Hi all! Just checking in. Today is the 32nd day since I had my colostomy reversed. For the most part, I am pain-free. I get twinges of pain every now and then in my rectum, at the ostomy site, and on the side where my stoma is throughout the day. If I rub my hand over my lower belly about 3 inches from where the ostomy was, there is surface pain. I can't quite describe it, but it's like if you have a burn and the pain is from the nerve endings when it's touched, kind of like that but only when I rub my hand over it. The shoulder pain is gone too, finally; that was a weird pain. My appetite has come back, and I've returned to my normal vegetarian diet, although I'm still scared and steer away from the skins of the fruits and veggies. Out of habit (and fear), I still chew my food extra, extra well. For some reason, my brain is scarred from the possibility of blockages, so I have to work on that mental fear. LOL. So far, there aren't any foods that I have issues with like when I had the stoma. Most of my stools are formed, and I have 3 BMs a day now, twice in the early morning and once in the evening, with no pain while pooping. Unfortunately, BMs are still bloody, still scary, and worrisome, but the doc said it was normal. The swelling has gone down significantly in my abdominal area. I just have swelling above the stoma closure where the hernia used to be, but the bulgy pubic area swelling remains. Today, the last of the tape the surgeon applied after removing the staples fell off, and the scar is barely visible. Even though my entire abdomen looks a hot mess from the two open surgeries, and since the swelling has subsided, it doesn't look as bad as it did right after surgery. I am still wearing the abdominal binder daily. Overall, I am feeling blessed and healing well.
I hope everyone has a super fantastic weekend! Be well, friends!
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The good news is that you can avoid them with some small changes in your diet.
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Hey, glad to hear you are doing so well! I also had the surface pain; it was where my wafer used to go. My skin got extremely dry there and kind of burned to the touch. I figured it was nerve pain or my skin regenerating... it has subsided now.
I too had that fear of eating anything that might be a problem; that has also subsided, and I find myself gaining weight now if I'm not careful! My abdomen is also a hot mess, but I guess they are my battle scars. I do have a small hernia as mentioned... I see the surgeon for a consult in June. Not sure if I'm going to do anything about it or just live with it for as long as I can... I'm pretty burned out on surgery right now. I also don't want to wait until my medical deductible renews again either—if I do it this year, I won't have to pay, since I have already met the max with my January surgery! I've gotten slammed with meeting the out-of-pocket max last year and now this year, plus had 4 months off of work mostly unpaid, so that has not been good... if I'm gonna do it, I really should do it soon, ugh. Guess I'll see how the consult goes! Right now, still recovering.
Glad you're doing better... keep up the good work!
It's great to hear you guys are doing so well after reversal! Hoping for mine soon…
Thanks, DexieB! I'm glad to hear you are doing well also. You go, girl 👊🏽
Learn what you need to know to help you recover fast, and avoid some common food issues.
Congrats. Do you have a full colon? I am 3 weeks, and my butt hurts so bad with every movement.
I think your question was for MoeMoe, but as for me, I had my sigmoid removed so I do not have a full colon. I hope you're doing better now!
Tezter, I do not have a full colon either. I believe about 12 inches of my colon was removed. I had pain in my rectum for about 6 weeks after reversal. Not bad pain, but I had to sit slowly, and there was some pain when passing gas and stool. I'm 7 weeks out now, and I don't have that pain anymore. Hope you are feeling better!