Hi Brad. I'm a 28 year old male and just had my reversal less than two weeks ago. I had a perforation during a colonoscopy late December. The doctor didn't realize it and two days later, I was rushed to the ER in septic shock. Had emergency surgery to remove 6 inches of my intestine and also woke up with a temporary ileostomy. I had my reversal six weeks later, which was two Fridays ago. Look up the thread "really nervous about
my reversal" if you want in depth info on how I was beforehand. I had a reattachment of the small/large intestines and not a j-pouch.
First, being nervous is completely normal. I came on the net researching and all I read was that I would be rushing to the bathroom 15-20 times per day and that some wished they haven't had it. Keep in mind that people who have issues during a reversal are more likely to post than those who don't, for obvious reasons.
On the day of my surgery, I reported to the hospital at 6:30 am (Yale-New Haven hospital, which I cannot say enough great things about
). By 7:15, I was being wheeled in. They asked me if I was nervous, and I said yes. A few seconds later, I was out. My incisions were all stapled shut (some doctors leave the stoma site
open). After the surgery was very painful. I was on dilaudid and slept a lot, and requested no visitors other than my fiancee and my parents. I had a catheter in until the next morning, when they removed it and I had to pee on my own. After a few hours, my bladder began working and I started peeing. Sometimes, I had to sit there for a good 20 minutes to pee, but I was determined to avoid the catheter being re-inserted.
There are a few hurdles you need to get over in the hospital after reversal. Hurdle 1 is being able to pee. Hurdle 2 is being able to pass gas. Hurdle 3 is being able to poop. I peed myself the day after surgery. I passed gas 3 days after surgery, and I pooped a few hours after passing gas (by "poop", that includes some diarrhea). I went in on Friday morning and was home by Tuesday at 2pm.
One thing you need to do as soon as possible, is WALK. Your doctors and nurses will push this, and you will hate them for it because it will hurt, but you need to do it. Every time my nurse walked in and said "okay time to walk", I though "oh f#*k". But it helped get the gas through me, and got my bladder working better and better.
Now I'm almost 2 weeks post op. I have been going to the bathroom about
2-3 times per day, which for me isn't terrible. I'm off the pain meds and now just taking motrin as needed. The initial days after surgery were tough, but doctors kept telling me my age and overall health was on my side and I should be 100% soon. Same with you - you will be fine and will come looking back on this forum giving the next person pointers on their reversal.
If you have any questions whatsoever, please ask.
Justin
PS - bring flushable wet wipes. They are much better than hospital TP.
Post Edited (Justin342) : 2/13/2014 2:29:44 PM (GMT-7)