Reversal Surgery Today - A New Chapter Begins

4 hours and 40 minutes away!

The realization that I've finally come to a point where I've changed my last bag (and from the clear liquid diet for the last four days, it appears I have even emptied my last bag) is a good feeling.

The peristomal and the umbilical hernias have kept me from doing much that would contribute to weight loss, so naturally I've gained about twenty pounds in these seven months of being an ostomate. I look forward to again being able to hit the gym and work towards a healthier body. 

I lack the words to properly express my gratitude to the MaO community for your support. From all the way back when I was still trying to figure out how to correctly change my bag, you have been here for me. For all the questions and concerns that I've had along the way, you have offered sage guidance and sincere support. No price can be put on the value of what you do so unselfishly for others in this forum. I intend to remain a part of this community and do what I can to support and guide others on this life changing journey. 

Thank you, Ostomates, one and all. 

Thanks.  Good luck.  Hope all goes smoothly for you today.

Rod24…We'll be awaiting a full report upon completion and the ability to once again share with our community as a follow-up…positive thoughts headed your way today…best wishes for success from start to finish and a complete and quick recovery to a great future! Hugs, jb

Good Luck ! 😊🙏

Good luck. Thanks for the update. 

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Enjoy your nap today 😀
Here’s to a smooth recovery for ya!

By now, surgery should be complete. Sending healing thoughts!!

Yes, still under the effects of the anesthesia, so my mind is slow and staying awake is a challenge, but I'm reconnected, hernias are addressed, and I had a cup of jello.

Of course, I'm wearing an abdominal support belt over bandages, so I can't see it.... But the nurse told me all is well. 

They found a pre-cancerous polyp in my rectal stump and had to cut it out, luckily the amount of colon I had left allowed the reversal surgery to continue.

I've fallen asleep three times writing this, so that's all for now. 

My sincere gratitude to all for your well wishes, but I think it's time to close my eyes and drop into dreamland. 

Glad it went well...and also they got that cancer out !!!! Take care and rest up  😊 

So happy that your surgery went well. Great news that they got the precancerous polyp out. Rest up and keep us updated. So glad that you are going to stay in our group.

I may be able to go home today, I hope so. Just waiting for that first bit of gas or a bowel movement.

Right now, my abdomen bears about 5 dozen staples. The scars that will be left behind will serve as permanent reminders of how important it is to pay attention to internal pain and to take care of myself. My surgeon also stripped out the rather horrific scar from my colon resection and stoma creation, and closed it into a nice straight line. So I've gone from having a rather normal navel, to having an unrecognizable one, to finally having none at all. I can tell people I'm an alien now. 👽

YAY!!! Pamper yourself, my friend. That first movement is pure joy.

One week in, still waiting for this. How long did it take for your first meaningful movement? 

For me there was just the diarrhea initially, but with the addition of fiber to my diet, output has slowed to virtually nothing, nowhere  near any resemblance of normalcy.

I get gas each day, and very minor bits of output. I'll be calling my surgeon today for a chat. I start my new job on Monday and am really hoping for things to be more normal by then. 

I also had reversal surgery one week ago. I started having soft formed bowel movements yesterday. It's still pretty painful in the afternoon and evening when output tends to be higher. I'm still on a low fiber diet and will stay on that at least until I see my surgeon on Monday to get my staples removed.

I hope to return to work on Monday for at least a couple of hours. Fortunately, my bosses are very understanding and not pushing me to get back to work.

My first "meaningful" bowel movement, in terms of quality and quantity, was about two days after I started to eat normal amounts of food, which was altogether maybe 6 days after the surgery.

I had movement early in the hospital but had no real food in me to process.

I believe it moved along nicely as I had my first in 5 years Tim Horton breakfast sandwich with chocolate milk and a bean and cheese burrito for lunch. Let's say things were cooking early the next morning. ;-)

Take your time on the work return, you just had major surgery!  I say that as someone that went in too fast and just had to leave.