colostomy reversal

[michele2222]

My boyfriend 42,has just had 2 surgerys in 2 weeks,due to a blockage in his bowel from diverticulitis.He now has a colostomy bag that will be reversed down the road.After 3 weeks now of being in the hospital he is slowly recovering from the surgerys,and was sent a week ago to another hospital because he was having a big problem with fluids building in the stomach.Our local hospital here is to be desired,and we don't believe the second surgery was needed,apparently all that should have been done was a draining tube up the nose and down to the stomach should have been left in instead of being put in and taken out about 5x over the course of 2 weeks.My question is?? When he goes for his reversal,should he go to a specialist to make sure it's done properly with little or no complications? We are worried about that surgery now after what he's been through.Any suggestions?

[dragon_bright]

My mom on Christmas no less had diverticulitis and it ruptured her colon and had emergency surgery (lasted 7 hours...) and has had a temporary colostomy. Today she had her reversal surgery! It was a day we were both looking forward to. But oooffffdddah it was another 6 hour surgery and she had to spend 2.5 hours in recovery. It was rough. But Mom is doing well! She's in more pain this time but she also isn't majorly doped up on a half billion drugs like the first time so the pain is okay. Other than that everything is going well. I know the doc said it took longer than he expected due to scar tissue and the colon being thicker and having trouble getting the stapling device up but otherwise everything has gone well! Mom's on her way to recovery! She can't wait to fart out the right hole! lol!

[Memegma]

I know what your boyfriend is going thru. I too had to keep having the ng tube on and off for a week. I am 7 weeks out of surgery and have encountered every complication possible. My reversal is scheduled in three weeks have to do pre-ops and colonscopy next week and then following week will be the reversal. I am scared to death and pray it goes better with the reversal. Will let you know how that turns out.

[michele2222]

Hi Mammo,

Sorry for the delay getting back to you.My boyfriend is home from the hospital now so I have been busy.He was sent to a hospital in Owen sound for 2 weeks,they checked him over and they put the NG tube back in apon his arrival and cut him off all fluids for over a week,then they slowly started back on the fluids to see how he was with that,then started him on foods.My boyfriend has diverticulitis and was told to avoid some foods such as raw veggies with the colostomy.Strange thing is the things he was told to avoid were things he was given in the hospital,go figure eh.But since he has been at home he is eating and doing ok other than pain from the 2 surguries.I'am not looking forward to him going in for the reversal,I hear it's just as bad of a surgery and 6 hour surgery,this is only what I hear so hopefully it will be ok.I don't know yet when he will go in for that.I hope in time your dad will be ok.Does he have diverticulitis? From what I have learned the best thing is to keep them off fluids and food till there is nothing draining then try to start him off slowly.I hope everything goes well,it's a worry I know.

[doffie624]

Hi.  My dad went for a colostomy in March this year.  He is 60yrs old.  He had problems with his drain oozing and went in for a day procedure, all sorted.  He then went for the reversal in July and complications sent in. Vomitting which they call stomach fluids, but there was bowel movement.. The vomitting persisted for 5 days and it was decided that he would go under again.  He went under and it is now 10 days later that he is still in high care, but this time with no bowel movement and still continuos fluids.  He is being feed through a drip that leads into the stomach..He has had nil per mounth now for 3 weeks and is obviously weak.I saw your question on this site, and am wondering what they had done to hepl your boyfriend and what their diagnosis was.

[michele2222]

Thanks for your advice.He is still in the hospital,will be 3 weeks tomorrow (thurs).I spoke to him on the phone tonight,they still have that NG tube in but he said it was off and last night they needed to drain more fluid once again.He said he had such terrible pains today for a while,the worst he's ever had.The last 2 days he has been getting protein drinks 3x a day and nothing else.He is in a better hospital and it's much larger than ours here,so I'am hoping that he has a good Doctor this time.I'am just concerned about all the fluids still draining,it will be 2 weeks on friday since his second surgery.I know when it comes time for his reversal he won't be having it done in our hometown,they scare me.I will be going to see him on sunday,it's about a 2  1/2 hour drive to go visit him now,but I know it's for the best.

[mammo]

An NG tube is always put in when a blockage is suspected or known.  Sometimes just doing this will relieve the blockage.  It usually isn't removed until everything is moving again, or corrected thru surgery. Putting an NG tube in would have removed the fluid build up in his stomach, but if there was a second blockage, it would have just returned as there is no way for it to pass.  The tube does not need to be removed to see if there is still a blockage, so it sounds to me as if they felt he was not blocked, removed the tube, only to find out there was something preventing the fluids from getting thru after several attempts.  Your boyfriend did not have to endure this.  I'm big on second opinions, and would certainly have him see a new doc to make sure the second  surgery was needed, and everything done correctly, and that his reconnection is successful.  Best of luck to you both.

[ggreg]

I'm with you, go to a diff doc for the bag removal, and that way the new doc can also doublecheck on any problems from the other surgeries while he's at it.  Also, your boyfriend will need followup for a while since he developed health issues to begin with, and it would be good to have the new doc for that.