Most recent edit on 2006-07-27 02:35:42 by KathyFromEngland
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Edited on 2006-07-23 10:35:46 by KathyFromEngland
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RJP100's J Pouch Story
RJP100's story of a J pouch after rectal cancer
I'm a 52-yo man from Atlanta, GA and had an ileostomy on 8-11-05 resulting from rectal cancer surgery. At that time my surgeon created a j-pouch, but because I was undergoing chemo until late December 2005, just had a reversal performed last Monday, 4-10-06. I am still recovering.
Deletions:
I'm a 52-yo man from Atlanta, GA and had an ileostomy on 8-11-05 resulting from rectal cancer surgery. At that time my surgeon created a j-pouch, but because I was undergoing chemo until late December 2005, just had a reversal performed last Monday, 4-10-06. I am still recovering.
Edited on 2006-07-19 02:12:16 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
I'm a 52-yo man from Atlanta, GA and had an ileostomy on 8-11-05 resulting from rectal cancer surgery. At that time my surgeon created a j-pouch, but because I was undergoing chemo until late December 2005, just had a reversal performed last Monday, 4-10-06. I am still recovering.
Deletions:
I'm a 52-yo man from Atlanta, GA and had an ileostomy on 8-11-05 resulting from rectal cancer surgery. At that time my surgeon created a j-pouch, but because I was undergoing chemo until late December 2005, just had a reversal performed last Monday, 4-10-06. I am still recovering.
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2006-07-19 00:44:46 by KathyFromEngland []
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I'm a 52-yo man from Atlanta, GA and had an
ileostomy on 8-11-05 resulting from
rectal cancer surgery. At that time my surgeon created a j-pouch, but because I was undergoing chemo until late December 2005, just had a reversal performed last Monday, 4-10-06. I am still recovering.
I read a few posts on
ostomy reversal before going into surgery and there was quite a variation in experiences. Specifically, I was concerned that I might be going as often as 10-15 times per day, which concerned me (as did the possibility of incontinence). Happily, neither have been the case, and I thought I'd share my experience, for those of you about to undergo this procedure.
Mon 4-10: surgery starts at 1:00 pm, was under for approx. 90 minutes, total. All goes well. I sleep all through the rest of the day, and night, comfortably.
Tue 4-11: wake up feeling good. Some discomfort in the abdomen, but not so much that I need pain medication. Start walking, and sleep some! Clear liquids are the order of the day (ok, little appetite anyway).
Wed 4-12: feeling even better. This is so different than the original surgery last August (physically as well as emotionally)! On full liquids - food is digusting and even if I had an appetite (I didn't) the food would have killed it! More walking, and starting to generate some gas (yea) in the evening, and a little bit of "leakage" when on the can - but no real movement. Drawback to the gas is that it generates some very significant pain in the abdomen at the surgery site when it's released from the stomach. But I'm happy anyway because I know this waking up of the digestive system is my ticket out. Tomorrow should be better.
Thu 4-13: More progress - decent solid food, lots of walking, still some surgical discomfort, and - no obvious stomach activity. Gas production has gone down significantly from yesterday evening, with less leakage, too. This is a little discouraging. Physically I feel very good other than the discomfort, but will I be released tomorrow if I don't start producing?
Fri 4-14: Doctor comes in early am - not concerned about lack of "production"....and I can go home! No diet restrictions! By noon I'm home, relaxing, enjoying a beautiful spring day in Atlanta. Start eating real food (reasonably so) but still no movement.
Sat 4-15 Morning - start passing some stool. Boy that hurts! Kind of watery, and it burns. Have about 4 total movements like this in the am and afternoon. It's very messy and
did I say it burns? Still, it's a relief that things are finally happening. I run some errands with my daughter, as the recovery is progressing nicely. In my best dreams I never thought the recovery would go this quickly.
Easter Sun 4-16 - weather this whole week has been beautiful and today is no exception. Have a friend and his children over for dinner, with my daughter who's home from college for the weekend - and am feeling very well. No movement today.
Mon 4-17 - nice day, start working from home. Accomplish alot. I've done this whole thing with no outside help other than friends driving me to/from hospital! Still some abdominal discomfort, but getting better. In the evening I finally have a couple of pretty solid (but also soft) movements, and they don't burn nearly as much. This is beginning to look very promising!
Tues 4-18 - worked all day at home. Abdominal discomfort from surgery seems to have dropped significantly today. So far, have experienced one of the two concerns I had before the reversal operation - that concern being painful, burning elimination. The other concern (from reading forums) - 10-15 eliminations per day - has not happened! Then again, I'm not regular yet. To be continued.......
Wed-Thu 4-19,20 - feeling very well. Abdominal pain is just about gone. I feel great, could go to work, but just as well will work from home this week. Wed no production, Thu about 5-6 trips to the bathroom. Burning is gone but my butt is a little sore from all the wiping. I'm not complaining though - this is a lot better than the ostomy.
Author: RJP100