COLOSTOMY REVERSAL

[ILEIN43]

I HAD A REVERSAL ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. BUT I STILL HAVE A LOT OF DIARRHEA, IS THAT NORMAL. ALSO I HAVE A LOT OF GAS, EVEN IF I DONT EAT ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE IT.
WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS IN CONTROL.
HOW ABOUT DIET?
IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULDNT EAT OR SHOULD EAT?

[Chipmunk101]

I’m here looking easy fix  before having to go to the specialist. Nurse practitioner scheduled me for specialist.
My reversal was in 2014 .
So far , no change in diet helps except when I eat cheese . Constipation happens then .
There is no form to the bowel movement since the day I had the surgery. I cannot eat or drink after 7 pm or I will be up and down all night with bathroom trips. It’s been going on for so long , I’m fed up with it .
I have to drink water ALOT . The dr suggested Gatorade or Powerade but that only makes me run to bathroom immediately with the butt Pee.  Everything else I drink I can hold for about a half hour .
I’m hungry all the time and have to eat a lot to maintain weight. Which also gets me made fun of . But if I eat a normal serving of food and stick with it , I lose weight and look sick . I’m 135 now and struggle to keep that weight (same weight I was in high school) . I do love that it’s easier to stay thinner now . But just so tired of the diarrhea, it’s unfortunate timing, the embarrassing killer smell, the acid burnt bung hole , the constipation,  the hemorrhoids , the killer gas.
No joke , I’ve seen people vomit from the smell I create in the bathroom .
I’ve tried to work at a restaurant and the owner told me “don’t eat on break anymore so I don’t need to poo. It’s stinks up the whole building and customers have been complaining .”
Well you know what , I poo when I drink too !
I definitely can’t work there without any drink . No air conditioning in the kitchen , busting my butt in a fast paced, short staffed place , always on the run with no slow down . I have to have water . SMH
I should add immodium does not help

[nadlynn3]

Watch the documentary on Netflix "Food Matters" eat all organic. Detox your body and only put natural remedies or soaps on your body. Take lots of vitamins. The healthier your body is the more your tissues and cells will be......the faster and easier your body will heal. When eating organic....make sure it is organic certified.  Stay away from wheat, soy and corn.
I just had my colonoscopy done this past April.....I told the Dr. If he can't reattach the colon from the radiation damage....than don't remove any of my colon. He went against my wishes. So, I am determined to get everything healthy by my diet, detoxing and vitamins to have a reversible....which the doctor said I have a slim chance of having done. I am going to prove them wrong !!!!  Attitude is another key factor !!

[vienna91201]

Rob (& all), your story sounds very similar to mine. It's been very difficult for me to deal with having a colostomy, I am an 18 year old female who was attending college when I got into an accident. I awoke from my procedures with a bag attached to me. I'm to embarassed to tell any of my friends and I feel that most individuals my age wouldn't even understand. My accident was about six weeks ago and I will hopefully get the reversal in May. In my accident i lost 3/4 of my blood and now am also anemic. I am curious as well to know how to prepare my body and mind for the reversal. My doctors keep telling me that I have already gone through the worst surgeries and that the reversal is much simpler, however I am still very nervous. I have also read about many people developing pains for years after at the incision site. I'm so glad I stumbled onto this site, even though I may not fit the common demographic of those who are dealing with this, it is so comforting to know I am not alone.

[rob608]

I thank everyone for all the posts. They have been very helpful to me in better understanding my condition and knowing I am one of many in the same condition.
I am preparing to undergo a reverse colostomy on April 12, 2011; approximately eight weeks ahead. I had emergency colostomy surgery on December 23rd and subsequently had drains inserted in my abdomen for several absesses which developed. After 22 pain seared days in the hospital I was prematurely released and continue to recover with the assistance of two/three visits per week from the visiting nurse association. My question is ,"how do I best prepare my body/system for the reverse surgery as my energy/physiology is severly depressed/worn down?"  I have many challenges, for example, due to severe blood loss during the December surgery I am still anemic and taking iron pills. To boost my energy I just started treadmill walking and managed a mile at 2.5 mph. What are some other considerations/suggestions I might consider to boost my energy levels and get me into the best shape medically to undergo the reversal.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I will post my reverse surgerey experiences in the hope it may help the next person.

[KYKY84]

I HAVE A COLOSTOMY BAG NOW, I HAVE HAD IT SINCE JAN 2010 IN HOPES OF SUCCESSFUL RECTALVAGINAL FISTULA REPAIR, AFTER 2 FAILD ATTEMPS SO FAR., AND HOPEFULLY SOON MY DOCTOR WILL BE ABLE TO REVERSE IT. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER THE REVERSAL?
*WHAT KINDA DIET SHOULD I BE ON AND HOW LONG?
*HOW LONG ARE U IN PAIN?
*WHAT IS THE WEIGHT LIFTING LIMIT?
*WILL I BE ON BED REST OR WILL I BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND NORMALLY?

ANY ADVISE WILL HELP, BECAUSE IM VERY NERVOUS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
THANK U

[eyb]

I had a bag reversal in Jan. 2010 and l have to go to the john 15 to 25 times a day with most of the trips between 5 pm and 11 pm. I would be interested in your son's diet. Maybe it will help me.

eyb

[mammo]

You can take Immodium for diarrhea but diet is truly key to this.  Play around with your diet to see what makes it worse, and eliminate this.  My son has his under control and lives a very active, full life.  He says it's all about diet.