Questions to Ask Before My Colostomy Reversal

I go in this week to talk with my GI surgeon about scheduling my temporary colostomy reversal. I'm super excited, as I'm ready to get rid of this thing... but there are so many questions running through my mind.

1. What questions do I need to be asking my surgeon?
2. I've had this for six months, and I've read that with time the anal sphincter loses strength and tone. Is fecal incontinence common after a reversal?
3. What are other things I should be aware of?

As always, all guidance is welcome and truly appreciated.

I can't really answer your question through firsthand experience, as I have a permanent ileostomy. But, I did look into a reversal and talked to my surgeon about it, as well as several people here. In regards to your anus, yes, it does lose strength over time. But if you are doing regular pelvic floor exercises and able to get out for walks, that will help strengthen it. Your surgeon should test the strength. You can also do it yourself with a finger and flexing the muscles.

How much colon do you have left? If you have your sigmoid, I wouldn't think long-term incontinence should be an issue. In the short term, maybe, due to diarrhea.

At that, I will shut up. There are people here with colostomies and firsthand experience that could better give you advice.

Daniel

My advice is to write down anything you personally want to ask him. It's a pretty basic procedure and I'm sure he has done it all before.

I had my colostomy for 7 months before reversal and all went well. You can exercise by contracting and clenching your butt muscles before your surgery, but don't overdo it.

You will have a bit of incontinence and a sore backside, but it will pass. Baby wipes essential. Wishing you well.

Hi - I had my colostomy for 8 months. I had no issues with incontinence after my reversal. Absolutely write down all the questions that cross your mind for your surgeon, as Newhere suggested. 

If you need to do a bowel prep before your surgery, get an extra-large capacity ostomy bag with a drain tap - they make them for this reason. They connect to tubing and drain into a bigger bag, so when you go to bed, you won't have to get up constantly and drain it. Not sure what I would have done without it! I rented a hotel close to the hospital so I wouldn't have to worry about getting there in traffic the morning of my surgery. I am very glad I did. 

Baby wipes and Desitin were a huge help after surgery. And ease back into fiber slowly...

Best of luck - you got this!

I had my colostomy for 11 months before I was able to have it reversed at the end of May. I asked tons of questions (What was recovery like? When could I resume my regular diet? What about incontinence?)—not all of which could be answered. I was very healthy and quite fit (hiking between 30 and 50 miles a week), so I expected (er, hoped) that I would be one of the lucky ones with an easy surgery and recovery. I am fully recovered now, with normal bowel "habits" 2 1/2 months out from the surgery, but things took longer than I expected. 

The surgery, which I was told would likely be 2 hours, took 8 1/2. I had lots of internal scar tissue, caused by the traumatic accident that resulted in my needing the colostomy: I was gored by a bison—my abdomen had been ripped open, and I had lost 40% of my colon. Some of the scar tissue had adhered to my small intestine in a few places. So most of the surgery time was spent clearing away scar tissue and "mending" the areas of the small intestine. So, having expected that I might be in the hospital maybe 3 days, I was in for 11. My "guts" just would not "wake up"! It was disappointing, but I didn't want to leave before I/we were sure everything was working. 

The first few weeks were challenging... I was back on a low-residue/fiber diet (which is not my usual). I resumed my walking, so plenty of movement [ :) ]. I was told that it would take some time for the intestine to fully heal. I wore "Depends," in case I had accidents—which I did. Not incontinence exactly, I sometimes just couldn't get to the toilet quite fast enough. Interestingly (and lucky for me), this only happened at home (but I took extra Depends and wipes everywhere I went, just in case). I took my time re-adding higher fiber foods (especially fresh fruits and vegetables), and I just tried to be patient with my body. I am back to my regular high-fiber diet, no longer wear Depends, and read my body better. I have to be grateful for my colostomy (because it saved my life), and I am ever so grateful to have been able to be reattached. Give yourself lots of time and patience, and be gentle with yourself. 

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Don't do it! It's a trap! 😃

Just pulling your... chain there, dude. Good advice and stories here. Best of luck.