Reversal surgery - Scar or stoma site entry?

Hi guys, I'm due to meet my surgeon on the 16th and hopefully arrange my ileostomy reversal after having it since August of 2011. I was taken into hospital in June 2011 from having a stroke, and after about 8 weeks of testing, they found a tumor in my colon. Then, I was left with an end ileostomy (my apologies if that's the wrong term, but I never got told how to cope with this and everything I know I've learned on the fly. But I do know from the district nurse that I have an end stoma...).
I was wondering if someone can give me a bit of advice here. I'm wondering when I have my reversal, will the surgeon go through the initial scar down my 6 pack, or will he go in through the stoma site itself as some people have? I'm just wondering how some get one and the others get the other type of operation. Sorry for the odd question....

Hi Peter, I had my reversal in November and my surgeon opened up the old scar which was a midline incision and did the reversal like that. I am left with a 2-inch scar on the left where the stoma was and a 10-inch scar down the middle. He tidied up the old scar which had a lot of stretching and puckering, so I was pleased to have gotten rid of that.
It depends on your surgeon, there is a much smaller risk of infection with keyhole surgery and my new surgeon told me if he had done the operation then it would have been keyhole. But there is also a higher risk of leaking. My first surgeon said he liked to see what he was doing.
Anyhow, there are risks with both, you need to look up on the internet on a trusted site.
Good luck with it.

Hi Peter!

I had my ileostomy reversed on 2-1-12 after having it for 13 1/2 months. My surgeon was able to do it all laparoscopically...meaning that he made 4 small "laparoscopic holes" in my lower abdomen and was able to attach my small intestine to my rectum using these tiny incisions. The place where my stoma had been healed from the inside out....no stitches or packing was necessary in my case. I had an incision (midline) from just under my breastbone all the way to my pubic area when I had the emergency ileo done back in Dec. 2010. They didn't know for sure that my reversal could be done laparoscopically beforehand......it took "looking around" inside to make that determination after being put under anesthesia for the reversal surgery itself. I think the route and method used depends on the type of ostomy you have and what you have left to work with.....I know that a few of our recent reversals had to have the big midline incision again.....one went back through the stoma site itself.....and a couple have been done like mine. Oh, and my ileostomy was also an end with an end stoma.

Best of luck to you on the 16th as you meet with your surgeon to discuss your reversal process! Please keep us posted!

Darla

Hi Peter.
First off, there is no such thing as an odd question here..ask away..that's what it's all about. Here you will find no shortage of people ready, willing, and able to offer advice, assistance, or even just an ear.

I just recently had a reversal myself (6 weeks on Tuesday), and I was told by one doctor that I would have the laparoscopic procedure, and something totally different by another. As these helpful ladies have told you, the reversal procedure can depend on many things, including how your original procedure was accomplished.

Personally, I was very sick initially, suffering a perforation and sepsis. The reversal required that they re-open my midline incision and work on my large intestine for several hours just to prep it for use again after 9 months.

I woke with a lot of staples, and like Darla, an open wound where my stoma was. I get the dressings changed on that every 3 days, and the midline incision is all but faded.

No one wants to frighten you, but perhaps to tell you that there are no certainties other than hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. I will be turning 45 in a few weeks, I had to be opened up twice. I was home from the hospital in one week after my reversal, and although I was tender for a few weeks, I feel better every day. I will be returning to work on the 16th of April. Having them go in the "long way" as I call it may not be the funnest of ideas, but it is survivable and not unheard of by any means. In short, others have done it.

Keep us posted and don't be shy with the questions. As a teacher once told me, chances are if one person has a question, there are others with the same question who are too shy to ask. You may be helping yourself and someone else at the same time.

Like you, I felt totally lost, and my search for information led me here. There are thousands of lurkers and many with worlds of experiences willing to share.

Best of luck.

Dave

Hi everyone,

I have been looking at all the posts about reversals and trying to gain as much knowledge as possible. I too am seeing a surgeon on April 16th to see if one can be done. What a surprise to see someone else is doing the same thing on the same day!

Since my surgeries (had diverticulitis with an infection that had taken over inside--long story) Anyway, I had so many complications with infection, reaction to the drugs, fistulas and adhesions that I was in and out of the hospital for almost 6 months. And now a year later they think I might be able to have the colectomy reversed.

And all I can feel is fear. Frankly, I feel so good that I wonder if the reversal will be worth it. Any advice would be so appreciated. I am going to a big university hospital that handles all complicated things in our state, to a colo-rectal specialist. That part I am not afraid of.
I guess everything last time was so overwhelmingly bad and it took so long to get to the point where I feel really good again----I question whether it will be worth it all again.

Forgot to mention that I have multi-drug allergies and a family history of malignant hyperthermia. Two of my cousins have died from that during simple surgeries.
So I have good reason to fear the whole process.

