take care 

Thanks Artsie I think what you described is possibly what I will have and its good to know that things settled down after a while.

Hi CLO66,

There are many pros and cons, but we are all different as to diagnoses + how our bodies respond.

I had reattachment. My experience was healing and recovery was slow and painful. Eating/diet and toiletting remains a challenge as low fibre, low residue diet to a chemo supportive diet is big jump for my reconstructed bowel, aggrevated nerves and torn stomach muscles.

However, i don't have stoma to learn nor a reversal op to have.

I wasn't offered choice as surgeon felt feasibility and confidence in reattachment holding was unknown. I had been marked up for both temp and perm stoma, but surgeon decided that he could reattach on the day and it worked.

Good luck with your decision making

I had no choice as they removed the whole large bowel,rectum and anus

I just wanted to say that a stoma really is no bother so  if you do end up with one its nothing to worry about.

Kath

Hello,

This subject is front and centre for me and I wish that I’d given it more thought prior to the event. I went with the surgeon’s suggestion.

The lowest of my 3 tumours was just above the anal margin (~1.5cm). My local surgeon in France, and a good friend, said that it was beyond his capabilities and sent me to see one of the best in Europe at a teaching hospital. He operated and I didn’t need a stoma at all. Technically this was very impressive. This was in mid-October 2022.

However, my digestive system is still incredibly sensitive; I need to keep to rice, chicken and a bit of broccoli etc to keep it calm. This pales into insignificance though compared to being completely incontinent. I have noticed no improvement in my sphincter control since the op. I am a 48 yo fit man with young kids and I can’t stay off work for 1-2 years in the hope that things improve (and they might not).

i have a follow-up consultation with the surgeon in 2 weeks and need to have a frank conversation about a stoma. I appreciate that it’s still early days but it’s not much of a life at the moment.

Radiotherapy and 3 ops have clearly affected the sphincter and I’ve probably been unlucky. There’s also a chance that it will improve over many months.

Good idea polling opinion and I wish you the very best.

Hi there. It’s so demoralising to have control issues.

I had an Ileostomy reversed thirteen months later and researched masses also I then learned that LARS can affect anyone that has had bowel surgery   I’ve attached a link  you  may have to join the stoma group I’m not sure they’re a lovely group  I hope the  info is helpful for you and others

There’s great advice on diet , medication and gaining control 

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../lars-websites

Hi CLO66  I wasn’t given a choice but I had 7.5cm of my bowel removed and reattached which was successful. It took a while for everything to settle down but as long as I eat fairly healthy I’ve not had too many issues. Yes bowel movements are def quicker than before but it’s not impacted my day to day life so far & can still work out or go for walks without the need to run to the loo! Good luck In whatever you decide!