Take Down Procedure

I wouldn't say it's simple but for me takedown was SO much easier than my first step. I had some complications too after my first surgery.....it was pretty rough. I was worried about takedown because of all that but it went off with out a hitch.

I was in the OR for about 30 minutes and woke up quickly afterwards from the anesthesia. I had minimal pain mostly coming from my stoma site that was loosely sutured closed. Many surgeons like yours leave the site open to heal....mine did not. It's their personal way of doing it so both methods are correct. I didn't have a pain pump....didn't need it. Just some oral meds that I only took once. My bowels woke up about 24 hours later. I didn't have any urgency right form the beginning. Just some pressure feeling like I had to go. I went home on the fourth day. I was going about 10-12x a day at first then about three weeks later I was down to 4-6x a day and that's where I have stayed five years later now. The worst part was the gas pains and little spasms. I had them for about a week and then they subsided.

Just go slow with food at first once you're at home. You will get a sense when you can become more adventurous with food. Get a good barrier cream (I use Calmoseptine) with zinc oxide in it in case you experience some butt burn. Bring some soft TP to the hospital with you. That scratchy hospital TP will kill your butt. Pack loose comfy clothes to go home in.

Next week is my 5 year takedown anniversary. Time files....so happy I did this! Best of luck!

Hello-

I am going in for my take down procedure tomorrow, so when I am home again, I will make sure I find your post and let you know how things are going with me. My understanding is that everyone is different on how things go.

I have had a loop ileostomy now for 10 weeks. I went in for an elective sigmoidectomy due to diverticulitis, and upon testing it for leaks, I had a significant leak. My surgeon re- stitched and all was good, but felt that if I came home and had issues with diarrhea - like you do get, then it could leak again, so for my safety he did a temp ileostomy.

I am going to the hospital with soft toilet paper, all sorts of butt creams for that "Butt Burn" everyone talks about, a plastic bottle that is a bidet (got that online from amazon for about $13), 1 diaper for the ride home - just incase, and loose clothing for the ride home too.

My first surgery went well, back to work in 3 weeks as opposed to the 6 to 8 my surgeon probably told me I would be off, took very little pain meds too. My surgeon told me I did great. I have to admit though, I am very nervous about the reversal!

I am most concerned about the wound that you go home with. I think my surgeon will be putting a drain in for me to take care of and that gets me a little nervous, I am also nervous about pain & all the diarrhea. Probably sounds silly considering as I have come this far, but I will keep you posted and hope to tell you that all is good,

I also had a had time finding info on the take down too. Try not too worry!! Also writing that for myself... lol

ByeByeUC said...
I didn't have a pain pump....didn't need it. Just some oral meds that I only took once.

Your stomach was cut open, muscles/tissues/fat sliced through, and you only needed one dose of oral meds...... wut?

I was in absolute agony for at least 1 week after my reversal operation, then excruciating pain for the 2nd week. (It was mostly controlled with painkillers, but sometimes nurses were late with the drug round, I vomited them up, or whatever.)

Oh okay - I think I keep on getting confused between a j-pouch takedown procedure and my one :-/

Sorry about that. Now I think about it, of course your takedown was far less invasive than mine. My stomach had to be opened up again and the small bowel connected to the rectum. Your small bowel was connected to the j-pouch in step 1, presumably. My brain isn't working today.

Hi everyone-

Got home yesterday from my takedown procedure of my loop ileostomy. So here is the low down on my experience:

Surgery took 1 hour and went very smoothly as was told to my husband. Dr. told him most reversals of loops are that way. I got up to my room at 7 pm and had IV's in, was given pain meds by IV along with regular fluids. Had nothing to eat for the rest of that day. I did do breathing exercises and moved my feet. Had a catherater in for the next 2 days, no big deal, as honestly due to all the fluids that are being pumped into you, or you are drinking, trust me, you are thankful as to not to have to keep getting up.

