Ileostomy reversal

Hi. There’s lots of posts on here about reversals if you type it in the search box at the top of the page but here’s a couple of links to get you started!

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/186634/stoma-reversal#pifragment-13906=2

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

Your bowels will never go back to how things were before surgery but you will get used to a new normal. Things can be a bit tricky in the early days and can take up to 2 years to settle down. I’ve always taken 4 immodium a day but saw a new consultant a couple of weeks ago who told me I was constipated and to stop taking them?! Things are extremely loose without them and I’ve had some near misses so I’m trying to strike a balance. 

I’d recommend practicing the sphincter exercises on pages 15/16 of the booklet below as it’s better to control the urge to go and wait for it to pass than making a dash for it!

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

Have you had the join checked yet? If there’s anything specific that you’d like to ask then please do

Take care

Karen x

Thank you Karen, I will have a look at the links x

Sorry didn’t answer your question  I’ve not had the join checked yet, I’m seeing my consultant early October x

Hi Nerysson,

Good to hear that your treatment has gone well so far. I had my reversal ten months ago and, reading a lot of posts it is obvious that not everyone has the same result. I would echo, as usual, everything Karen has said.

When you have the leakage test they will pump fluid up in to you and monitor it on an X Ray or scan. That liquid has to come out and, in my case, it was mainly on my car seat driving home! Start doing the sphincter exercises now for greater control, talk to the staff about that problem (some hospitals seem to be able to drain it better) and take a nappy just in case.

The operation is quite short and I was only in for two nights, the only hiccup, as with your resection, is if the bowel goes to sleep. Mine did after the resection but was ok for the reversal.

The first couple of weeks I was off to the loo quite often but I did try to hold on as long as possible. Gradually what I have been producing started to bulk up and I was not on any special diet. Now I go two or three times a day and I find the result of the reversal fine. If I eat something that affects me I might take the occasional loperamide but that is not often. I do take probiotics as I had my ileostomy for a year and wanted to help re-populate the bacteria in the bowel.

I wish all the best for the rest of your treatment. John

Thank you John for your advice, I will start the exercises  You have given me hope! I will be prepared and bring extra pads/ nappy and seat covering when I go for the leakage test. X