Hi everyone,
Firstly a big thanks to Jane and the whole gang here for documenting how reversal has gone. I just read through all the posts and it gave me significant confidence that things will get better!
I had my ileostomy reversed on 20 Feb 2013, so it's Day 18 post surgery. I go 4-5 times each day, though the major poop session is a midnight party. Takes a good 1-2 hours to evacuate. Poop is formed, but finger sized and rabbit pellets so far! (No turdles yet!) I saw my surgeon this past week, and he suggested I add fiber starting tomorrow. I am going to start with Metamucil - a teaspoon in 2 oz once a day and slowly introduce one fiber food each day.
So far, I have been eating white rice, chicken, fish, yogurt (normal and greek), egg whites, potatoes, noodles.
The butt burn and itch have been extremely frustrating! When I go for a few times, I start noticing streaks of blood on my poop and on the baby wipes I use. Liberally using desitin and convatec's aloe paste for relief after every BM. Surgeon said not to worry about blood since the area gets sore after repeated BMs, but I am going to ask again tomorrow. Based on what I read, I suspect an anal fissure... Lets are what he says. Really praying that Metamucil helps me. I have also been doing sitz baths to soothe my butt.
Last week, I ate the pulp of a mango and it made me empty my bowels quickly - sort of like a diarrhea episode. No more mangoes for now!
In other less significant news, my open wound post ileostomy reversal is closing up slowly but nicely.
What should I try, stop or change? Anything to improve things - my sore butt is really bothering me!! Prune juice and oatmeal in the AM?
btw, I loved the puns and am loving the new reversalitis vocab I have picked up!
Thanks!
Pi
-------------------------------------------------------------
04/12: Dx Stage 3 RC, T3N1M0, 3 cm from anal verge, 1 inch, 32 yrs (married/no kids)
05/12: Confirmed for Lynch syndrome
05/12 - 08/12: Folfox, 8 sessions
08/12 - 09/12: 25 sessions of chemoradiation - Xeloda and proton beam
11/12: CT, MRI and sigmoidoscopy showed no tumor
5 Dec 2012: LAR with diverting ileostomy and coloanal anastomosis
12/12: Pathology - NED
20 Feb 2013: Ileostomy reversal