Ileostomy reversal successes

Hi Pipsyq

If you click on my name you can read my back story if you’d like. The very best place to gather loads of info is the stoma group where there’s   Living well with a stoma reversal or LARS 

This has masses including me asking the same questions 

I had my Ileostomy as my rectum was removed as I had a 10 cm cancer tumour . I was reversed thirteen months later and things have settled well 

best wishes 

Hi Pipsyq

My surgeon said he would only recommend a reversal for me if he was fairly sure I could regain some control of my bowel movements.

I had a rectal adencarcinoma removed with clear margins in Nov 2021, and awoke with an ileostomy. Following adjuvant chemo I was put on the list for a reversal in Oct 2022.

I had the reversal operation on 4 May 2023. Six weeks post-op I have recovered well and my control is getting better daily. I am eating and drinking mostly what I want, with a few exceptions. I have also been on a couple of weekend trips away, with no incidents. I accept that my ‘new normal’ may never be what it was before cancer, but at the moment, after only six weeks I am coping well. The first couple of weeks were quite stressful I’ll admit and there were multiple toilet trips daily.

Sounds like you are doing really well 

My new normal is I have less storage so I go more but not every day. Usual for me is two to three times small amounts some days it’s once but it does depend on how much I eat 

Best wishes