Stoma Reversal

FormerMember over 5 years ago

4 replies
117 subscribers
2114 views

Hi Everyone,

My stoma reversal was scheduled to happen about the end of March 2020 until Covid hit here in France. Since then it has been postponed twice, however I have been given a new date the 2nd June 2020. The appointment has been made with the anesthetist for the 26th May so hopefully all will go well.

I am now starting to think about what happens next, that is before the operation and after the operation.

The first question I have is what do I have to do in terms fasting before the operation, the documents that i have been given by the surgeon give no information. For the original operation I had to fast from midnight. however this time I have a bag which is very active throughout the night and especially in the morning. What have other peoples experience been. ?

Assuming all goes well, the surgeon has explained all of the things that can go wrong, he intends attaching the stomas together with staples.

He explained that nothing will be the same after the operation in terms of bowel movements, he said the first week that i would suffer diarrhea and urgent calls to evacuate my bowels but this would pass and eventually things would settle down. I understand that most peoples experience are different, can anyone give me some idea of what I can expect after the operation or guide me to a site that gives the relevant information.

I will appreciate all answers,

Goslow.

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hi Goslow1

I'm please to hear that you now have a firm date for your reversal op. and I hope your appointment with the anaesthetist goes well.

I'm unable to answer any of your questions as I didn't have a stoma.

Bowel Cancer UK has a very helpful website www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk. You may also find the CRUK website useful too - cancerresearchuk.org

Macmillan have an excellent help line which is available 8:00am to 8:00pm (UK time) 7 days a week, and the number from outside uk is +44 207 091 2230.although they are unable to advise on healthcare systems overseas.

I hope your surgery goes well.

VickiLynne

Kareno62 over 5 years ago

Hi and good to hear that your reversal will finally go ahead. In terms of fasting before the op I think I would check that at your appointment next week.

As you say everyone has a different experience and your Bowel’s won’t go back to how they used to be however you will hopefully get used to a new normal? My surgeon said I would probably find that my Bowel’s activity would be similar to my stoma and I do find that evenings are the most active.

Ian aka did a couple of posts last year on the Colostomy,Ileostomy board about reversals and I’ve hopefully put the links below

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy_and_colostomy_discussions/f/ileostomy_and_colostomy_discussions-forum/188680/part-2---the-faqs-of-having-a-stoma-reversal

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/StomaReversal_BowelCancerUK.pdf

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/RegainingBowelControl_BowelCancerUK.pdf

If you have a look on page 15 of the Regaining Bowel Control booklet then it describes some exercises that you can start doing to strengthen your sphincter muscles. You may find you have some very sudden urges to go to the toilet and the nurses recommend trying to hold things in rather than trying to make a dash for it!

I also found it handy to have a grab bag which contained pads, spare underwear, soothing cream and nice soft toilet paper!

And finally the stoma reversal mantra - never trust a f**t!

Hope these links help and you can always type ‘reversal’into the search box on the Ileostomy and Colostomy Support page for some more experiences

Take care and keep us updated

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Thanks Karen,

I said to my wife that you would come through for me and you did, a big thank you.

I hope to get back to swimming soon as the sea here is quite hot 19c, perhaps July if all goes well.

Goslow.

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Thanks VickiLynne,

Thank you for the response and the information links I will check them out.

Goslow.