Recovery and Discomfort After Ileostomy Completion Surgery

Ya Ya (I believe Greek for grandma? Am I right?)



I hope this helps,

So you are about to become a barbie butt...LOL...I am a Ken butt...all sewed up and loving it...no more issues down there ever...

With regard to recovery, everyone is different, some things you might want to be aware of are:
1. Be careful where you sit and go gingerly as the butt cheeks and the sewing that takes place down there are extremely delicate, and you don't want to mess that up. So, for a while, you might want to have a sitting pillow to sit on.
2. As far as the wound and its healing process, I will give you my journey. My cheeks beyond the anus area were sewed together in two different areas to protect the sewed-up anal area. As time went on, the outer layers of sewn butt cheeks are where the stitches would disappear and allow my cheeks to start spreading...no joke. This is and was done to protect the site of the anal area that was sewed, and I think to remind me of the operation. You will realize after the surgery just how important and how often used are the butt cheeks.
3. Once my cheeks had opened up and you could now see the anal sewed-up area (I couldn't, but my docs could), my wound would seep as that area never had a chance to dry. It's a dark and moist area, and healing for me took a while. I would wear a feminine napkin down there to keep dry. My healing took longer than most, but I have known people on this site to heal within 6 weeks to half a year.

I wish you well and hope I have helped...Michael

Upon rereading your post, am I right in saying you are having the anus closed as well? I originally assumed rectal stump removal requires the anus to be sewed as well. Just wondering.



PS. The time frames are anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months healing time, albeit mine was a bit longer. But no worries. Your life is going to improve again. Mine certainly has.

Hi, Yaya. Mine was so long ago I can hardly remember. And so I can't really comment on what happens immediately after the surgery. But here are some points for more in the future. Some may seem silly, but hey, the stuff on the Internet is too technical. So this is a great forum for the non-technical.

1. First and foremost, you will be fine. It just takes a while to totally heal. But to reduce that time, be sure to be as healthy as possible before the surgery. You don't want to have any sepsis or anything. If you can even have a few extra pounds on, great.

2. Your butt will still look normal - i.e., two cheeks, just a closed anus. My scar is actually a tiny flap (2 inches lengthwise, 1/4 inch protrusion), like they sewed it from the outside. If I had it to do over again, I would ask the surgeon why this is - i.e., why it sticks out a little. But I am a bit on the vain side, so... but really, the butt looks regular - you only see the flap (which is really tiny) if you spread the cheeks (sorry to be so graphic) -- If you need more info on this, write to me.

3. You will have to be careful about sitting on the toilet when you pee - taking care not to let your "cheeks" spread (which naturally happens on a toilet seat). So sit down carefully - figure out the best way not to let the cheeks spread.

4. The pillow mentioned above is a godsend. Mine was called "The HOLY pillow" because it has a hole in the middle. You need that hole in the middle - like a donut pillow. Take it wherever you go and if you need to disguise the hole, just put a case over it.

5. My doctor must have left some muscles in place because I still have some sphincter sensation and movement. Kind of unimportant but I just thought I'd throw that point in here.

6. Oh yeah, no more anal sex he-he-he.

Hope this helps. Good luck and know that there is a brighter future ahead.

Patty

Hey Michael, thank you so very much for an honest appraisal of your journey. I am new to the whole ostomy deal, and you are correct that I am having the stump removed. I was too sick to have the whole kit and caboodle (so to speak) done. The whole sewing up of the bottom really has me freaked out. I know it is for the best, and I know I will have no more worries down in the land of the abyss (sp)... yet it still scares me. It's part of the reason I am jumping in and getting it done asap... no turning back.
YaYa is indeed the Greek word for Grandma. I wasn't too sure about it when my daughter suggested that I go by the name... however, it is very special and unique (though there are more and more YaYas around). Thinking of getting my license plate to read "YaYa43" too dorky, do you think? Could be fun.

Ok, have a great New Year and be safe and happy and healthy in 2011. Take care. Jody

Patty, thanks so much for the info. I do feel somewhat relieved after reading your and Mike's reply. You can't be too graphic with me. I would rather have the truth spelled out for me than to wonder what the experience will be like (I know everyone's healing time, surgical procedure, and outcome
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is different). It's nice to have an idea. No more anal sex. You are so bad! Take care and have a wonderful, happy, and joyous New Year. Jody

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Hi Ya Ya,

Best of luck to you with the surgery. I too had to have it done in parts, and the doctors made me wait 4 years to remove the rectal stump. In those 4 years, it didn't heal, and at 19 I wanted all of the disease gone. I had some complications following surgery, but I never regret going ahead with it, and that's nearly 40+ years ago.

Make sure they use a non-allergic tape. Back in the "dark ages" they didn't, and I developed a serious allergic reaction and had hives wherever the tape had been. I didn't feel the effects of the surgery for days because the itching was so bad. But that too, cleared up.

Because the surgery resulted in bladder damage (lack of sensation), my bladder didn't work for 10 weeks post-op. On a positive note, because I needed a urinary catheter for so long, I was able to keep the incision relatively clean, so the healing was uneventful. Once the bandages were removed, I found it refreshing to expose the incision to air (not a pretty sight I'm sure) but it did help keep the area dry for periods of time. Give yourself the luxury of doing that (even under the covers or sheets) for as long and as often as possible.

I too still have the sphincter intact...which sometimes leads to feeling pressure... like you might want to pass gas, but that's a passing feeling. Also, once you're able to, do the "Kegels" (vaginal exercises) just to get used to exercising the area that was traumatized.

I used a pillow at times, but I actually found the pressure on the incision comforting at times. I know that it sounds strange, but when I got off the bed and started walking, I had the feeling that my "butt" was dragging. The pressure of sitting actually felt good. But then, I had the same reaction years later, after giving birth (vaginally) to my kids. It might be "unique" to me.

BTW, I don't have any kind of "flap" nor did I have extra stitches to keep my butt cheeks together. At the time, they used a very tight "pressure bandage" that pulled the cheeks together. That was probably the adhesive that caused the allergic reaction & the case of hives.

Again...the best of luck to you. Ask any questions you want to ask, and I'm sure someone here will be glad to answer.

Marsha

PS...In case you're curious...it did take a little time to heal, but sex/intercourse went well once I healed. But like all other "rectum-less folks", no anal sex. Although there is some anal area available for playing...but that might be too TMI.