Colostomy Reversal

My husband had a temporary Colostomy on the left side when he had his colon resection in January.  He went back for the reversal 6 weeks later.  The reversal failed.  A fistula formed and they had to do an emergency Colostomy on his right side.  It's been so difficult for him.  The right sided colostomy runs constantly and he can not irrigate it at all.  He is up and down all through the night dumping it.  He is scheduled for a reversal the 14th of August.  We are so anxious for him to get this part of his ordeal over but we are very nervous about the surgery and leakage. 

Does anyone have nay experience with Colostomy's or specifically having one reversed?

Thanks,

Devoted Wife 

 

 

My husband had a reversal 1 1/2 years ago ..It was the hardest time of our lives ..there were some days when He actually wanted to have his colostomy bag back ..But we did not have anyone to talk to about it .I read this website everyday and I answer people who write in looking for advise ..So here is some good advise when he gets his reversal..Watch what he eats ..SUGAR IS THE WORST ..HE FOUND THAT SUGAR would make his bowels work faster and watch salads and liquor ..It has been 11/2 years and he has all his contro; back and basically has his life back but he still needs to watch what he eats and still does not have Sugar in his diet ..I have emailed another person on this website and he emailed me back in 2 months and Thanked me for the advise he said that he was a prisoner in his bathroom that he simply could not stop going  mostly thru out the night .I wrote him and told him about the  Sugar and the alcohol and he wrote back in 2 months  not only to thank me but to let other people know that it does work and that you really have to watch what you eat it makes a big Difference ..Also you will need a lot of Patience ..Please email when ever you need any advise  or even a shoulder ...I wish you luck and good health

Hello, I also had a colostomy reversal about a year and a half ago, but unfortunately I am still having major problems with bowel movements. I have tried different diets and have even gone to a gastroenterologist to get some relief. I'm wondering if the reason I am still having problems is because they had to take out so much of my rectum when they did the resection. Anyway, on my last visit to my colorectal surgeon I asked him if things would improve and his response was "No, you're screwed" Oh well, at least he was honest.

I am going to tell you that I ahve responded to many people on this site and told them about my husband ..He eliminated sugar out of his diet and it was amazing he also takes 8 LAMOTIL these are prescribed pills that slow down the colon.I think you can actually take up to 12 a day but bot to sure about that ..The responce your Doctor said to you is Absolutley Appauling How could a professional person say something like that to anyone ...Please give the sugar thing a try it certainly can Not hurt ,,You are the only one in charge of your own Health ..Go get another opinion do research in your area and find a Dr. That will give you the respect you deserve ..Good Luck !!!

My partner has had a colostomy reversal 3 months ago and his bowel movements during the night are a living nightmare.  He can be up every hour so you can imagine the effects the sleep deprivation is having on his every day life. We are trying to keep track of what he is eating but sometimes it really doesnt matter what he eats he still is up every hour!! We really could really do with some advice on what to eat and what not to eat. Should he being eating little and often? Will not eating atfer a certain time before going to bed help? What should he avoid?

thank you.

     I had a reverse colostomy ayear ago in Fefruary. I took Lomotil for about six months,with very little relief.  My surgeon suggested Immodium. I take one tablet before I eat and so far it has been a life saving for me. Try this and see if it helps.  You can take up to three tablets at a time. If I eat late(after dinner) I take one then.  Lots of luck and I hope this helps.

 

                                                                Yesican

 

On 7/31/2008 CaregiverPatti wrote:

My husband had a reversal 1 1/2 years ago ..It was the hardest time of our lives ..there were some days when He actually wanted to have his colostomy bag back ..But we did not have anyone to talk to about it .I read this website everyday and I answer people who write in looking for advise ..So here is some good advise when he gets his reversal..Watch what he eats ..SUGAR IS THE WORST ..HE FOUND THAT SUGAR would make his bowels work faster and watch salads and liquor ..It has been 11/2 years and he has all his contro; back and basically has his life back but he still needs to watch what he eats and still does not have Sugar in his diet ..I have emailed another person on this website and he emailed me back in 2 months and Thanked me for the advise he said that he was a prisoner in his bathroom that he simply could not stop going  mostly thru out the night .I wrote him and told him about the  Sugar and the alcohol and he wrote back in 2 months  not only to thank me but to let other people know that it does work and that you really have to watch what you eat it makes a big Difference ..Also you will need a lot of Patience ..Please email when ever you need any advise  or even a shoulder ...I wish you luck and good health

Hi, I have had a colostomy for ten yrs now. Due to a very bad car accident I was involved in. The left side of my lower body was in horrible shape. The docs in Galveston, Texas said they really didn't know how to put me back together. But, the good thing was that the head trama doc believed in God and he said he prayed and told God,"I don't know how she is gonna make it without your help". Doc says he then said he prayed that God show him what to do and how to do it. Thank God because I am here today. They removed my lft hip,leg and the left side of my pelvic. And, put in a colostomy. Doc says that was for two reasons, one being that it would be much easier to try and take care of me,because my back was burned to the spine. The other being he wasnt sure my rectum would work because it was crushed and the muscles didnt work.

