HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Another reversal recovery question - opinions?

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/14/2010 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I'm getting worried about my upcoming reversal surgery.  Not the surgery really, just the recovery.  I've been reading other posts and the experiences are so varied.  So I'm wondering if anyone can offer an opinion on whether the recovery should be easier if the temp ileostomy was not due to any of the terrible diseases some of you are overcoming.   Mine was due to an infection which happened after my bowel was nicked during my hysterectomy.  It's been 8 months since I got the ostomy; I had a bowel resection in Jan and a recent sigmoidoscopy showed that the resection healed perfectly.  So with no disease in the small or large intestine, should I have an easier time of things as the large intestine "wakes up" and starts doing it's thing?  Or do you think I'll have the same chance of having weeks and weeks of bm's every hour etc.?   I would just love to think I can plan on being back to work a month after the reversal and get started on a fitness plan finally.

thanks to all !!

Connie

 

Posted 2/14/2010 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
It depends upon what part of your colon was removed. For me it was the lowest part, and 15 inches above it. Hence, why I have no internal reservoir for stool to collect, back up and then be released ideally once or twice a day.

If your resection was higher up, you'll probably experience bowel habits similar to what you used to have. While you're in the hospital, take along stayfree ultra thin maxi pads, overnight ones. They go way up in the back of your underwear. I've never had all out accidents but minor drips. These pads are a comfort to wear and I wished I had known about them after my reversal surgery. I asked my husband to bring a towel to sit on for the car ride home.

I have found that smaller meals, plain food agree with my touchy gut the most. I kept a food journal for the first 2 years after my reversal.

To get your bowels to wake up in the hospital - walk, walk and walk some more. Pack sturdy gym shoes and a good robe to wear over your hospital gown. Remember to do the breathing exercises each hour too.

Strength wise, stamina, etc. I recovered so much more quickly after my reversal than my first surgery and all because I didn't stay in that hospital bed. I would intentionally make myself sit upright in a chair for several hours a day too. All of this combined would have gotten me on the path to return to work (but I was a stay at home mom back then). I continued walking around our house when I was discharged (walked the perimeter of our house several times a day, I wanted to stay near a bathroom). Eventually we bought a treadmill.

Wishing you a better time than I had (with multiple bm's, my doctors have told me I am in the extreme range, so I don't think what happened to me will happen to you Connie).

Mary/Marsky
Posted 2/14/2010 2:25 PM (GMT 0)

Wow - Thanks Mary!!  That is such great info and I really appreciate you taking the time to write back.  My resection was really low, close to the rectum. They only took away about 2 inches, just enough to do the resection.  My ileostomy is very high so I have had only fluid in my pouch the whole time. But that's not relevant.   I liked your tip about bringing good shoes to the hospital - it reminded me that I hate that stupid slurping sound my slippers make and that I vowed to bring real shoes the next time!!   I've walked a lot after my other surgeries so I'll do even more as you suggest.  

Now I'm hopeful again that the recovery may not be as bad as I feared.  I can work from home so I really should not stress about that.  It's just that my job requires a lot of travel and I'm so anxious to get back in the game.   But my first trip will be somewhere warm and sunny - a reward for getting that physical 2 years ago and following through with all the scary stuff that followed.   I'll call it my "dodged the bullet" celebration trip !! 

Thanks again, and Happy Valentine's Day.    Connie  

Posted 2/14/2010 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Walking is important...the more the better! Everyone is different so don't get discouraged if yours don't wake up immediately...just keep walking!

Good Luck:)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply