Colostomy Reversal Questions

I thought I would post/share this while it is still fresh on my mind. As all of you know, my reversal was unexpected because of the hernia that developed and caused a blockage to my intestines. I was unable to have a pre-op appointment with the surgeon since I landed in the ER three days after my consult. My surgeon was out of town, so I had a handful of docs and specialists that were keeping an eye on me until she returned to perform the reversal. For me, this was a blessing as I was able to ask my questions to 1) the doctor on site, 2) a hernia specialist, and 3) a rectal oncologist. These specialists were part of the care team that worked alongside my surgeon. I was very fortunate and blessed God worked this out for me. It gave me great confidence in my care team and eased my anxiety prior to surgery. I asked questions relative to my case, and some were answered by the oncologist (a woman) and some by the hernia specialist (a man). I saw my surgeon about five minutes before surgery, which I was advised of, so I knew I wasn't going to have time to speak with her. Here are the questions I asked and their responses:

1) I have a granuloma that bleeds. When I get reconnected, will I always have blood in my stool because of it? No, when the reconnection is made, that part will be cut off, and the granuloma will be gone.

2) Will I have JP drains after surgery? No, unless surgery cannot be done laparoscopically.
3) What is the success rate of reversal for my case? Really good, I don't see any issues arising for you.
4) What is the rate of the diverticulitis returning? Very slim, maybe 10-15%, because you still have a colon.
5) What is the rate of the hernia returning? I would say 1% returning in the same spot, but you can still get hernias elsewhere, so you need to really take care of yourself.
6) How will the hernia be repaired? The bubble will be cut and stitched, and the muscles around it will be sewn together. If reinforcement is needed, we will use cadaver.
7) What is the total healing time? You will start to feel better in about two weeks, but six weeks is necessary for complete healing.
8) How long should I expect to have diarrhea? Usually about 2-3 weeks, but every person's body is different. Sometimes diarrhea lasts for six weeks or longer.
9) What should I expect immediately after surgery? Expect abdominal pain, pressure, and swelling, and watery stools with some blood.
10) What diet do I follow and for how long? You will be on a clear liquid diet until your bowels wake up, then on a low residue/fiber diet for two weeks. You will need to eat plenty of protein; your body needs it for healing.
11) Will I need an NG tube? Maybe during surgery, but no, because you are here and already on a liquid diet, and a bowel prep will follow.
12) How will I know if there's a leak after the reconnection is made? You will not feel well, maybe fever, fainting. Every person's body reacts differently if that happens, but I don't expect it will.
13) Do you expect a full recovery for me, for my case? Yes, absolutely.
Well… those are all the questions I asked. Hopefully, that gives anyone awaiting a reversal an idea of what they could ask their care team. Again, this is only an account of my personal experience. The best advice I can give is to make sure you do some research based on your particular body and case, and make a list of your questions so you don't forget to ask all of them. I kept it as a note on my phone and entered them as they popped into my brain so I wouldn't forget. I appreciate all of you who take the time to read my posts and send good vibes, wishes, support, and encouragement. Thank you, friends, for being in my corner and helping me through this struggle. I couldn't have done it without any of you. Much appreciation!! Thank you, be well xoxo

Thank you. That is very positive. I am awaiting my reversal but haven't got a date yet. It is so encouraging to hear how others have coped, and I'm looking forward to getting a date but petrified at the same time. 😳

DifferentClass, I completely understand. I was supposed to have my reversal consult in January but was so terrified I couldn't get myself to make the appointment. So far all has gone well and I'm glad I waited the extra couple of months, giving my body more time to heal. Hopefully, you get your date soon! Keep us posted!

Thanks, Moe. I was hoping to get my reversal before I go to Italy for my son's wedding in May. Unfortunately, it is too close now, and I may need more recovery, so it looks like I will have to haul my bag along with me! I had emergency Hartmann's in September 2023 due to blockage and infection caused by diverticulitis. A few polyps were found during my pre-assessment for reversal, and so I had to undergo an episiotomy to remove them, which caused a delay. And of course, the reversal is elective surgery, and there are massive waiting lists in the UK for cancer surgery, which take priority, of course. All the best to you and your continued recovery.

DifferentClass, diverticulitis is awful, painful, and so unpredictable. It can cause much havoc in our bodies. Sorry you had to go through all of that. I'm glad they found the polyps and took care of it. You waiting will give your body time to heal and recover before getting another major surgery. Take care and have fun in Italy!!

Hi MoeMoe, can I ask, what triggers diverticulitis? Apparently, I have diverticulosis, no symptoms, but my surgeon said that I should eat more fiber, nuts, etc. Doesn't that trigger diverticulitis though? (The surgeon said no, but didn't elaborate and I didn't want to dwell on it). My ex-brother-in-law had it and always said he couldn't eat nuts - so anytime my grandma cooked desserts she made him a special batch and labeled it "No nuts" (my husband started calling him that as a joke, LOL... trust me, he deserved it). But in all seriousness, now that I know I have diverticulosis I want to avoid diverticulitis... so what does trigger diverticulitis, if not that stuff??

Cauliflower! Which I love, but I had a few symptoms and then ate 3 cauliflowers in a week (deal at Tesco's), and that seemed to send the diverticulitis into overdrive! My surgeon says no, just bad luck 😂 and to eat them, but I am convinced they caused the log jam.

Thanks for the tip! Dang, I love raw cauliflower, but I'll probably steam it from now on! :)

DexieB, I have come to find so much mixed info online, not sure if you've Googled it. I'm not sure what exactly triggers it and there is so little in the way of medical research that I don't think docs really know either. I found that new research says seeds and nuts are okay (too funny about your ex-brother-in-law LOL) BUT I steer clear of them and probably always will for fear of the diverticulitis returning. I don't think I could handle going through something like this again, TBH. I think I am an anomaly because the docs told me diverticulitis is caused by a weak spot in the colon due to a sedentary lifestyle and a fatty, Western diet. However, for the last 7 years, I was vegan but vegetarian my entire life and I'm very active. I'm a runner and I hiked every day with my dog plus I rarely eat out. I have always led a fairly healthy lifestyle. I must say, having said that, I have a 1.5-hour commute to and from work and have an office desk occupation so I do sit a lot. Just my personal opinion here, but I feel as though I probably was not exercising enough for the time I spent sitting. My mom had one bout of diverticulitis but her latest colonoscopy showed diverticulosis stage 3. Apparently, it is hereditary so she has made changes to her diet as well. My primary care doc told me that with diverticulosis I should almost always consume veggies that are well-cooked since raw fruits and veggies are harder on the digestive tract. The colorectal surgeon said I should be consuming 30 grams of fiber daily; it helps with digestion and bowel movements. I am also taking a probiotic pill daily as a preventative measure as suggested by the GI in avoiding recurrence of the infection. Additionally, I eat a couple of spoonfuls of probiotic vegan coconut yogurt after every meal and take vitamins C (for scarring from surgery), D because it supposedly helps prevent diverticulitis (so can't hurt), and B12 because I'm vegetarian. I wish I could tell you exactly what triggers it but there really isn't very much out there in the way of diverticular disease causes or cures. I did read that nuts, dairy, and fiber should be avoided with diverticulitis flare-ups but not with diverticular disease (I know, confusing). Oh, lastly, my doc told me to NEVER, EVER eat popcorn but my assumption is that every doc will have their own opinion based on their particular skill and knowledge but I can tell you that out of fear I will never eat it LOL.