Understanding Reversal Options Post-Ostomy Surgery

what is a reversal? I just had ostomy surgery 2months ago and am a bit confused. Even if they can't do a J-pouch thereis still other surgeries?

G'day, In March 2009 I had an emergency colostomy. My world was turned upside down/inside out. Woke up with an 'alien' attached to my tummy. ET nurses were a god send. It didn't take long to be adapt-but I 'HATED' it,even though it was temporary. Had a reversal in September 09. As each Dr/country has different procedures I can only tell you of my experience. Very basically they undo what they've done. They un-stitch the stoma, rejoin the bowel, and then close stoma sight. I was cut, both ops, from mid pubic bone to just above my belly button (now I have a front bum)

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I'm amazed that they cut on the same place and its healed really well. I had a cardiac arrest as they were closing and due to loss of sterility my wound site was infected. That, I think, could have been the cause of my recto -vaginal fistula,which is due for surgery in April/May. Hopefully they can repair the fistula. Probably have a temporarily illeostomy which will be reversed after the bowel has 'rested', about 2 months. I can empathize with what you must be going through, but, it REALLY  does GET BETTER/EASIER. Even though I hated every single nano-second I had to share with my little 'alien' it beats having cope with a fistula. Will be sending love and light.  Dee

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There are a few of us here with fistulas, and I think we can all say FISTULAS SUCK! Really hope your surgery goes well - I have had mine now for 12 years - it seems to be that if you can get them early they seem to heal okay - mine was misdiagnosed for 3 years, and hasn't repaired well at all, in fact where I did have a miniscule fistula I now have an orifice..... sigh.....

Rachel xx

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Hi, a reversal surgery is for people who have to have a colostomy or ileostomy to allow the bowel to heal usually for 3 to 6 months they kept their rectum and the surgeon cuts you back open and reconnects the bowel back together and does away with the ostomy.  Hope this makes sense

eddie

When you have ostomies, a part of your intestine is cut and comes out your belly (your stoma).  A reversal is when they reattach your intestines and put them back inside.

I had a reversal in Sept. of '08 but it didn't last.  I got another bowel perforation and am now back to the ostomies again.  They do work well for some people but mine was a very painful time which I never recovered from.

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Eddie, Thank You for that information, I have to wait until mine is healed also before hey can reverse it.  But I never been so scared as after the surgery I got the worse infections and it affected my Kidneys and I got bad Anemia and Pnemonia and Diabetes, but I came home from the secon hopital on IV's to kill any infection that was left.  I am back to my Kidneys workng and no Diabetes and other than this bag I have to have a colonoscopy this summe and my new surgeon thinks he canrevese it.  I just wondered does anyone elses skin swell up as I noticd after my shower around my bag where I put the Patch I have a swollen area, I need to heal, I just wondered was I putting the bag on wrong or just pushing the paste to hard, if anyone knows, I sure would like the answer, Than You Eddie, JG

In October of 2006 I had a "temporary iliostomy"'

due to a tear in my j-pouch.  This tear caused an abcess on my ovary which also had to be removed...  I left the hospital with an infection which they tried to clear which every antibiotic imaginable, than they tried Remicade treatment with no cure.... My Surgeon just shakes his head whenever I see him.. CT  scan is inconclusive ... When I saw my surgeon last August he told me he believes it is a fistula and that he doesn't think I have colitis but crohns.. which he tells me that if it is crohns then a j-pouch will not work.. so now they have sceduled me for may 6th to take down the pelvic pouch (j-pouch)  I just don't get it.....if it is a fistula than why can't they just go in and repair it than reattach the pelvic pouch????  This will be my 4th surgery in the same location  from diaphram to the pelvic bone.....scared you better believe it.. I hope your surgery is much more successful...

Hi Dee, bloody fistulas once more - they are dreadful...



I suspect that if you have crohns then the prospect of more fistulas is more and more likely causing even more problems which is why I suppose they want to remove the pouch.



Fistula are very difficult to repair - I am at my last lot of surgery now, had mine since 1998, has been repaired 8/9 times and still no luck. I have a new surgeon who will be trying a different approach, but my body has had enough, so no more after this lot, I will need to decide on a permanent ileo or colostomy and whether or not I need my rectum removed .... happy days! Wishing you all the best with whatever happens ... Rach xx

Hi, I had my reversal in Oct 09 after having emergency colostomy in July 08 after 15 months I was fit and strong to have my reversal mine seems to have settled quite well but it looks like I may have a fistula so I am having tests done in the coming weeks . However the actually revesal went quite smooth just takes a while to recover. Hope this gives you some peace of mind. Take care pippa x