Louis' Reversal Story

Louis' story of a colostomy reversal after diverticulitus

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I had my stoma created 13 months ago due to diverticulitus and have been aquiring useful information from this site ever since. I am fortunate enough to have had my reversal surgery last Monday and have returned home today 7 days later. After on cancelled attempt I was admitted on 23 October a bowel prep was given and although not pleasant was not too bad. 'Picolax' was the preporation used, I was instructed to drink plenty of fluids for the next 24 hours and I emptied the bag with unbeleivable regularity sometimes two or three times an hour.

Monday 24 October my surgery came round and after having the epidural administered I remember nothing until I woke in recovery. The Epidural worked well and I felt no pain apart from a badly placed catheter which was soon replaced correctly shortly after this I was returned to the ward on a nil by mouth diet but fortunately had nursing staff who trusted me to rinse my mouth as often as I wanted with icy cold water. I remained in this limbo for the next three days a little despondent but happy to have had the surgery which appeared to be succesful.

Wednesday 26 October I was allowed sips of water at the rate of 30ml per hour it was amazing how good a sip of water could taste. My allowance was doubled on the 27 October to 60ml per hour and as I had not needed to use the button on the Epidural for 24 hours I requested the doseage be reduced which they did from 6ml per hour to 4ml per hour. Pain control was excellent and on Friday 28 October i was allowed free fluids a cup of tea has never tasted so good. Having been removed from all intravenous fluids and having the catheter and Johnsons drain (Wound drain) removed I was finally disconnected from the Epidural and found my need for pain releif was so minimal I managed with no more than 2 Paracetamol 3-4 time daily.

Saturday 29 October I am allowed to eat my sugar levels are low and I had a light breakfast of Rice Crispies and a slice of wholemeal bread and strawberry Jam. With no apparent problems I was encouraged to eat a little more heartily. A hot dinner and light supper left me feeling bloated and a little anxious. As with every previous night I had ever been in hospital sleep was patchy I found myself watching the clock waiting for the morning to come round. I have never been able to sleep in hospital.

Sunday 30 October I get up still bloated and a little uncomfortable but am also a little concerned about a mass I can feel beneath a Hernia caused by an infection when my stoma was created. A light breakfast of rice crispies and tea is the start to the day I am so bloated I begin to worry and a young nurse gets a doctor to examine me he reassures me that the mass is nothing to worry about and advises me to eat a little more. Dinner time I follow his advice and eat Vegetable Soup, Fish cakes in parsley sauce Brocolli and Potato followed by Stewed rhubarb and custard something I thought may help me go rather than I would enjoy. Obviously the rhubarb did not work that quickly but I found myself running to the bathroom any way I was never so happy to open my bowels. I returned jubilant after passing a semi solid stool followed by slop. After waiting thirteen months this was an experience to remember I returned to the bed and changed the eating and drinking sign adding '& Pooing'. The jubilation was soon brought into context after my next ten visits to the bathroom after thirteen months of wishing I could poo! I began to wish I could stop. The toilet paper seems much rougher I suggest anyone else takes a supply of luxury paper and childrens wet wipe toilet tissue in with them in preporation.

Monday 31 October I am hoping to go home and the doctor arrives on ward rounds immediately after breakfast a quick examination and look at my notes and I am given the Ok to return home, I have now been home for 10 hours and have been to the bathroom thirty times mainly to do no more than pass wind and dribble but the fear of following through is an amazing incentive to move quickly.

Tuesday 1 November in and out of the toilet and a few stomach cramps last night which were eased with strategically placed hot water bottles. By lunchtime the acidity obviously decreasing and some Sudocrem borrowed from my grandsons nappy bag during a visit has proved a great relief it is now 3:15pm and although toilet visits are still to regular they are no longer as painful. Things are begining to settle down a little fingers crossed & cheeks clenched. ha ha!

Wednesday 2 November stools are getting firmer and apart from the butt burn not to many problems, main one being the need to be close to the toilet until control improves a little more. Feeling more confident as each day passes. 8)

Thursday 3 November
slept like a log for seven hours last night (without a pooh), woke this morning feeling great. When I feel the need to go its still a sprint to the loo but my confidence and control is improving daily. Looking forward to having the staples removed on Monday 7 November and some good nights sleep ahead.

