Ostomy Reversal- Do I have to train my colon to become a rectum?

Hi,
I had my reversal Jan 6th. Nowadays I get urges to go to the bathroom but then produce very little. Is it up to me to try to ignore these urges and hope they go away until a sufficient amount of stool is present so I can have complete evacuation rather than returning to the bathroom 1/2 hour later with more urges and little production?
Once in a while I will have a complete evacuation and then I don't get these "I have to go to the bathroom signals" again for 8-10 hours. Why can't it always work that way?
My question is mainly, do I have to "train" my lower colon to become a rectum (since mine was removed except for the very end) by powering through and ignoring those signals for as long as possible so my colon gets stretched out like a rectum would?
This post surgery has been very difficult. I can't say what is worse, the bag or my new bowels.
Thanks for any responses.
BBT (Kay)

Hello,
I wish Marsky would read this. Anyway I want to mention that the signals are sometimes quite painful- like spikes!
Has anyone else ever experienced this? It doesn't last long, just a few seconds. But it is painful. (maybe hemmroids)If nobody knows I guess I have to call the surgeon and I don't know if he will answer or just have me talk to the nurses because I've been "released" to my primary care dr.
Thanks.
Kay BBT

Kay - I finally saw your posts and responded on the IBS forum. Sorry you're going thru so much.

I had some weird sensations in the rectal area but they were during my ostomy phase, pain when walking but relieved when I would sit down or apply pressure on the rectalarea.

In a different way, I have gotten into a very painful phase where I swear my colon walls are swollen or very irritated but have a stronge urge to go, and I have stabbing pains when this happens, it's almost as if they didn't make my new sigmoid area correctly but I find that if I walk, drink water and/or hot tea, encouraging bm's, this odd phase is over in mere hours. I am not even sure if this is what you're experiencing or not but when it hits, wow, it's painful. It's been a long time (over a year) since I've had it and even then it wasn't even monthly when it would strike. One of the doctors in my care told me there are lots of nerve endings in the colon and they can get very irritated. I never seem to struggle with C but my personal painful stage is nearly like C.

Good luck at the surgeon's appt.

Post Edited (Marsky) : 3/16/2014 9:07:51 PM (GMT-6)

Here it is:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=26&m=3009264&g=3021566#m3021566

I remember having odd sensations in the rectal area for a long time, not exactly spasms but painful shooting pains, I always felt like I left half my bottom behind on a chair when I got up from the table, I wanted to devise a belt and small pillow system to wear over my clothes, the only time this area felt anywhere near normal after my surgeries, was when I was applying pressure (over my clothes with my hand) or sitting on a hard chair. It took me a long time before I was comfortable sitting on padded chairs. Odd memory of that phase but I had it. Just remember there are a lot of nerve endings in this area. And they do not like to be operated on (what one of my doctors told me).

Post Edited (Marsky) : 3/20/2014 8:07:02 PM (GMT-6)

Oh how I hope you are not in my camp! Please remember they did tell me I was an extreme case, my doctors always hoped I'd settle into a 6-8 bm's per day phase. It just never happened (unless I don't eat).

I do have to say, taking one generic Sudafed D pill each day and as soon as I awaken each morning, seems to keep my gut quiet, so I can work all day. Been taking it since October, 2013.

Someone on these forums said doctors used to prescribe Sudafed D for IBS, before they discovered Immodium.

But you have found yourself a great forum, there are so many people here very willing to listen, answer questions, offer advise if you need it. So welcome to Healing Well.