Any advice or insights from people who have had their reversal would be so helpful. As I have been reading what everyone says I can see that all of you really seem to care about each other. Thanking you in advance.....

Melode'

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

I also had a reversal in January. 11 months before, I had an emergency colostomy due to a perforated intestine and fistula. I had mine done laparoscopically, and as others stated, they warned me ahead of time that they wouldn't know for sure until they got in there. The stoma site healed from the inside out, and we changed the dressing every day. The surgery was much easier to recover from than the first for a few reasons. The first one was an emergency and involved infection. Also, you had to deal with the unknown and depression, in my case.

There is never a stupid question, as I always told my students. And take a list of questions with you to the doctor so you make sure you ask them and get them answered. It is always a good practice to take someone with you as an extra set of ears.

This is a chance for you to gain back a little freedom in your life. I don't know about you, but I looked at the ostomy as a necessary life experience. If I ever have another perforation, I will tell them to make it a permanent colostomy. I got used to it and didn't let it interfere with my daily life any more than I had to.... Jean

I am five weeks post-reversal and feeling great. Some days, I do get tired and even take a nap. I am being very careful not to lift, pull, or push more than 8 pounds (a gallon of milk) as I do not want another hernia. My doctor has recommended this restriction for 12 weeks. He says most hernias show up within the first 3 months. My doctor went in laparoscopically, but I had too many adhesions from three previous surgeries. My incision healed very quickly. I just had steri-strips in a few places and was told to leave them on until they showered off. My stoma took 4 weeks to close completely - healing from the inside out. I changed the small gauze bandage twice a day. Used a saline/peroxide solution 5cc before applying the evening bandage. No solution after I showered in the morning.
My poops are still frequent, but I can get to the loo without any problems. I don't want to take Imodium as I fear constipation more than dealing with frequent movements. (I had a bowel obstruction after my perforated bowel operation, and I would not wish that on anyone.)
I do appreciate all the help forum members have given me. Because of them, I found a colorectal surgeon I had confidence in and got through the pre-surgery cleansing and then the days of waiting for gas, only three which is about as good as it gets. Thanks.

Welcome!! I am about 7 weeks post ileo/colostomy reversal. I had a rough time, too. Partial blockage after the first reversal attempt put me back under the knife 10 days later. No significant reason for the blockage either. At first, they thought it was radiation damage, but pathology came back as just normal scar tissue at the anastomosis site. I have no signs of UC/Crohn's disease and earned my ostomies from a bowel injury to remove cervical cancer tumor in 2010.

Thankfully, I am past the tiredness and general feeling of blah!! My surgeon has cleared me to start introducing cooked veggies and other 'no-no' foods back into my diet. He has also said it's ok if I start to work out. He advises that I take it easy with both food and exercise, but to not be afraid of anything anymore.

I won't lie to you or sugarcoat the recovery. It was hard as hell learning how to poop again. Painful bouts of constipation and then two days later ... the burnin' runs!! The urgency, the stomach cramps, and being scared of going in my pants had me really worried those first two weeks at home.

Then all of a sudden, my bum bowels just kicked into gear. The urgency is completely gone. Rarely do I have any stomach cramps, and I've never had an accident. I am very regular now; at least once a day, sometimes twice if I've eaten too much red chili.

I am so very happy that I made the decision to try the reversal. Not because the bag was so awful, but because I had the option. The bag was the bag. I'll never judge anyone who smells a little off ever again. I'll never look at bathrooms quite the same again. I'll never take for granted the things my body can do. If one day, I get a bag back, then I'm a better person for it. I donated all of my extra supplies to a local American Cancer Society chapter. Hoping they'll help someone find the right fit.

On another note, we're expecting twins!!! Yes, that's right... Twin babies!! Due Aug 25th!! My husband is overjoyed with baby fever. I'm ecstatic that I'll be a healthy new mommy. What a rollercoaster this has been...

Take Care,
Fable

Fable-

Hey!! So glad to hear your recovery is progressing nicely and that you are at your "new normal" point!
OK.....I am about to faint.....TWINS? You are really expecting.....TWINS?!?!?!?
Lordy, young lady, this is a shock but a WONDERFUL shock......I am SOOOO happy for you! Here is a big ole cyber ((((HUG)))) and some heartfelt congratulations! You are going to be SUCH the new, healthy, wonderful mommy and hubby will be right there to revel in the joy and anticipation....and, the eventual 2am feedings and diaper changes! You've been through so much as of late, both physically and emotionally, and this is such a miraculous "payoff" after all the trials and tribulations and everything in between!
Please take EXTRA good care of yourself (as if you don't know this already but sometimes in the busyness of life we tend to forget ourselves) and keep me posted on how you are doing. My daughter is expecting her first baby in early July so I am about to become the "g" word.....I am sooo excited and still getting used to the idea of beholding a whole new, precious generation.....a generation of hope, and promise, and expanding love.

Blessings a' plenty!

Darla