HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Loop ileostomy reversal

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/26/2012 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
This is my first time on here. I had a diagnostic laproscopy 6 weeks ago for endrodemetrosis, I was told everything went well with that surgery, went home and nearly died 3 days later with a perforated bowel. I thought my symptoms were from the laproscopy but once I couldn't breathe, walk or understand my husband took me to the ER. I woke a few hours later with a temp loop ileo. My surgeon cleared me for reversal in 2 weeks! I have my dye test tomorrow.
I am just curious:

1. how many of you had your reversal stapled closed versus open wound?
2. I will restart my masters degree in January, should everything be working correctly and will I feel like my old active self after that?
3. As far as healing process, pain and emotional stability was the reversal better rather than the procedure where the bag was placed?

I just got this bag and I am ready to have it off!!
Posted 10/26/2012 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
My surgeon left my stoma spot open and it healed itself over maybe 2-3 weeks. You should be good to go by January. I felt really comfortable with everything a few weeks following surgery. My takedown pain was almost nonexistent. It does take the body a while to adjust to the new plumbing and you may have some leakage in the beginning. Butt burn can be an issue as you will be wiping a lot. You might want to look into a bidet seat attachment that fits on your toilet and sprays warm water after a BM. I never had to use creams again after I bought one. It will be the best gift you ever give yourself! Good luck.
Posted 10/26/2012 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you!! I will look for one!! I bought a package of depends just incase! Thank you again!
Posted 10/26/2012 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
It doesn't sound like she necessarily had a J-pouch construction - looks like maybe they did the temp ileo just to let her regular bowel heal from the perforation. Is that correct, speech? If that's the case, then you will not have the problems with leakage and butt burn. This should be a pretty simple procedure that you should heal up quickly from, and everything should be back to normal pretty much right away... and you would most definitely be ready to go back to work or school by January.

However, if they removed your entire colon and rectum and created a J-pouch from your small intestine, like what a lot of us are going through, then things will be very different and you will be dealing with the frequency, butt burn, leakage, and other issues that will take some time to overcome.
Posted 10/26/2012 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
You're right, he only removed about 6 inches of my colon and just wanted to give it time to heal which is why he placed the temp ileo. He described the procedure as a quick and simple operation.
I appreciate the help! My first surgery (where he placed the bag) took quite a bit of time to heal, and I'm about 6 weeks post op and still have to take rest a lot. I've lost 20 pounds and I will be ready to gain it back!
Thanks!
Posted 10/26/2012 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, in that case the reversal is pretty non-invasive. Usually they are just able to go through the stoma-incision you already have, sew that stoma hole in your small intestine back together, pop it back into your abdomen, and then close that incision in your abdomen where your stoma was. It shouldn't take much time at all to heal up from compared to your first surgery because they hopefully will not be making any new cuts. It should be a walk in the park compared to surgery one. :-) Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Posted 10/27/2012 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
That eased my fears so much thank you' I had my gastrografin enema dye test this morning and had a severe reaction to it. I am back in the hospital for a couple days so they can monitor my progress as my colon goes back to normal size, on the plus side my colon is completely healed! I will definitely let you know how it goes!
Thank you for explaining that procedure, I understand a lot better and feel better as well! :-)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply