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Need info on ileostomy takedown/reversal

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Posted 8/4/2009 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
So,

I am almost positive in the next couple months I will be having my lopp ileostomy reversed. I have had itnow for almost four months. I have been going to Cleveland Clinic and had a bunch of testing in the last month and with some miracle I am able to use my rectum again. They have no medical explanation for it right now, but I am so happy I could cry. I am hoping they will do it sooner than Oct (that would be 6 mo) becuase of all my skin breakdown and retracted stoma that makes things much harder for me.

I was just wondering about the surgery...

How long does it take? and how many days is typical for being in the hospital? Do they use my lap scar or my open inscision? I have had infection and ileus with both surgeries and am very scared this could happen again. Also, I have gained some weight back, but I am up to about 105-106 which is great weight for me, but did many of you lose with this surgery. I have lost 20 with each of my prior and cannot afford to lose this much again? Just curious....I know some of you have had the reversals and I have no one to talk with this about. Most with Colonic Inertia never end up with ileostomy in the first place so I would appreciate any help. I have 1 inch of colon left and most, but not all of my rectum.

Thanks,

Lizzie

 

Posted 8/4/2009 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Woho

I am delighted to know that you would be going for take down. Best of luck.

Well the surgery is much simpler than the first one. The time depends upon the procedure. They simply have to put down (join the ileum with the other portion of the small intestine) and close the stoma site. The incision is not bigger than 3 to 4 inches. If it is lapro, it would be much more simpler. The procedure would take hardly one hour. The normal stay in hospital should not be more than 3 to 4 days. The moment your new plumbing (J Pouch) starts farting (passing wind) and liquid, you can be discharged. It generally takes 3 days, before you start passing wind. Initially you may have to rush to loo every twenty minutes and about 20 times a day. The liquid may contain a little bit of blood.

As lots of enzymes are thrown out of the J pouch without processing, it irritates and causes soreness of the butt. So apply some soothing gel. Enjoy the new plumbing system. It would take a couple of weeks to months to get back to your normal 4 to 6 bowels a day.

Keep us posted. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Posted 8/4/2009 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Lizzie!  So happy for you!  I had my reversal on March 9th.  Went in on Monday, surgery same day and home again on Thursday.  The pain was much less, and recovery time was way faster than the original surgery.  He didn't make an incision to do it..just went in through the stoma site and did it all!  My bowels were slow to wake up, and once I got home I had to take Milk of Magnesia and prune juice to get things started up.  Now things are working well as long as I have my daily dose of ground flax seed.  The only problem I had once home was a couple of months after surgery, there was a stitch that hadn't dissolved and caused me alot of problems.  I eventually had to go and have the stitch removed and now have 5 staples in my tummy where he had to go in and remove it.  (right in his office...OUCH!).  I get the staples out on Thursday.  Other than than things are super great and I pray the same for you!!.....Any questions you have, ask away................Cheryl
Posted 8/6/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I am also worried about the transition to J-pouch usage. The surgeon said I will have to bump up my fiber. As a recovering colitis sufferer, I have really cut out a lot of fiber. Does fiber slow down your bathroom visits?

Are you happier with the J-pouch or, now in retrospect, would you keep the bag?
Posted 8/6/2009 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I am not going to have a pouch...I had an ileorectal anastamosis prior to my emegency ileostomy for inertia of colon and rectum, but rectum i now working. I believe they are just going to reconnect my ileum to rectum. I am not sure if it will be open or not. Just scared.

Posted 8/7/2009 12:08 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Lizzie

Glad to hear you are well. 

Dont be scared.  If you have a loop ileostomy (like me) then you are already joined inside arent you??

So therefore they just sew up the loop in the stoma and push it back inside you - takes around 40 mins i am told. Yeah i know what you mean about being scared and history repeating itself.  i was sick and in bad pain for 3 days - but it was the combination of side effects of anathaesia and bowels waking up - not nice. try know to worry.

