Ileostomy Reversal-Is there anything I can do to prepare?

[chrisca]

If the hernia repair will create a large incision near the small bowel anastomosis (splice), ask your doctor beforehand about using Seprafilm between the abdominal wall and the bowel. Adhesions can form between the bowel and abdominal wall after the surgery, and if it happens you will have a bowel blockage and another large-incision surgery needed to remove them. This happened to me. For a normal ileostomy takedown, the incision is too small to place Seprafilm but in your case it may be large enough to do so. It could spare you from an expensive, traumatic surgery later on that has a long recovery time.

-Chris.

[GreenMonkey]

Is "Seprafilm" the same a "mesh"?

my hernia is large!!! I call it my BABY HEAD. I need to know what to expect. Had zero warning about lifting. I won't see my surgeon until april 15th. and my surgery is may 6th.


to those of you who had your reversals in January - Rheaeliza and Stupidasscancer. How is it going?

I want a biobidet but hey....I'm spoiled.

[chasamba]

Hey Green Monkey! How's things?
My inlaws have a GREAT bidet, I'm round there all the time Seriously, it is a good investment.

[O Stoma Mia]

..My hernia is large!!! I call it my BABY HEAD. I need to know what to expect. Had zero warning about lifting. I won't see my surgeon until april 15th. and my surgery is may 6th...

GreenMonkey - Although you may not have had an explicit warning from your surgeon, the precautions to be taken are listed in various hospital leaflets, e.g., Going home after Stoma Surgery. Did your hospital give you a leaflet like this one? Good luck on your reversal on May 6th -- and for the three subsequent months!

Lifting
"It is important after surgery not to lift too soon as you risk damaging your abdomen.
Even if the suture line is healed completely the muscles below take many weeks or
months to heal. It is advisable to lift nothing heavier than a jug of water for three
months after surgery. This means you may need help to undertake general duties
such as cleaning (vacuum cleaners are heavy to move about), washing (wet
washing is heavy to lift), shopping (food is heavy to carry), even caring for children
or others may involve activities that may put strain on the abdomen."

[gtownguy]

My surgeon definitely warned me about any heavy lifting. He also mentioned that I shouldn't do any exercises that involve abs until a year after surgery.