After Ilestomy Reversal Advice needed

ThomasH

I had my reversal in January

I have been really fortunate with my reversal I think. The first month afterward were not fun by any means, but managable. I still have to go 7-10 times per day, but I'm finding that there is a lot of variation depending on what I eat. I had to really pay attention to what I ate when I had the bag, and pretty much exactly the same foods that affected my flow when I had the bag still affect me the same way now that I'm reconnected. Not really surprising I suppose. Fortunately I've never had to take anything stronger than a couple Immodium.

I've found it definitely gets better with time though, so if you are still early into your reversal, there is hope for sure.

Thomas

Mary1864

Hi Suzycat, 

I am one year exactly from my reversal.  Had an ileostomy for almost a year....choosing to just get thru treatment first.  I had so much anxiety about how the reversal would go.  I spoke with a local support group and the leader told me that I would need diapers at first.  I cried all the way home from that meeting.  

I hope you have had some succes with your reversal.  Everyone does adapt according to there own needs...but I wanted to share what I did.  Post op you are bound to the bathroom.  Sticking with a low residue diet is really important for the first two to three weeks post op....I was in no hurry to eat any foods that were hard to chew For a few months.  Take probiotics daily.  I take Florastor.  They really seemed to regulate me.  For us who have lost the majority of the rectum...imagine that now your body lost the ability for waste to be stored.  That is where my urgrnency to go came in.  Practice....when you are home.  Hold it in as best and long as you can.  You are retraining your bowels...and they will listen!  Trust me.  When you get an episode of diarrhea...go back to low residue. Occasionally I will take immodium....but it is used sparingly.  

I hope some of this may be of use!   Never purchased diapers....never needed them.  

Best wishes,

Mary

mysweetheartrusty

pampers baby wipes

The pampers baby wipes sensitive kind help for the bum. They can't be flushed but they do have something in them to keep the irritation to a minimum.

So sorry you are having a tough time! Its such an aggravating thing to adjust to.