Ileostomy reversal post rectal resection recovery

[CrazyHarry]

I must first apologize that I was too lazy to search the board for a previous answer. Too damn lazy and feeling like a got run over by a truck from my last chemo.

I'm scheduled for the ileostomy reversal on 10/21. How long til I'm back in my feet and back at work?

I'm a computer geek so no heavy lifting, but there are those pesky meetings.

Thanks all

[chemo sabe]

I was off for 7 or so weeks. It took all of that to get my bowel movements under enough control that I felt confident enough to go to work and wear white slacks. I also needed the rest.

[lorrainem]

Expect the unexpected. Whatever information you are given by your medical professionals is true; but on a case by case basis. Your recovery may be very different (not wrong, just different.)

Good luck and wishing you the best for success.

[O Stoma Mia]

...I'm scheduled for the ileostomy reversal on 10/21... How long til I'm back in my feet and back at work?

Hi CrazyHarry - There are members of this Forum who have gone back to work in just a few weeks. Perhaps more of them will reply to your post so that you can get an idea of the range. I think that 4 weeks will be required just for healing of the surgery. During this time it is very important not to put any pressure on the surgery site, not to lift heavy objects, not to open heavy sliding doors, etc. The surgical site needs time to heal properly, otherwise you may end up with a hernia.

At the same time, there is the problem of getting the colon working again, which is different for each patient. One thing you can do right now in preparation for the post-reversal scenario is to start doing sphincter control exercises. The colon and sphincter have been "off-line" for a number of months and need to be retrained. You can shorten the time that it takes to get everything working well enough for going back to work by doing the sphincter exercises now, and by watching what you eat and how often you eat so as to control the flow of stool through the system.

Here is a link to a leaflet on sphincter exercises:

Sphincter exercises

One Forum member, Rockovage, reported that sphincter exercises (Kegel exercises) done prior to the reversal operation proved to be beneficial in shortening the time to return to normal bowel functioning: re: Kegel exercises
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[Stomatrooper]

We are all different

For me 2 x weeks (but I work mainly from home anyway) - I think it is better if you can take a month off.

[Coppercent]

I went back to work 12 days after my reversal surgery. I had my temp ostomy for 11 months. My whole rectum was removed leaving enough to reconnect the sphincter muscle. Everyone is different. Listen to your surgeon. He/she knows your situation best. Unfortunately there is not a one size fits all plan. My surgeon had me jump right in with a regular diet and advised me to stay away from Imodium etc for the first few weeks. Best of luck!

[-Sophie-]

I went back to work at 3 weeks post reversal. I had a LAR which was able save several cm of rectum. I felt fine in terms of healing after surgery and my bowels were going well. I think it all comes down to how your reversal is going.

I did pelvic floor exercises for the months leading up to surgery I assume that helped. I took Imodium most mornings to ensure I didn't have too many issues at work. I am now on Metamucil and no Imodium and its going very well (1 small bit of clustering in the evening is my normal)