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Anybody had an ileostomy closed?

Mon, August 15, 2011 6:37 PM

I'm having my ileostomy closed in a few weeks, and am just wondering how it goes afterwards. Some of the things I've read online were a little freaky. I've also been totally free of any symptoms that I normally have with a flare since the ostomy, and although I'm changing my diet, and will probably have new meds after the closure is done and I go back to see the GI doctor, I'm afraid that once the ileostomy's gone, I'll start having flares again. I'm just scared that I'm making a mistake. Its not like the ostomy really bothers me at all... I've been happy and feeling much better than I had in years. I even thought that between flares I was feeling "normal" and since the ostomy I feel even better than I had felt between flares. I dance, and swim, and travel, and do anything I would have done before CD with the ostomy. I just don't want to go back to feeling crummy =(

neverending
Joined Dec 8, 2010

Thu, September 01, 2011 9:57 PM

Reply posted for NeverEnding.

I had a two-stage J-pouch surgery 3 yrs ago. Like you, I found life with a stoma not so bad (except for the time my pouch popped while I was sleeping!). But once I had the stoma closed and began with my newly-configured internal plumbing I was so glad to be "normal". I was told that it would take a while for my body to get used to its new system & to be patient. To be honest, I'm still having problems (gas, bloating, inscisional hernia) but if given the choice for the surgery again I'd still do it. It's not perfect, but it's so much better than life before.

betsamia
Joined Aug 10, 2011

Tue, August 16, 2011 10:29 AM

Reply posted for johnd.

Thanks for your reply! Its definitely good to hear that somebody has made it through without some of the problems that I was reading about! I'm hoping to not have to miss too too much work. After the ostomy surgery, it drove me nuts sitting around at home for a couple of weeks.

neverending
Joined Dec 8, 2010

Tue, August 16, 2011 9:31 AM

Reply posted for NeverEnding.

Hi,

I had my Illiostomy reversed last November and after recuperating from the surgery felt better than I had in a long time. Of course a lot of that was due to the resection I had earlier that year.

The reversal surgery itself was easier than my prior surgeries, I was in for 4 or so days afterward and within a month or two was feeling really great.

Good luck on your surgery and recovery

John

johnd
Joined Mar 17, 2010

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