Stoma reversal

He just had a small piece of bowel removed, the bit where the cancer was. Actually, he took the phone call from the hospital the other day, and told m that they said he was going to have his operation on or around July 23rd, and that a letter was on it`s way. The letter arrived this morning, and it looks like he got the wrong end of the stick (no surprise there!), as the letter is an appointment to see a surgeon in outpatients on July 23rd, not a date for the operation!

I just remembered number that there is something called short bowel syndrome. Knew there was something knocking round in my head. This happens when someone has had a big section of intestine removed. I think a question for the doctors should be "How much did they remove" and "does this have an affect on how successful a reversal would be". Good luck.

Sorry that I didn't answer your original question .I have now asked my friend and she didn't have the problem you asked about, in fact she had no problems at all. 3 months later she went to America and has had 2 long haul holidays since.

DS2 had a major bowel operation as a two-year-old, with a temporary colostomy which was reversed after a couple of months, earlier than intended because he kept prolapsing it by running around and falling flat on his face. There was some bleeding from the bowel which stopped after another two months and in forty one years he has never looked back.

My ex daughter in law had a large part of her bowel removed, a stoma for a year, then a reversal. She is fine now, although she has to be careful about what she eats, but she was like that before anyway. She's vegan and seems to manage okay.

Thank you everyone for your replies. The only side effect that he`s been told is the one I mentioned, about needing to "go" straightaway, but he`s still keen to have it done, and I must admit that (hope you`re not having your tea!) the smell when the bag is emptied and/or changed is absolutely not for the faint hearted, although he doesn`t seem to notice it..............we do!!

I know someone who had a successful reversal with no problem. But there was nothing wrong with the bowel in the first place. (it was done for another reason)
If a section has been removed then maybe that alters its functioning considerably. Not the reversal but the shorter length that causes the problem? (I'm guessing)

I've nursed patients who've had successful reversals.

Things can be a bit unpredictable for a while but he can wear pull-ups for security until everything settles down.

My friend had hers reversed last May after 8 months and it went very well indeed.She was much better, faster, than the original op and the only delay in coming out is that you have to "go"which is a bit like,how long is a piece of string, as it varies so much among patients. She was in hospital for 7 days,she was texting me daily saying "nothing yet".I send your DH all good wishes.

My ex-FiL had the reversal after a similar time span in the 80s, at the age of 70. He lived to be 93 and was completely untroubled by his condition afterwards. He'd had severe ulcerative colitis. He stayed close to home whilst he recovered but was fine after that. Hope it goes well for your husband, numberplease.

I do hope that all goes well for your DOH.

My friend has a colostomy (ovarian cancer with bowel involvement) and was told that it would be reversed within a few months, but the decision was eventually made to keep it. Thankfully she manages fine with it and is not disappointed.

I hope that you are able to find someone who has the relevant experience and can advise.