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Um... this might be a stupid question, but...

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Posted 4/27/2007 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
How do they remove the anus and rectum during ostomy surgery? Do they just rip and pull from the inside, so that the organs come away, or do they chop and cut from the outside, leaving a long, messy scar between the buttocks?

And what happens to the hole that's left?

Hello, by the way. I'm actually from the Crohn's forum but may be about to take the plunge and get an ostomy, and am still trying to get my head around the whole thing.

Ivy, boggled at the thought of such extensive surgery.
Posted 4/27/2007 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Your colon, rectum, and anus will be removed from your belly. There might be some work done from the outside, like stitching the hole closed, but that's about it.

Sue
Posted 4/28/2007 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Sue. So what happens to the hole after that? Does it just go all smooth, as if nothing was ever there? And what about the sphincter muscles etc? Do they remove those too? Do you ever feel as if you need to do a bm, even though the organs aren't there anymore?

Genuinely curious, still boggled,

Ivy.
Posted 4/28/2007 2:44 PM (GMT 0)

My surgery was 14 months ago.  As already posted, everything is removed via a belly incision - mine is from the navel to pubic bone.  Rear is sewn closed; looks like a "Barbie Butt."   I've had no urges to go the old way.  Scars have faded now, I've had my first colonoscopy via stoma, and am doing well.  No more rectal cancer! 

Good Luck!    :-)   Martha

Posted 4/28/2007 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Ivy, do you know for sure that they'll take your rectum or why? I still have mine, of course my surgery at the time was supposed to be temporary to let the perianal area heal. I never went back, I love having a life, and my surgeon said I'd just keep going back and forth anyway.

I wondered about these questions about how everything is removed also, since my docs tell me they may remove the rest of it during my next surgery (which hopefully we can put off for years). I don't know why they should, it certainly doesn't hurt anything.
Posted 4/29/2007 10:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Judy,

I think they would remove everything. When I talked with my doctor, he said that the lower part of the bowel would definitely have to go if we did opt for surgery. And he said that it would have to be permanent, as things are too damaged to even consider reattachment.

I never had a Barbie. What does a Barbie butt look like?
Posted 4/29/2007 10:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Judy,

I think they would remove everything. When I talked with my doctor, he said that the lower part of the bowel would definitely have to go if we did opt for surgery. And he said that it would have to be permanent, as things are too damaged to even consider reattachment.

I never had a Barbie. What does a Barbie butt look like?

Is your quality of life ok? When we first started discussing this, my doc said it would be horrible and I can't think why... am scared to imagine it, actually.
Posted 4/29/2007 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Judy,my Dr wants to leave the rectum and anus,but repair the rectum since it is prolapsed and sticks out. What I want to ask you is this,is there any kind of leakage or seeping from the rectum? If it is NOT attached to my bowels,then how could it leak or seep? Scrappy
Posted 4/29/2007 5:34 PM (GMT 0)

If your surgery is for ulcerative colitis you need to have your rectum and colon removed.  If your surgeon tells you otherwise run to another surgeon for a 2nd opinion.  If the entire rectum is left in place your UC will return to that area.

Sue

Posted 4/30/2007 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
your bum will look just like it did before. if you spread the cheeks apart, all it looks like is a fold in the skin. you'll not see the scar unless you spread the cheeks apart, lol. mine took almost 4 months to heal since i had some fistulas and whatnot, so the surgeon had to cut a bigger hole then usual..

--matt
Posted 5/1/2007 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
First, that was SO NOT a stupid question, lol.  When they told me they would remove my butthole, I could not for the life of me figure out how you remove a hole!  I still don't really know and it's been gone for almost two weeks, lol.  I had UC (cured now, WOO HOO!) and they had to take it out, but they go in and sort of cut around I think.  They told me they would pull part out through the bottom.  Anyway, right now I have like an icky bumpy thing down there, but I am sure that will go away.

Just to let you know, I am only two weeks post surgery and it was super hard at first, and I still feel icky from surgery but I feel SO much better in other aspects.  I did something today I haven't done in almost 5 years, I ate in the car and didn't worry about a bathroom being near by!  And I know that sounds stupid to most people, but anybody with UC or Chrons knows thats a big deal, lol.

Everyone on this board is super helpful and always really nice.

Good luck!

Posted 5/1/2007 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, cattieos, that's brilliant!!

So you really *can* go out and do things? And all the hassle of dealing with the bag (does it leak too often, or make too much noise?) is worth it?

I keep telling myself that I'm always in the toilet now, so it's not as if much will change even if things go horribly wrong with an ostomy, but at least there's the *chance* of remission before we do surgery. Once we operate, the bag will be permanent.

Matt, thanks. That makes a lot of sense. We've gutted small animals in the past so I'm familiar with the process of ripping out intestines / anus / rectum and all too familiar with the hole that's left. Just couldn't work out how they'd fill it!

Do you have a stitch down there? Can you sit on it, or are you restricted to lying down for a while?

Ivy.
Posted 5/1/2007 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ivy

Mine was emergcency surgery. YOu probably read on the CD site or here on this one. Mine is a temp ileostomy so I still have 2/3 of my colon and since it is temp they didnt sew my bum up. I do have urges to poo the normal way very rarely. what comes out is just mucus like fluid. I have had a couple issues with my flange leaking but that is because the flange overlaps the wound vac dressing. Hopefully I wont have the vac much longer my wound is about 3/4 a cm wide now and about the same in depth. The length however is still about 10cm. I haven't been able to see any internal sutures for a few weeks now though!
Posted 5/1/2007 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
You ate FRENCH FRIES???? Oh I sure would like to eat some,too! Then I will eat pizza. But I am scared of the surgery. Guess I am just nervous as the date gets closer.
Posted 5/5/2007 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Noone ever said I was brilliant before, unless they were making fun of me, lol.
Scrappyjrt-I got super nervous shortly before surgery too, I got worried about the stupidest stuff. Like doing a cartwheel, how dumb is that! I won't say don't be nervous, cause there is no way you can't be nervous, but just remeber why you decided to do it, and that life will be so much better.
Posted 5/18/2007 12:21 PM (GMT 0)

Scrappyjrt said...
Judy,my Dr wants to leave the rectum and anus,but repair the rectum since it is prolapsed and sticks out. What I want to ask you is this,is there any kind of leakage or seeping from the rectum? If it is NOT attached to my bowels,then how could it leak or seep? Scrappy

I never had leaking or seepage, as you said, it's not hooked up to anything, but I do have a mucous movement about once a month or so (it will still create mucous).  If I'm on antibiotics which usually give me a vaginal yeast infection, I also get a yeast infection in my rectum, which the symptoms are the "urge" and more mucous movements, so I need to take oral Diflucan to clear it up.  Other than that, it's of no use at all, lol. 
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