Pain after reversal

Hi Lizzie5555 The diarrhoea and urgency is normal and can take a while to settle down I’m afraid. Because you’ve had some of your bowel removed then things tend to move it through more quickly and consequently less water gets absorbed hence the looser stools. They say that things can improve for anything up to 2 years but the first couple of months are definitely the hardest. 
Have you been told to take loperamide/immodium? You can take up to 8 a day and half an hour before eating. Take it easy to begin with as you don’t want things to go the other way. It’s also worth keeping a food diary to see if anything causes worse days than others? 
There’s lots of info on this board too

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy-and-colostomy-discussions-forum/f/stoma-reversal-and-lars

Im not sure what’s causing the stabbing pain so worth checking out with your doctor just to be on the safe side

Take care

Karen x

Thanks so much for replying Karen.
It’s a much harder recovery than I perhaps anticipated. I have been unable to really leave the house as part of everyday having to rush to the toilet. I tried a loperamide but it just bunged me up for 36 hours and made me feel uncomfortable. It’s early days I guess.

It does get better over time Lizzie5555 I always made sure I had a disabled toilet key and a little bag of wipes, spare underwear, pads etc. Could be worth going back onto a low residue diet for a few weeks? 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/general/258088/low-residue-diet

Hi Lizzie5555,

After my reversal, I had a stabbing pain in my pelvic area. My surgeon said it showed the bowel was working properly. Although it didn't last long, the pain was so excruciating, I would put my hand in my mouth to stop myself from screaming. For a few weeks, I barely left the house because when the pain came it used to paralyse me and I was unable to move. I did not want cars having to drive round me if it happened as I was crossing the road I was going to the toilet many times a day which is normal after a reversal. I used haemorrhoid cream after as this helped to soothe the skin (I think this was a tip from Kareno62). It took about 6-8 weeks for the pain to completely go. It will get easier. The toilet trips will reduce and you'll find your new normal. Hang in there!

Cheryl x

Thank you so much for your reply. It makes you feel so much better When someone else has experienced the same. I slept really well which I hadn’t been doing and the pain has gone for now. So feeling much more positive today, I need to get out of the house as hardly left in 3 weeks. The urgency is stopping me, I’ve got some adult nappies but not confident. Don’t think my recovery was helped by contracting C diff in hospital. 

Hi was it ultra low rectum cancer . I’m waiting for a reversal and really worrying about having it done or not. 

Hi I had a reversal in December. I am still getting aches and pains at the operation site and internally. I contacted PALS at the Hospital to chase up a review for me about 5 weeks ago. Nothing yet! It’s frustrating because you don’t know if pain after six months is normal. I start worrying the Cancer is back. I empathise with your situation.