Posted 7/23/2012 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
My wife had a sigmoid colon resection on the 6 September 2011. She has an ileostomy. Unfortunately the reversal cannot happen because of a stricture that developed, either as the wound of the operation healed, or was caused by the radiation she received after the op. Oncology has recommended in April 2012 already that the bag can be reversed but the surgeon said that the stricture is too narrow. She would not be able to pass stools through the sigmoid colon area. Thus far all the blood tests taken by oncology on her regular check-ups came back clean from any cancer cells. Last week the surgeon did a colonoscopy of the entire colon under anesthetic (they gave her an epidural in the spine) and confirmed his suspicions. He took another biopsy at the same time of which we will get the results on the 1st August 2012. All the other previous biopsies and blood samples taken by the surgical dept. also came back clear from any cancer cells.
Although my wife has learned to manage the bag, she is sad that the Ileostomy cannot be reversed at this point in time. It has been 10 months since the operation. She is very careful with the stoma and follow the doctor's instructions to the tee.
The question that I would like to ask, if anyone can assist - is it at all possible that the stricture can dilate by itself over time, sufficiently enough to make the reversal possible and how long could this possibly take?
Hope someone can help.
Regards,
Dean