HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

UC and illostomy

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/2/2009 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone,

I have had UC since 2005 and have recently had an illostomy put on in April. My surgeon said that i would only have it for six weeks but turned out to be having it for three months. I am having the reverse surgery on August fourth which i am excited for. I have had very little problems while having the bag and i can pretty much eat anything i want. I was wondering if i will be okay to go back to school in September and play volleyball with no problems?? also i was planning on going camping with friends in a couple weeks? Do you think i can go swimming and be in a bathing suit? Any help would be great thanks.

vball7
Posted 8/3/2009 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
The answers are yes, yes, yes, and yes!  Other than sleeping on my stomach, there's NOTHING I can't do with an ostomy that I was able to do before.....and I've had an ostomy for 20 years!
Posted 8/3/2009 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
i think he is having it reversed tomorrow. If i read that right.

I dont know what the recovery time is for the reversal surgery. i dont see why you couldnt go swimming as long as your incision had healed and all. If you had your energy back i would think you could play volley ball, you would just need to be careful not to get hit in the stomach for a little while.

Now if you arent having it reversed then you can do all those things with no problem at all. I sleep on my tummy too, i just roll over when it starts to get full, lol.
Posted 8/4/2009 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much for the information!! And yes i am getting it reversed tomorrow! Also another question i have is there anything that i could put on my scar to make it heal better? As i am sixteen and would still like to wear a bikini. HA ha. Wondering if any one knows about how long the stay at the hospital should be or does it depend probably on how well my body heals and reacts to everything!!

Thanks again.
Vball7
Posted 8/4/2009 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
you can buy some stuff that you put on the scar to make it fade one of them called is mederma (not sure i spelled that right) go to CVS or Walmart or something and ask the pharmacist they can tell you.
Posted 8/4/2009 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Your stay in hospital after the reversal surgery may not be more than 4 days.

Generally, they discharge the patient once the new system starts functioning i.e., you start passing wind and motion from the normal passage, which normally is after 2 to 3 days post reversal. So cheer up.

Initially, you will have to go to wash room quite often, may be over 15 times a day, but later on it would come down to 4-6 motions a day.

I hope by the time you get this message, you would have been through with your surgery, which I am sure must have gone well. Take care.
Posted 8/10/2009 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again everyone for the advice. i just got out of the hospital on sunday which was a little longer stay then expected but so far i am doing all right just tired. i had to stay longer due to not having a BM and also vomiting quite a bit. which was also a downer cause i ended up having to only have ice chips for six days so right now i can't really find any food that is appealing to me but slowly i am sure that will come. just wondering if it is better to try and eat supper earlier so then i won't have to get up in the middle of the night. (last night 6 times) one more thing was lifting can i do that or should i wait a while before lifting anything to heavy??


A now bag-less free girl!!!!

smilewinkgrin
Posted 8/11/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
aaaaah!
Good for you vball! Good luck in school.
please keep us posted on your recovery.
Your scar will fade over time and not look so bad. I saw a young girl at the water park wearing a bikini and had a scar on her abdomen. A very long scar. I thought it was awesome she wasn't self conscious. You don't need to be! Those are your war wounds. A war you won!

Good luck.
Posted 8/13/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Give yourself time before you start lifting...even though it doesn't seem like it, you did just have abdominal surgery!! Did your doc give you instructions when you left? It might only be 4 weeks of restrictions or it could be 6 but it is better to be safe than sorry:)
Posted 8/14/2009 9:00 AM (GMT 0)
Wow so finally the takedown process is over and you are passing through your normal passage. So far as lifting weights are concerned, please avoid lifting anything heavy. Avoid bending too much, as there is always a likelihood of incisional hernia in post any abdominal surgery. Have they suggested you to wear an abdominal belt for a few days to avoid hernia.

So far as frequent motions are concerned, it would take a while before your body adapts to the new plumbing system (called J pouch adaptation). For some it takes about a few weeks, for others six months to a year, before your motions come down to 4 to 6 per day. So be patient and take care. Have lots of liquids to avoid dehydration.
Posted 8/14/2009 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
It has now been 10 days since my reversal and i seem to be going pretty good with not much pain and having motion through out my body! The doctor didn't say anything about lifting so i will just do my best and not lift to much weight. I have been driving around a couple times and everything seems great. Also not getting up as much during the night which is a big bouns!!

Thanks for all the suggestions!
Posted 8/27/2009 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
hello everyone

It has now been 23 days since i have had my reverse ostomy. i have been doing quiet a bit including biking, boating, tubing, swimming and lots of walking! i am feeling really good and start back at school in one week. i have been watching what i am eating and nothing has caused a problem yet. ( fruit, veggies, spicy food and sea food). as for the BM an average of 5-6 times a day and once at night. my scars are starting to heal a little bit, i have been putting Vit. E cream on them which is working!!

vball
Posted 8/30/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
good for you vball7! i am so happy to hear that you are doing so well and doing so much! i have j pouch surgery scheduled for oct 5 and cannot wait. if all goes well, i will have the reversal 6-8 weeks later. i pray that i do not have complications as i am getting nervous. keep posting your updates cuz it is so nice to hear that all is going well- it helps me knowing that people do well with the surgery! thank you.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply