Illiostomy reversal and exercise

Hi phsims. I had a temp ileo reversed in 2005 (had it for only about 2-1/2 months). To this date, every once in a while I get the stitch feeling you describe, particularly if I'm lifting weights. Running or elliptical machine exercise, no discomfort at all. I've guessed that there's still some little bit of structural weakness that stays with you after the ileo is removed.

As for the feeling of a blocked stoma, I haven't had that in a long time. On that, I get the feeling that as long as you keep well hydrated, the repaired section of your colon re-expands to its "normal" size and things flow freely.

LOL. I don't have a lump at my stoma site. I have an indentation. I had my oleo because my colon had twisted so badly it shut itself off and I had to have about 18 inches removed. So I think my indentation was due to that.

Elisa:

I think it depends on the person and their sensitivities. When I first had my ileo, EVERYTHING felt crazy. In your case, you have to remember you're only six weeks out. So you still have to get used to the sensations of the bag. Yes, when it gets output in there, it will be weighted down and so it will pull a little bit. That's normal. And, at six weeks out, you'll get stabbing sensations once in a while. Your skin and muscles are still healing from the incisions you had. I can't say a lot about the pulling feeling for the long term, as, like I said, I only had my ileo for about 2-1/2 months. So, I was constantly aware of it. LOL, as was my poor wife, who helped me with the changes. As for the stabbing, it still happens from time to time, but I'm not sure if it's residual from the ileo, or just normal pains from workouts or from getting older. But I pretty much ignore those and, to be truthful, they are pretty rare these days.

Hi Elisa,

The stabbing/pulling pain for me has always been associated with using the muscles surrounding the stoma. It lessened after the surgery until I started exercising and then I would notice it. I had hoped it would would stop after the reversal but unfortunately not. On the bright side my stomach muscles are now strong enough that I only get the pain after a serious workout.

I am the worst person in the world for trying to get back to thing to quickly, I bust my stitches twice after the illiostomy so I would honestly recommend no exercising till you have the all clear.

I had absolutely no stomach muscles to speak of after the op so for exercise I actually started with just a simple dancers warm up (after 3 months of recovery, doing no exercise and putting on 3 stone that was all I could do) and then slowly moved up from there.