Iliostomy “Take Down” I need all the help I can get. HELP!!

I'm sorry about that
Hey, Brooks.

I'm taking Miralax every day (twice a day). My issues aren't exactly the same as yours, but I would think taking it on a regular basis until you get things sorted out might be good.

*hugs*
Gail

Brooks
Hi Brooks
It does take time. My reversal was 4 years ago. What helped me was taking/eating a teaspoon of flax seed fiber every day, and a stool softener every day. I stayed away from the laxatives. I was in the ER a couple times so bound up and in pain. And then the terrible pain from straining and aggravating hemorrhoids. Now I am doing pretty good, but I'm not going to lie to you, it took a couple years to get where I am now. After getting regular with the flax and starting on the daily stool softener is when it started getting better. I found that meats and dairy are hardest for me to digest, and too much of either will bring on the diarrhea. I also do much better when I eat plenty of vegetables, and I stay away from black pepper, it burns coming out too, and stay away from things like peanuts and popcorn. I use Omega milled flax seed fiber, but you can even get it at Wallmart in the baking isle. I just put mine in water and drink, chew it down. It has a pleasant taste, can cook with it, put on salads, in yogart etc. After your body gets used to the teaspoon a day you can increase to a tablespoon or two a day. The yogart is good for your bowels also. I do swear by the flax seed fiber, and it is natural good for you, and not a chemical stimulant laxative, which in the long run makes it harder for your body to go naturally. It will take a week or so to see the benefits of the flax fiber, as it is a natural substance and does not work instantly like laxatives. I think that the laxatives may be what are cramping you up so bad. Try to eat smaller portions of food several times a day instead of one or two big meals all at once, the large meals will put a lot of work on your intestines all at once. If you want you could pm me, tell me what you have eaten the past few days, when and how much. I am not an expert, but I did talk a lot with a nutritionist about my problems, and we did get them worked out. Hoping you get some relief soon.
Pam

My family called me
My family called me poopy-face during my adjustment period post-take down.
I was either running to the bathroom, grunting in pain, etc...but it all callmed down.

My reversal was in September and I'd say it took about 3 months to stabilize. I did wear depends at night, just in case i couldn't get to the bathroom fast enough.

My biggest issue was butt cramps- I'd get sharp pains in the region...it would last a while, but eventually subside. I had BMs maybe every 2 days, then eventually every other day then eventually once a day.

I'm really bad at taking medicine and concotions, I just powered thru it. Stool softener, yes, stay on that and I really beleive food will be the regulator. As your system gets used to working again it'll know how to process the food.

Oh I do recall my first successful pain-free BM was after I had eaten at an italian restaurant and ate a lot of bread dipped in olive oil!!!!

good luck poopy pants it'll be OK!!!!

Peggy

Couldn't Agree More
Hey Brooks

First thing out the window is your "timetable." I know we all think it will be "plug and play" and back to normal.

But the bowels are the absolute hardest thing to be operated on - even the doctors will tell you that. Once you tinker with them, they have to "learn" to readjust again. You just took a major surgery head on and things will not happen overnight, or even a fortnight.

After my surgery, it was TWO years of the worst kind of stuff you can imagine. And that was just the beginning. It took 2 more for things to begin to get where they would be. That's not going to be your case, but what I'm trying to show you was 2-4 years - that's doin' some "hard time." Criminals don't serve that long.

So, throw away your notions and adjust your expectations - this is literally the "one day at a time" that we often speak about.

Sometimes, I wondered how so much poop could keep coming and where was it coming from?

Eat small meals and nothing heavy. Take some stool softeners for awhile. And clear off the other medication. It does throw the body haywire, when it's trying to figure out what just happened to it and then we throw more curve balls at it with meds.

I gave up all medications and just let the body go where it would. Many nights I was up at 3am just suffering, in so much pain, screamin' and trying not to wake up Kim. Just alone on the toilet with pain and bleeding, and wondering the big word - When?

We'd be up changing the sheets at 3 or 4 in the morning - changing underwear, man, I mean all of it.

I'd get to work and have to go home - multiple BMs until I was bleeding. I'd come out of the men's room soaked head to toe in sweat - people would look at me like "what happened." Would have to race home and jump in a hot bath to soothe those burning tissues.

Some days I could not make it in to work, was just too sick. Other times I'd get there and have to leave within a hour. Other times it was mid-day. And I'd be sick all day and night when I did get home.

Those were some of the days, where I said, "If this is going to be my life, then I' don't want to live." And I meant it too. But as I've told you before....TIME, my friend, TIME!

It's the only answer really. Until then, you're life is on temporary hold - but the good news is that things will get better - and only the body knows when that will be.

This is the part of the race where PATIENCE is the key. You really can't rush Mother Nature - she's going to do what she wants to do and we just have to ride along with it.

I'm just being honest with you - I'm not one to BS about such things. I lost over 5 years to poop, believe me I understand your pain and frustration.

But your insides are busted up from the surgery and need time to heal - it just comes down to that. I had 5 weeks of radiation prior to my rectal resection - it really complicated things and my insides were like "fried bacon" I was told. Plus, the bowel never got a chance to rest from the radiation - through the surgery - and for the next 2+ years - you know you use them almost every day. So I see now why they do temp ostomies of all kinds.

But no matter which way you go - the plumbing is very sensitive down there, as we've all discovered...and Leaky is just trying to figure out what the flip just happened and who's got the license plate to that truck that just steamrollered him.

You can imagine my thoughts on those days when I was totally alone with no one to talk to about my concerns and no doctor's able to help me. I'm so glad that you have us to come and talk to about it - sure wish I did then.

I'm wishing you the best - take it EZ - and just tackle it head on - you're going to come through on the other side.

-Craig