REVERESALS BIG DECISION

FRANTIC
FRANTIC Member Posts: 106
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
HI EVERYBODY. HAPPY 4TH. I WENT TO N.Y.CITY LAST TUESDAY TO TALK TO THE SURGEON WHO DID MY SURGERY FOR COLON CANCER IN AUG.2003.I HAD MY ASCENDING COLON AND SIGMOID COLON REMOVED DUE TO A LARGE MASS WHICH STARTED IN THE CECUM WENT ACROSS THE PELVIS AND ATTACHED ITSELF TO THE SIGMOID. I WAS LEFT WITH AN ILLEOSTOMY ON THE RIGHT AND A DRAINING FISTULA ON THE LEFT WHICH IS THE REMAINING PART OF THE TRANSVERSE COLON AND DESCENDING COLON.
THE SURGEON SAID IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO A DOUBLE CONNECTION HOWEVER IT IS A MAJOR SURGERY AND DUE TO THE PELVIC RADIATION I COULD HAVE PERMANENT DIARRHEA AND LONG TERM HEALING. HE SAID I CAN STAY AS LONG AS I WANT WITH THE BAGS IT IS UP TO ME WHEN I WANT TO GET THE REVERSAL. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO HAVE THIS SURGERY WITH ALL ITS COMPLICATIONS AS I HAD BLOCKAGES AND EMBOLISMS WITH THE FIRST SURGERY. I NOW HAVE A BLOOD DISORDER PROBLEM WHERE MY BONE MARROW DOES NOT MAKE RED BLOOD CELLS. THE PROBLEM IS TO HAVE THIS SURGERY I HAVE TO GO TO N.Y.CITY. MY OTHER DRS. ARE ON LONG ISLAND. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND TAKE A CHANCE ON THIS REVERSAL??

Comments

  • alihamilton
    alihamilton Member Posts: 347 Member
    #2
    What a decision to have to make! How are you dealing with the bags? Have you got used to handling them? Even though reversal may seem great in many ways, in your particular situation it may be better to leave things as they are. It sounds like you really do not need any more complications. I have heard of several people who actually chose to revert to the use of bags and you do not want to find yourself in that situation.

    I hope you are able to decide what, if anything to do, soon...the most important thing is to stay NED and as comfortable as possible.

    Ali
  • Glv49
    Glv49 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #3
    Hi Fran,
    Happy 4th to all. That really is a big choice to make. I too, was faced with the choice to have my colostomy reversed in Jan of this year. My surgeon also told me that due to all of the radiation to my pelvis, he would not be sure till he got in there whether or not he would be able to reconnect. It was a chance I would have to take. However, I never had any problems with my previous surgery. I just hated the colostomy so much. I mean if it saved my life, as it has many people, so I would deal with it, and I did have it for 18 mos. Once, I had a good colostomy nurse and a bag that fitted properly and stayed on, I really didn't mind it too much. But I went ahead with the surgery, and happily to say, all went well. I had alot of scar tissue from the radiation, but they were able to connect. I was very happy that it worked, and my bowels returned to normal in about 6 wks. I only had diarreah for about 4 days. The choice is yours, I can only tell you what happened to me. I knew I had to take the chance, because I am the type of person who would wonder what if? So good luck on whatever you decide, and God bless.
    Gail
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #4
    Hi,
    I was away for the w/e. There have been alot of posts. I had my ileostomy reversed only 8 weeks after my surgery. I have alot of radiation damage and also have had many bowel obstructions. I was left with many problems with my bathroom trips. I frequently had diarrhea, urgency, incontinence, and a VERY sore bottom. I spent about 3 hours a day in the tub and was afraid to go out. I was working full time. I had no life. Eighteen months later I had a colostomy. I wouldn't have picked any of this, but I now can go out. I went to Cape Cod for the w/e and was able to sit on the beach and not have to worry about the b/r. Las year I was afraid to go the beach. I do everything I did before.

    good luck with your decision.

    Maureen

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