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Ostomies
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Posted 5/22/2016 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was a UC patient up until 5 months ago, when I had an ostomy take down. My initial surgery was laproscopic-robot assisted. Ever since then, I have been working hard to get my beach body back. My understanding is that my procedure has caused a lot of scarred tissue over the hypogastric/illiac regions. I had lost a lot of body fat since my second surgery, and it seems like my lower abdomen looks still swollen and it won't become flat like the rest of my stomach. I think it's because it healed like that, but it'll require time for it to go away. Just want to hear some feedback and see what others think. Thanks.
Posted 5/22/2016 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Well, you're much younger than me, but my abdomen has not returned to its pre surgery shape. It's a bit lopsided....the left side has a slight bulge that's not on the right side. I work out daily....it's not fat. I attribute it to the surgery. I have tried sit ups and other means to no avail. Hopefully since you're so young you'll be able to achieve better results than I have. I'm 47 so I don't mind giving up the bikini. I had a good run. Lol. Good luck.
Posted 5/22/2016 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have a permanent ostomy now but had a lump on my left side similar to what Marianne describes when i had my loop. After my loop and takedown it went away and my tummy evened out. Now with my permanent I have that left side lump again. Now that I am 3 months out it has gone down a little but still not as flat as my right side. I've been told your abdomen can take up 6 months for swelling.

I massage my incision and where the lump is to help break up scar tissue and minimize how much forms. I read it helps.
Posted 5/23/2016 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I had a temporary ileo after a sigmoid volvulous, all occurring in 2010. The middle part of my abdomen has returned to its pre-operation days and that took about a year or so for that to happen. Doctors since then have commented that they can't really tell just by looking at my stomach that I had an operation. My right lower abdomen, where the ostomy bag was, remains, as best as I can describe it, indented. The skin has healed and there's no sign of a scar. There's a slight discoloration where acids from my stomach irritated the skin, but that's about it.

So, five months out from your operation, is a little soon to be expecting everything to be back to your pre-op look. But it'll get there!
Posted 5/23/2016 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies, you guys have answered my question.
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