I am having a reversal this fall after a year and five months

Has anyone had a reversal after that long and is the effect much more traumatic on the colon?
My ileostomy was done because my doctor perforated my rectum after surgery on a polyp a year and four months ago. I developed an abscess which developed two fistulas. He felt the ileostomy (done June 07) would allow the abscess heal. He then found out after six months and multiple drains in the fistula that there were two fistulas and that he had not drained both. He then put a collagen plug in in March. My surgery was scheduled and before that, I had an MRI. They found that it hadn't healed and my surgery was put off - AGAIN!!!

I am worried about my colon getting back to normal. I am worried about the fact that they might not be able to reverse it. I am worried - and tired of all of this, but am actually very happy to be feeling good after all the infection last year.

Bloodhound

I had my reversal on May 28th which was almost 3 years since I had the ileostomy. I had about 50% of my colon removed during my original surgery. So I was also concerned how my "revised plumbing" would work. Progress has been slow but steady. I think suebear hit it on the head, focus on the positive.

I think it's important, prior to the surgery, to build yourself up physically and also to research diet issues and have the proper medical support (internist, GI doc, etc.) in place.

Good luck!

Richard

so sorry to hear about your sister.
keep ur spirits high and remember everyone on this site is great, they really helped me through my ordeal in january. and everyone will be thinking of you and praying for you.

hope everything goes well

samie xxx

Hi Bloodhound!

I've been away from the forum for a while so I'm playing catch up. You and I have very similar stories. I too had to get a "temporary" (it was supposed to be for only three months) ileostomy because after having some colorectal surgery, I began to go septic so my doctor decided to put me back under because I was in so much pain and found that I developed a horrible abbess. After my second surgery, everything fell apart within a month because of the infection. On my third surgery, my doctor fixed everything he did once again. In addition, fixing a fistula that developed and gave me a loop ileostomy. Two months past and I went under the knife again to try to fix the fistula once more. He did this by doing a "z" plasty. By my next visit, my doctor and I were discouraged. The fistula would not heal. He then referred me to a partner in his office who told me to wait three months - thinking it may heal on it's own. I decided to look for another doctor. I found an excellent surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. She performed my fifth surgery. We're hoping this corrected the fistula. My next visit is to meet with a plastic surgeon that will hopefully, be able to do some reconstructive surgery. But first, my colorectal surgeon will check to make sure I'm completely healed. My last surgery will be to reverse my ileostomy. So, my three-month temporary ileostomy will probably be "two years" (hopefully, no more than 18 months!)

All this is from a doctor performing an episiotomy on me 22 years ago when I gave birth to my son. I received a fourth degree laceration and over the years, I've lost muscle and nerves.

I too lost my sister from a horrible disease. She died one month shy of her 46th Birthday - August 15, 2006. She had kidney disease from the time she was 15 years old. (Our dad donated a kidney, but they had to remove it because she rejected the "rejection" medicine.) She fought a hard battle, but was such a strong, positive individual. I totally admired her. She worked her way through college, did dialysis three (or more) times per week, and worked her way up to CFO of her company before she slowly went on full time disability. She never gave up.

We have to be as strong as our sisters were.

Take care!
Mary

Mary and fellow ostomy survivors..... Hello, my name is Theresa and had my ileostomy reversed 1 month ago after having emergency surgery for a ruptured diverticulum in March of '07. I am a nurse educator and am just now getting back to work. Having a problem with diarrhea and rectal discomfort. Just curious if this will improve with time as the doctor assures me it will. I still have "control" but it is quite an issue right now. Any suggestions as to what I should eat? Thanks for "listening" and hope to "talk" to this group again soon. Theresa

can anyone help me i had an ileostomy done about nine months ago after getting acute pancretitus which punctured my bowel was told i would have to wait six to twelve months for a reversal could you tell me how long the stay would be in hospital pleases could you also tell what is a j pouch i have never heard of this. PLEASE NEED ADVICE.

thanks TJCCR for the reply were there any complications i here so much going wrong it just worrys me glad to hear that yours was a complete success the diareha will probely get once your digestigtion starts working properly.

thanks TJCCRN for the advice it was very helpful hope you have every success in your health. sweetcheeks.

To 39forever i know how you feel i felt just the same i spent 28 weeks in hospital due to acute pancreatitus on life support machine myself the reason im seriously considering a reversal is because im also 39 and want a normal life with the bag your always very consicious on whether people can smell you and makes you feel uncomfortable when you cant wear nice clothes without it showing to a certain ecstent.

i dont have a problem about smell or anything like that. Its just that now I feel so much better I feel I need to think this through properly. I am a size 8/10 uk size and wear what i want and nobody has ever noticed my bag. I dont see it as a problem to hide it would probably be them that would have a problem We live in a world were bowels are like top secret and i am not embarassed about it. but on saying that today at work it has really annoyed me and i feel today i could throw it and just get back to being me again but i am absolutely terrifed of going back under the knife

can anyone tell me if it is normal to start passing solid motion while still having an ileostomy or does that my bowel is ready to be reversed thank you.