Hello to all my wonderful ostomates. As you can see, I am back home now after a week in the hospital. I promised to provide details of my experience, good or bad, so here goes (please take pity on my brain which is still under the influence of Percocet etc.)
Friday morning I went to the hospital and everything was going on schedule. The surgeon actually called me to the OR 45 mins early. I had a chat with the anesthetist who explained she would be putting in an epidural to start with as this would provide greater pain relief after the surgery. She also told me I would have the pain pump and we would work with both systems to maximize management.
The epidural seemed to take forever and in the end, only worked on my left side (strangely, the same thing happened when I had one for the birth of my first child - no epidural for the second, so I don't know if this is just something that can't be done on me or what).
Going under the anesthetic was uneventful (last time I had a suffocating sensation and began convulsing).
From all accounts, the surgery went well. I woke up with 2 incisions - one 7 inch midline (over top of the 18 inch one from last September) and a 3 inch one from the stoma site. They are both neatly stapled. The doctor had initially said he wouldn't be stapling the stoma incision - his plan was to pack it and let it heal from the inside. Not sure why that changed yet - on my list of questions for him.
The procedure lasted about an hour and a half and I woke up with little to no pain on my left but my right side was excruciating. We quickly got that under control with the PCA pump.
I was in ICU for 4 days during which we stopped the epidural to see what benefit I was actually getting from it. As it turns out, it was helping a lot so we turned it back on and left it there for another 3 days.
I was up the next day but still NPO. Little nausea and a lot of cramping. Heparin shots each day
By the third day I was walking short distances to try to get things moving. I was allowed clear liquids but had no gas or BMs (no sounds from bowels either).
Once the epidural was removed, I was moved to the surgical ward. Still walking short distances to try to get things moving. Clear liquids but had no gas or BMs but we could hear sounds.
Still no movement down below but a lot of cramping and a tiny amount of gas. Dr prescribed a suppository which resulted in a small BM much like I'd had a few times after the ileostomy. That was painful but the sharp pain passed fairly quickly
Passed "real" gas for the first time. I say real gas because it was something my husband was there to witness and was proud of. It is very hard to tell if you are going to pass gas or have a BM, so I always assume it will be a BM.
Removed the PCA pump Day 6 and was able to manage the pain with shots. Dr also had me on a medication to get the bowels moving and reduce nausea.
Found I couldn't pass gas lying or sitting in bed - had to be on the commode. There were a number of false alarms which hurt like heck and they were very disappointing.
They also changed my diet to full fluids which meant I could have thicker soups and puddings etc.
I was beginning to think I'd never poop again....but what is it they say about patience??? This morning I had my first unassisted BM YAAAAY! Once it started, it didn't really stop.
I find that food goes through me as quickly (if not quicker) as it did with the bag, so I can time it pretty well. I found that after eating, I'd get cramping about 30 mins later, then some gas and then 3 - 5 BMs after that within a short period of time.
Still get false alarms and BMs between meals - up to 14 for the day I think today.
I also found the hour drive home rather uncomfortable. My bladder was getting a little full and that was putting pressure on the intestines causing cramping etc. Once I got home, went straight to the bathroom for BM and gas then a cup of tea and some pain pills.
So all in all, I think things are going well. Dr wanted to keep me in another day but I just wanted to get back home - more comfortable in my own bed etc.
I am seeing the surgeon again next Tuesday for a check-up and to have the staples removed. I will keep updating as the days go by. Feel free to ask questions but so far, I will rate this experience as very positive (day 5 was probably the worst for pain and lack of any real improvement)
Hope this helps those who are looking at a reversal in the near future!
Thanks again to all my mates for your ongoing love, support, prayers, and advice - you've made this experience much better than it would have been without you all.
Lorraine
