New To Group - Stoma Reversal but with Herniated Stoma

FormerMember over 4 years ago

3 replies
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I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in Jan 2020 and had a lower bowel resection and temp loop stoma carried out in March 2020. I underwent 4 bouts of Chemo over 12 weeks and was found to be clear of the cancer. I really want a stoma reversal as it has herniated and protrudes quite some now. I had the resection checked with an enema and xray in Sep 2020 and was told in Oct 2020 it was fully successful and could undergo the reversal procedure. However due to Covid Lockdown and isolation I have been waiting since then to see the consultant.

The hernia is probably more protruding than the stoma itself and i try wearing the support belt but it gets painful and to be honest the stoma must have taken umbrage as it stopped working for about 12 hours and then went crazy filling up really quickly time after time for the next couple of hours.

I want to ask if anyone in the group has undergone a Reversal op with a herniated stoma and how successful were they at dealing with the hernia?

Its now been over 12 months living with the stoma (jagger) and my mental health is deteriorating not to mention my fitness as I find it hard to be out walking for any real length of time without having to empty the bag.

crankshaft over 4 years ago

Hi Jagger, I had an ileostomy bag for a year and managed quite early to give myself a parastomal hernia through coughing. I also tried a support belt and it gave me confidence in one way but caused me problems in others. I had a reversal last September and they joined up the bowel again and sewed up the hernia, which was a fairly routine procedure for the surgeon.

I have had to be more careful perhaps than a straightforward reversal in what physical things I do and even after six months I can still feel the join tugging if I really over exert myself. It is just a question of time for everything to heal.

When you say you can't be out long before emptying the bag, how long is long? I used to walk a lot with a bag. Do you try to control the flow with loperamide? If you do have the reversal you may find it takes you a little while to get the bowels behaving so that you can take off for long walks but it will get there in the end.

All the best John

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to crankshaft

Hi John, thanks for the reply. How is the site of the stoma now is it flat again? I am expecting some difficulties after it has been reversed but as I am retired I can take it easy until it heals and control any diarrhoea with loperamide as you say.

if I don’t take any loperamide before walking and the stoma is misbehaving it can be as short as forty minutes to an hour and the bag is almost full. I used to walk around 12 to 15 mile a day in six hours and have only managed about five miles even using loperamide since the op.

Stay safe and take care

Les

crankshaft over 4 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi Les, The repair has the same profile as the other side of my navel with a three inch scar that makes a bit of a hollow. They did leave me with an odd bit of flesh where the edge of the stoma site was which may disappear in time. As I'm 74 I wont be showing off my honed body at the beach so it doesn't worry me!

I don't think I went for six hours and sometimes it depended on the time of the day but I suppose I could last for four. Now with the reversal, if I perform after breakfast I can sometimes last til early evening but it wont be the same as pre the original op.

Good luck with it, John