Had reversal surgery yesterday!

Hi everyone!
Just an update. Had my ileo takedown/ reversal surgery yesterday morning. Almost 24 hours ago. Gonna type this the best I can. Still feeling effects of anesthesia and I have a pain pump so I'm kind of out of it still! Feel pretty good right now. Little pain but pump can control it. And only where they went in through the stoma this time, not my whole stomach is messed up! a little cramping but not horrible. Excited to be able to eat solid food today! So hungry lol. But am nervous to start eating and going to the bathroom as some people say it is like having UC again for them for a while until everything settles. Hopefully thats not how I will feel once I eat today. Catheter also comes out this morning! Just have to get up today, walk, eat, and go to bathroom or at least pass gas. Surgeons says if everything goes as planned i can leave hospital tomorrow! He said everything surgery wise went perfectly, just have to get through this last recovery. So happy that the bag is gone, not bashing anyone with a permanent one! I just think it is a personal choice what you go with and everyone is different in what they prefer. The temp ileo was just very difficult for me to adjust to. But that is awesome if you are one of those people that love your bag, I really admire that! And I am prepared for one day down the line when I am older that I may need to go to a permanent. But right now I am just ready to get home (hopefully tomorrow lol), feel good, and start my new UC free life!

So happy you are done with the tough stuff. I'm told the recovery part should be pretty easy( compared to what you've already gone thru it should be a piece of cake)! You are a month ahead of us, so I'll be looking forward to learning from you this time. Hugs your way.

Thank you so much! Yeah I hope I'm over the worst! Eating jello now, if I do okay I think I can eat more for lunch yay! Still haven't passed gas like they keep asking me but I have some cramping. Little nervous to use the bathroom "normally" again. Not sure how I'll feel. Worried it will be like UC again since I've heard people struggle with that sometimes. But I'm not letting that stop me from eating! I actually have an appetite after this one as opposed to the first where I didn't want to eat anything cause I felt so bad. I'll definetly answer any questions you or your daughter have. It gets better, just remember that. I felt kind of down about the bag. Got used to it but still would've rather not had it. It was a lot better than having to deal with the disease though! But, as soon as I woke up from this one I felt so good and much better! So hopefully that continues and I'll be out on time tomorrow! Again, I'm here if you have any questions about the takedown as well as everyone else that is so fantastic here! It's great having people that have gone through it to hear their different stories. Hope she feels better soon, best of luck with everything!

Go slow with food....little meals more frequent than eating big ones. Walk, walk, walk and then walk some more! Happy healing and enjoy pooping again!

Things are working out quite well with my end ileo, thanks for asking! Physically anyway, I just posted a new topic about some issues I've been having mentally accepting it! Maybe that is just something that will come with time.
But I am recovering quite well, no issues with my stoma or bag anymore.
I'm actually doing some things that I haven't been able to do for over a year - simple things like meeting friends for lunch!! And walking loads to try build up fitness that I lost.
Soon this will be you too, having a normal life once again! :)

Nope Amanda...no pain or blood like UC. Only pain was butt burn which is pretty much gone now (sitz baths and corn starch powder worked for me...you'll have to experiment to see what works for you). That & the ileostomy site hurt for the first 2 1/2 weeks.

First thing I got to eat was graham crackers with peanut butter...best thing I ever tasted (a nurse felt sorry for me...it was only 10 am and she knew lunch wouldn't be there till 12 or so)! You know you are hungry when hospital food (which is normally only room temperature by the time it gets to you) tastes good! My surgeon said once I was cleared for solid food there were no diet restrictions. I still took it easy for about 10 days before I started adding in other foods.

Also I hate pain meds (make me loopy) so I never took any after I left the hospital on Day 3. Just Tylenol and Advil. Doc does have me taking immodium now...told me to experiment with it to see what works the best to slow things down. Been taking it before meals last few days and things have definitely slowed down. Feel free to ask questions :)!

Vicki

I am so happy for you! You did it!!! :)

Haha I am not either! I am leaving tomorrow hopefully. Can get up and walk by myself and had first movement earlier today, just had a second. Gettin some cramps on my stomach, some pretty bad. Since I am leaving tomorrow I think I get food in the morning cause he said I should be able to leave tomorrow around lunch. Let's hope I can eat soon!

Notsosicklygirl- Thanks a lot! It feels good not having a bag anymore! Some bad cramping but other than that not a lot of pain. Hungry but doing pretty good. Thank again!