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How long did you have your ostomy before reversal?

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Posted 11/14/2007 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanting to get some feedback on how long all of you have had your ostomies before reversal(if you decided to go that route). Is it true that the longer you go with the ostomy the harder the reversal and recovery?
Posted 11/14/2007 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Ash,

I had my ostomy surgery August 6 of this year and the reversal will be December 5.  The doc told wife he would do the reversal in 4-6 months.  This is going to be a little over 4 months.  I hear sometimes its longer depending on healing time.  My wound was left open to heal from inside out which is what they watch I guess to see how your healing.  I did have an infected intestine from diverticilosis and they did remove a portion of the intestine and thats what they wanted to heal good I guess and make sure the infection was cleared up.  Rightway

 

Posted 11/14/2007 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
i have had my "temporary ileostomy" since April of this year.....the idea was 6 months to a year, but now i think i want it to stay, screw going back...that scares the hell out of me...at least it scares me more much more than having this thing forever.
Posted 11/14/2007 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had my temporary ileostomy for 8 weeks. It was supposed to be 6 weeks but my surgeon was on vacation. You can wait a long time and don't need to rush it.

Sue
Posted 11/15/2007 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I had a colostomy April 26th of this year and had the resection (anatomosis) on August 20th.  They removed the rest of the sigmoid colon the second time.  I think I would have felt better if they had not removed all of it.  It has been 2 1/2 months since the surgery and things are still not working correctly. The doctor said it takes about 8 months, which will be next April.  Anyone else have an experience with resection?
Posted 11/19/2007 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi "Glad Bag"

I have only just become a member of Healing Well and don't know how to reply to your post.

I too had a section of my bowel removed on 12th April this year due to Cancer of the colon and went back in July for the reversal and removal of "the bag". Must say I really hated having the bag and had a lot of leakage and burning from it leaking, so was really looking forward to having the reversal done. Although it was a pain having to go back into hospital, I was only in for 5 days and am feeling absolutely great now. Still having a settling down period with my B.M. but just so happy to be rid of the bag.

Please feel free to ask any questions and if possible I will answer them for you.

Living with my "life scar" and happy!!
Posted 11/20/2007 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
hi ash, i have had my" temp" ileostomy since feb 06!! i had an ileos after my op so was really sick, my consultant wanted to do my reversal after 3 months but i was havng a well deserved holiday with my children. after the holiday i had put on about 7 lbs and he has since been refusing to do my op until i lose 3 STONES! i have sooo tried to get the weight off but can't. i am 11& half stone and very depressed about it all. my GP has since referred me to another hospital and i had my appt yesterday and the consultant i seen is doing my reversal and hernia repair at the end off jan!!
Posted 11/27/2007 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
I had my temp illie done on 10/23/07. I have a pouchagram scheduled at 6 wks postop and if all checks out okay, we can schedule the takedown for 6 weeks beyond that. Around late January or early February. I am not enjoying life with a bag - I still have my hubby change it every 2 or 3 days because my mindset is that this is temporary and I don't need the extra aggravation of trying to cut it right and apply it myself. I'm very detached from it. This is probably not healthy, but it's how I'm currently dealing with it. I look forward to the reversal, but having read some scary posts, I have my reservations about it too. Nothing is cut and dried, is it?
Posted 11/28/2007 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ash:
I have had my ileostomy since August of '05. I am contemplating a reversal in Spring of '08. I was really sick until May '07 since I have been recovering and gaining strength. I was hell-bent on doing the reversal as soon as possible. The surgeon told me he wouldn't consider it until Sept. '07, I needed to gain weight and strength. Thankfully, I joined this forum in August and with some really good insights from these folks and my docs, I decided to postpone the reconnection surgery. I am very glad that I made this decision. Yes, the bag is a pain in the a**, but I went through this forum, read a lot of the old threads and I learned volumes and, more importantly, felt like a normal person instead of a freak with a bag.

The important thing to remember is that everyone is different. Take your time, ask questions and think it through. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Richard
Posted Today 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
 Life Scar

Do you have any problems with your rectum wanting to clear out any bm all the time.  I have that,  but it is not as bad.  Sometime I wonder if I will ever stop the urgency to go.  I had my ileostomy takedown 3 months ago after a rectal resection to remove a cancerous mass.  Prior to that, I had no problems.  Found the mass when I had a colonoscopy.

Farmers Daughter

Posted 2/17/2008 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
My husband had a takedown 2-1-08 after ileostomy since 9-5-08. Now he has, like "farmers daughter" and others, the constant urgency to have a bm, which he does I guess pretty good, but very often does not, although feels strongly the urge to go. He is very frustrated. Any advice?
Posted 2/17/2008 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I see I made an error on my last reply and don't know if I can edit. So, I'll repeat that my husband had his takedown 2-1-08 after having ileostomy 5 months (since 9-5-07). Now he is very frustrated with an almost constant strong urge to have a bm. He does have bms but not every time he has the urge. He is very frustrated. I'm looking for advice. Thanks.
Posted 2/17/2008 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
I know people who have waited years before reversing. The key thing is to keep doing those rectal kegel excercises to keep those rectal muscles in shape otherwise you may find some incontinence after surgery cos those muscles aren't used to being used. :)
Posted 2/17/2008 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
i may have to post this in its own forum, but what about those with fistulas? i had fistulas and thats y i have my temp...its supposed to b reversed in 6months. I've heard about this barium enema to check to see if theyr closed. But, i have so many things going on back there, that that would b extremely painful, is that the only way? Are there any other ways to check?

Also, Shaz...i still have my colon and i pass the mucus u told me about...would that b considered using those rectal muscles?

See why i love this place?! the only place where i can ask about mucus and rectal muscles and not feel totally weird
Posted 2/18/2008 1:32 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Praying:

I am close to three years with my ileostomy. All my docs (internist, GI, nephrologist & surgeon) have no reservations about me having the reversal in May. My ileo was a result of extensive surgery after a bout with necrotising pancreatitis. I developed several fistulas and had to have another resection in January 2007. I have been "fistula" free since.

I did have the dreaded barium enema before my resection, and it was very uncomfortable. But it didn't last that long and in the scheme of things it is a small price to pay in order to feel better. It is my understanding that this is the best test to determine if there are fistulas, a Cat Scan is not as conclusive. I too will need to have another barium enema before my resection and, although I'm not looking forward to the this test, I am concentrated on getting better and healing well and the test is really a very minor part of the process. 

I too have been passing mucous and I think my equipment is ready to work.

I totally agree that this site is a super asset for an ostomate to have!

Richard

Posted 2/20/2008 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
well richard, i'm hoping mayb they'l take pity on me and put me to sleep or something when that day comes.
but u guys is it possible to have a reversal and then just decide u want the bag again? i mean are there setbacks in just trying the reversal to see how it goes?
Posted 2/21/2008 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
praying4healing-

Try going to http://j-pouch.org/groupee/forums in the general discussion there is a great posting going back to the bag. Many people have done this successfully.

I am curious, though, you have crohn's and you are getting a j-pouch? My surgeon would do it because they were afraind that the crohn's would attack the pouch. Has your crohn's just been in the large intestine is that why they are going to do the j-pouch?

Erica
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