Friday 4 November everything going well just wish I didn't feel like a Baboon, you know the one you always see with a swollen red bum!

Saturday 5 November not a lot to report all is well, visits to toilet still far to frequent, hourly through the day but managed over 8 hours last night the best nights sleep in two weeks. Frequent washing with shower head over bath, sudocrem, and baby lotion are getting baboon bum symptoms under control.

Wednesday 6 December a little over six weeks since my operation and my stoma is now becoming a distant memory ;D. My life is now totally back to normal back at work, no problems with adhesions any more, baboon bum is no longer a problem. Life is fantastic (it always was but now I don't have to worry about accidents or supplies). I would once again like to thank everyone who contributes to this site∞ for the invaluable information that they posted that helped me through the thirteen months I had my colostomy.

Monday 7 November Staples out everything going well baboon bum subsiding nicely. Whoopee I have a fully functional bottom its time for me to get back to some serious work, will look in now and again when time permits.

To sum up my excperience of the colostomy reversal the anrticipation and waiting were not easy but I kept a positive attitude. The cancellation of my first operation was a blow, but many thanks to my consultant who scheduled a special theatre on his day off to get me done quickly (only five days later). The operation itself was a success and my pain relief was very effective, I could not have the epidural for first operation but do recomend it if available. The hospital staff were great they are under paid and overworked but could have done no more to help me in my recovery. Now after only six weeks I am doing almost everything I did before my colostomy and enjoying life even more if that is possible knowing how lucky I am.

I have not contributed over the past year or so I have been using this board for support but hope that my experiences may be helpful to someone in the future.

I am a 46 year old divorced male who lives in the UK (Midlands) The hospital staff were amazing and as I heard they had their microwave in the staff room condemned I have just sent them a new one by way of a thank you.

I shall contuinue to update my progress if there is anything worth adding but I am looking forward to life without my bag. My family and friends are able to call me A%hole instead of S%bag now. Best wishes to all!

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13 November 2005
I found that I needed to reduce the fibe in my diet after my reversal, and tried a low residue diet for two days. (Important no more than two days and check if any medical conditions may make this inadvisable)

I replaced Bran with Cornflakes, Brown bread with White etc as indicated by low residue diet and the increased fibre in diet slowly. I found the largest improvement was brought about by reducing Tea/Coffee to 3 a day and increasing water/weak squashes to 6-8 pints a day.

Water intake has regulated digestion reduced anal fissures (piles) and made the biggest change in my recovery. But I do believe I was initially taking to much fibre in my diet and now restrict fibre added to bran for breakfast and wholemeal bread and a normal healthy diet.

PS. problems with (Piles) anal fissures only continuing problems to date but this is now being controlled with no more than increased water intake.

16 November 2005 I am now virtually back to normal only 23 days after surgery only the scar and the odd nurofen for adhesion pains remind me. I am back exercising regularly some long walks and the odd hour on the treadmill (watching a dvd while I jog). Planning a couple of weeks in the sun to celebrate as soon as I see a bargain last minute deal.

5 January 2006 The doctor did not give me any special diet I play it by ear and use common sense, the staying away from nuts seeds and popcorn fall under that category. I continue to log my diet using some software I wrote at the moment as I am trying to get rid of the christmas and new year excesses and if I have a bad day I can look back and see what I did differently that could have affected me. I stay away from white bread & pizza now as a result, although I do listen to the doc's I temper their advice making allowances for the fact that we are all different.
I am back to my old self once more apart from the scars it often seems like the year of the pouch was just a bad dream.

2nd June 2006 Just dropped by to say all is still well, life is wonderful a couple of weeks in the sun without the pouch (able to go in the pool even if I did keep my t-shirt on to hide the scars) did me the world of good. Life is back to normal too much work, not enough hours in the day but I am enjoying every minute of every day even more now the pouch is history.

All the best to you all.
Louis

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