Next morning at 5 am told nurses I was getting up, as I was ready to start moving so that I could heal faster. I told them to give me a small does of pain meds and I was ready to go and walk the halls. Pain not bad at all, pretty similar to first surgery. I did learn, the more I walked, the better I felt, along with doing those breathing exercises. You will get tired, but even sitting up in chair and in bed helps you too. Even moving your legs in beds helps... just move.

I came home 3 days later, yesterday and left passing gas only while at the hospital, I thought I never would begin passing it, and was so scared of getting an illus, that I am surprised I did not have a heart attack. Best advice I can give anyone... your body is an amazing thing, follow all doctor & nurses orders and trust me, things will happen for you and you will progress.

Have 4 inch incision with 6 staples in it... left a smidge open, no drains or anything else. Not bad at all. ONLY hurts to lay down or get up or when I cough or sneeze. Hurts like hell then, as my asthma has kicked in and I am concerned about staples coming out ripping inside ones. I do place a pillow over it, but still hurts and concern is there. You will be given Heprin shots for blood clot prevention too. Get them in your upper thigh as opposed to your abdomen, as they do not hurt as much there. Also, do not touch them afterwards I was told as that increase pain from the shot. I had no pain at all from these shots, but I guess some folks due.

I did not need the diaper, butt creams or anything else that I took with me. I have no regrets about taking them, by all means do, just incase your system begins to "wake-up" while there. So I am home now....... and sorry if too much info but here is what is happening.

I have gone to the bathroom since this am about 7x. Little clumbs of dark bloody stool... all normal from from what Dr. told me could happen. Sounds like I have that clustering going on from what other folks have wrote. Not sure but happy atleast that stuff is coming out and food intake is staying down.

I have used my $13 plastic bidet... awesome get one if you do not have one... keeping things clean & no butt issues yet. Plus also using Berts Bees baby zinc oxide. No smell to it like other creams so does not affect my asthma. I am SLOWLY eating food in little amounts!!! Re - read that start slowly... little chicken, applesauce, mashed potatoes, piece of toast, cream of wheat, etc, etc,, They will tell you that you can eat anything,,, well you can, but every nurse said go slow, small amounts and you will heal faster and have NO Problems!!!!

Butt getting a little sore now from clot passing, and blood still there but not gonna panic as think of what the whole intestine track has just been through!!! I have learned anyways....... Dr's due not panic after colon surgery surgery from blood clots... now profuse bleeding would be different, which I do not have.

Please feel free to ask any other questions, and I will be happy to answer and promise to let you know how things are going. Sorry tried to keep this as brief as possible. I had no fevers or any other complications so far and hope not too!! Lucky, lucky gal I have ben so far, and may you be also!!!!

That's pretty much how it went for me....all uneventful which is the way you want it! It just gets better from here. Still go slow with food for a little bit. Happy healing!

NSSG- I've never heard of anyone being released the next day from takedown surgery. Your bowels usually take 24 hours to wake up. I was released on the fourth day.

I had the first bowel movement while still in the hospital. It was just liquid mixed with some blood which I remember they said was normal. It was very liquid for about two weeks then it started thickening up as I started eating more. As long as something is coming out and you can pass gas all is ok. Make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids and I would stick to small meals closer together rather than sitting down to a big meal.

Wiskers200 said...
Thanks BBUC-

Yep, those are the things I am doing. I do get a blob of post surgical gunk passing about every hour or two, so things are moving.

Have not taken anything for pain now in about 3 days, just took a Colace through, as pharmacist said it is a stool softener and that till things begin to go, I should keep ahead of a constipation issue.

Have good energy level, and still doing breathing exercises. Thankful I am this far along with the healing process. Just turned 50 today, greatest gift of all, being home and helpful friends on this site!!

So BBUC, how are you feeling?

Happy 50th birthday! I am feeling good these days. My five year anniversary of takedown in this Thursday so I guess I am a j pouch veteran now! My j pouch works just fine but periodically I have to get iron infusions to keep my iron levels up. It's the only issue I have had since my surgery. It may or may not even be related to my j pouch but I think it is. I have come to learn that a lot j pouchers are iron deficient so be aware of that in the future. And if that's the worst of my troubles then I really don't have any! I am blessed and very grateful for the procedure.