I am waiting for reversal too but you know what the NHS in UK is like.  I expect i will get a letter around october time.  doesnt bother me but i am also getting skin breakdown and itching even with convex - i am still nervous about putting bag on properly. eyes

Anyhow i go to Turkey in 3 weeks which i can enjoy for the first time in 10 years.  xxx

Posted 8/7/2009 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Lizzie!

When they reconnected me they went right through the stoma site. I had virtually no pain, they used a nerve block which was AMAZING! As you know I had that awful infection etc but that only occurs in about 1% of surgeries. It should be about 4-5 days in the hospital. I'm so happy for you!

Holly
Posted 9/21/2010 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Katinarizona,

I have just visited your husbands site describing his cancer/ileostomy experiences and it was most informative.

I had rectal surgery and a hospital stay four months ago almost identical to your husband and I'm now scheduled to have my loop ileostomy reversed at the end of October.

I must admit that I have been quite terrified at prospect of having messy no bowel control, maybe adult diapers, sore anus etc. Your website has helped to put it all in perspective, yes, I expect that I will have some problems but reading how your husband dealt with them has made me feel much more positive.

Thank you very much for sharing this experience.

P.S. Your husband did not mention the removal of the JP device, for me this was the absolute worst pain I have ever suffered.

Posted 11/11/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi can anyone help, I have a loop ileostomy, which is to be reversed very soon so I went for the test to make sure the large bowel is not leaking and Oh my goodness the pain, he put a tube in my stoma, saying it has 2 holes one from the small bowel and one at the end that goes down to the large bowel, I had to remove my bag and wafer, my stoma was having a party and the nurse says " Can you stop it for a moment" well with that I thought okay I am on my own here, doctors and nurses are so ignorant about ostomy's, when I was attending the Holman clinic for radiation, I had to explain to the cancer nurse what an ileostomy is, anyway, I said 'no I have no control, you can try yelling at it, or just pass me some cloth's so I can sort it", they move very slow and really have no idea - the doctor came in to do the test of course he didn't know anything abut ileostomy's either and had to ring my surgeon, to ask ! he came back and told me about the 2 holes so he put the hose with the die in it in my stoma and made me turn from side to side then stand up, it all came out fine, no leaks or blocks, when I can out I had to sit on the loo for about an hour, I was in so much pain, I replaced my wafer and bag had a bit of a wash too, and just sat there in agony, they kept coming and asking if I was going to be long, i told them not to rush me I was in a lot of pain, and I had terrible diarrhea, I finally got out of there and my husband was waiting for me, we went to get in the car and I had to go to the loo again, so we went back to the loo and I was in there for an other hour, I was in a lot of pain and had diarrhea, finally I felt okay enough to take the hours drive home, I was able to hold on all that time, when I got home, I was on the loo every 5 mins or so, I am scared they damaged my stoma, although it is working, I just wonder how and why I have diarrhea through my bottom ? it has been 24 hours and it is starting to settle down although I didn't eat yesterday and have just had something to eat now, I hope it does not come back, I wonder has anyone else experienced anything like this with this test ? I am scared my stoma is damaged.
Posted 2/8/2012 5:07 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

Had the takedown Monday a week ago (Jan 30, 2011).  The surgery took less than an hour.  Yours could take a little longer depending on how your doctor did your Ileostomy.  Anyway, was on water and chipped ice Monday and clear liquids Tuesday.  Wednesday morning my doctor changed my diet to soft foods.  Was discharged Thursday morning.

Everything for me has been pretty awesome.  I had diarea for the first couple of days (my butt was getting a little raw) but that has passed.  I feel pretty normal now.   

I had many of the same questions that you did before the procedure and most of what I read on this site and others like it scared the hell out of me.  I was convienced that I would facing at least six months of recovery, pain and anquish.  So take heart, it can be fairly easy to get back on your feet.  Forgot to mention that I actually went to a friends party Saturday night (Feb 4, 2011) and eat regular food and even had a couple of beers).  Another funny thing is there is a ring around my scare where the waffer was attached to my belly.  Not sure how long that is going to last:)

I wish you the best in your journey and God bless.

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