Postby rockhound » Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:09 pm
scohow66 wrote:HI folks - had ileo reversal last week and unfortunately developed an ileus. Surgery went well and day one post op was fine until the bowels stalled out. Was inpatient for 6 nights and now finally home and coming thru the fog of pain, gas, bloating, etc. Interested in thoughts about when appetites return, healing of ileostomy wound, reduction of belly distention, etc. I am getting in enough liquids, but eating very little...after over a week without really any food. Experiencing pain around wound and daily repacking is very uncomfortable...feels like a hot poker being jammed into by stomach! Also, the belly bloating and distention is rough, want some way to just release all the pressure. All in all I think I am on the road to healing, but would appreciate tips, thoughts, perspectives from anyone around near term post op from this (i.e. 1-8 weeks).
Thanks!
Scott
I'm three weeks out today from my reversal. Had the original surgery in early May. I was in the hospital for four nights, day three is when things started to finally move in the hospital. I definitely had bloating for the first week or 1.5 weeks (plus lots of intestinal cramping) and my appetite did not come back until about 1.5 weeks afterwards as well. Had lots of runny diarrhea for about two weeks and finally called the surgeon- they had me tested for C. Diff. (negative), then had me start on metamucil last wednesday. That has made such a difference- I am finally having well-formed, though smaller than "old normal" stools. Still going multiple times a day (like 4-10), but that is better than the 15-20+ times of diarrhea like before. I started working again and feel like I can finally go out without being tethered to a bathroom. My incision is still healing, but its finally starting to look like it's scabbing over a bit also.
I did have a partial blockage about two weeks after my illeostomy (ate nuts and some leafy veggies..oops!) and it hurt in waves and there was no output.. finally resolved itself after I took my bag off- like an explosion/fountain, luckily I was in the bathtub. The pain was really intense and like I said, came in waves as the small intestine was trying to push things along... would guess you would have something similar if that was happening.. but don't hesitate to call your surgeon's office!
45 yr old male
Diagnosed December 2016, age 41
Stage 1/IIA rectal cancer - T2/3N0M0 via MRI (MRI indicates stage 1; onc/surgeon = stage 2a)
Lynch syndrome, MSH6 mutation, MSI
2 to 3/2017 Xeloda + Radiation
5/10/17 - Robotic LAR with temp. loop illeostomy, 0/20 lymph nodes
6 to 7/2017 - Six cycles Folfox @ full strength
9/20/17 - Ileostomy takedown
10/17 - CT, NED
5/18 - CT, NED
11/18 - CT, NED
5/19 - CT, NED..moving to yearly CT scans
5/20 - CT, NED
5/21 - CT, NED (4 yr. scan)