Considering Surgery to Remove Ileostomy "Stump" - Seeking Advice

When I had my ileostomy surgery many years ago, I opted to leave the bottom end of my colon behind (no puns intended!). I wanted to keep the option of having reversal surgery later. All these years later and I haven't done that and don't intend to. I'm now considering having the stump removed because it's a nuisance, still seems to present symptoms of ulcerative colitis, which caused the original surgery, and it frequently gets very itchy. Over the years, I have needed to get a sigmoidoscopy which was done in my gastroenterologist's office with some mild sedation. However, the last time he was unable to perform the procedure due to rectal stenosis and I had to have it done under a general anesthetic in the hospital.

Have any others on this site had this surgery? I've been told that it is very uncomfortable, even painful, and I won't be able to sit down for some weeks! I can deal with a bit of pain but I'm wondering what else I can expect if I go ahead. I should add that I have a very large parastomal hernia which my surgeon has said he will repair at the same time if I opt for this - he also went to some length to say that it would be major surgery to remove the "stump".

Any advice would be most appreciated! Thank you!

Hello Peter! Nice of you to join us, and I appreciate your thread because I just went through the surgery myself this past October.

I think I can help you very accurately with the answers you need.

I had the same questions about a year ago about this surgery. I came here, and the advice and answers helped a lot. There are many topics already addressing this subject, so feel free to check them out.

Whatever I can offer you, I will.

Other more experienced osties will chime in also. Just be patient.

I read your profile. I also saw you might be on a blood thinner.

And you waited some time for this removal procedure.

Age and pre-existing conditions will affect recovery.

And please note: no two people recover in the same way.

The advice or suggestions are merely practical yet truthfully given. We have a "been there, done that" mentality, adding some negative or positive outcomes.

You know you are in the right place. We also do not sugarcoat.

Allow me to be brief.

A special cushion is needed, not a donut type. The hospital may give you the proper one.

You won't feel a damn thing after surgery until the meds wear off, maybe two days later. Then hello pain... where's the oxy?

I had to stay seven days. Heard five was the max stay.

Assuming you have had oxy at home, you will be pain-free and dopey or sleeping while you heal.

You will be restricted - NO

bending, sitting, lifting, driving.

Careful coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, putting pants on, rolling out of bed with knees together.

After two weeks, you may feel like walking around and being independent.

Possibly getting into a car.

Just remember this: protect those stitches down there. Do not open your legs for several weeks.

It took me four weeks to drive again.

I am 17 weeks post-op.

Guess what? Blew my stitches. Got a leak. Getting it sewed Wednesday this week.

I pushed it too much, but that's me.

Also, the type of surgery, as you must know, depends on recovery too.

We went in laparoscopically.

It failed. Cut me open about several inches in length.

There is likely more to be said, but I was prepared for everything except today's leak. Some get that. Others don't.

I guess I was not brief. Story of my life.

Let me know how else I can help. Others will likely beat me to the punch. But... but we are here.

Warrior