Now finally my question, a few years went by and I asked to get my colostomy reversed. Doc said it was out of the question. But, I kept on bugging about it. So, he said I had to pass a couple of tests first. One was he used a seringe with water in it and inserted it into my rectum and told me to hold it in.. Well, he said I failed that test miserably. Then, I dont this test where I had to drink some awful stuff to clean out my system and he done some catscan or something. He says I failed that too. So, he tells me if I get the reversal anyway, against his advice, that he garaunteed me to be in diapers the rest of my life. He said that because I couldnt hold the water from the syrenge in that I wouldnt be able to hold any thing in. Now, its been about 8yrs since that happened. Do you know if your husband had to go thru these tests? Or is it normal to go thru these tests? And, do you know, if they do reverse my colostomy and my system doesnt work can they put the colostomy back in? Please let me know. Thanks for your time

I am 60 years old, looking for a single woman with a Colostomy to shear our life and to help each other in it.

I have a temporary Colostomy on the left side, but skeptical to go for reversal after searching for answers and reading the entire problem you are having.

Advises and suggestions.

None of you can control your bowel movements because… the flora in your stomachs was severely violated due to the surgery and antibiotics, food and alcohol abuse.

PROBLEMS. Toxic components, bad bacteria’s and warms in our system.

SOLUTION. Detoxication, system cleaning and restoration of your original flora in the stomach.

The edible CLAY is the best product in the World that can detoxicate and clean your system in 4-15 days without doing any harm to your body.

Organic farm and yogurt from organic milk can restore your flora in the stomach.

Control products with sugar, alcohol, fresh veggies and fruits. Milk is bad for us.

Learn to eat differently.

1. Portion control - we are not healthy pigs anymore.

2. DINNER. To eat separately a fresh salad, soup and entry - it is not anymore for us. But instead, eat it up like this: one fork of salad, one spun of soup and one fork of entry. You are going to mix it up and that will create an even mass in your stomach. It will help you a lot to control your bowel movements.

3. Eat soft fruits and veggies. It means, steam, boil or saute them up.

Example.

You can saute the whole salad - it is delicious. But if you have boiled up veggies - save the water with vitamins in it and next morning use it to make an oatmeal.

Pill off the apple, shred it up and put one spun of honey if it is sour. Do remember to use larger wholes - it is not a garlic.

Keep the communication opened.

Good Luck to all of us.

JB.

I just recently had my colostomy reversed, and in the beginning it was rough because of not being able to eat for a while. and i had to take some softeners so that way i wouldnt have ripped my rectum, since i wasnt able to use my rectum for almost four and half months. I was given my colostomy on july fourth of this year due to ruptured diverticulitis on a emergency basis to save my life. after i have healed and i had to go through a colonoscopy and get the ok from the docotor, on Nov 10th of this year they reversed my colostomy. I spent eight days in the hospital and two weeks at home and on my third week i returned back to work.  it is just a one day at a time deal for me. but i do have to becareful of gassy forming foods or else i feel like my insides are going to rip apart. so my best advice is just becareful what is consumed and listen to the doctor

 

On 12/9/2008 julybaby wrote:

I just recently had my colostomy reversed, and in the beginning it was rough because of not being able to eat for a while. and i had to take some softeners so that way i wouldnt have ripped my rectum, since i wasnt able to use my rectum for almost four and half months. I was given my colostomy on july fourth of this year due to ruptured diverticulitis on a emergency basis to save my life. after i have healed and i had to go through a colonoscopy and get the ok from the docotor, on Nov 10th of this year they reversed my colostomy. I spent eight days in the hospital and two weeks at home and on my third week i returned back to work.  it is just a one day at a time deal for me. but i do have to becareful of gassy forming foods or else i feel like my insides are going to rip apart. so my best advice is just becareful what is consumed and listen to the doctor

I'm happy to read something a little more positive. I'm having a reverse colostomy in 3 days. My thought was just go in there have the surgery with just a few days of adjusting going to the toilet again. I've had my colostomy since December. I haven't been informed how long I'll be in the hospital yet. Something told me to look on the net tonight. Before I read further I probably would've had nightmares!!  Thank you!