Reversal surgery

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Sun Mar 11, 2018 2:47 pm

I had laparoscopic surgery, but good to know! I should probably update my sig.

Bowel prep today has been interesting with the bag, but it seems mostly done now. I accidentally spilled some of the Suprep in my kitchen, but I think it’s done its job.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:43 pm

My reversal surgery is done! My surgical site is very sore, but otherwise no pain. I had pain all over my abdomen when I woke up, but they gave me pain meds. My surgery lasted less than 90 minutes.

I’m very comfortable in my hospital bed. I’m right next to the bathroom which is good, and my roommate is quiet. I’m at Lenox Hill Hospital and the nurses here are all so great!

It’s SO weird to reach to my side and not feel a bag there.

Now comes the hard part - getting my bowels to wake up over the next couple days. :|
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

User avatar
Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby Robino1 » Mon Mar 12, 2018 4:19 pm

heiders33 wrote:My reversal surgery is done! My surgical site is very sore, but otherwise no pain. I had pain all over my abdomen when I woke up, but they gave me pain meds. My surgery lasted less than 90 minutes.

I’m very comfortable in my hospital bed. I’m right next to the bathroom which is good, and my roommate is quiet. I’m at Lenox Hill Hospital and the nurses here are all so great!

It’s SO weird to reach to my side and not feel a bag there.

Now comes the hard part - getting my bowels to wake up over the next couple days. :|


YAY!! Glad to hear you are doing well! Way to go! :D
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

rockhound
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:00 pm

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby rockhound » Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:18 pm

heiders33 wrote:My reversal surgery is done! My surgical site is very sore, but otherwise no pain. I had pain all over my abdomen when I woke up, but they gave me pain meds. My surgery lasted less than 90 minutes.

I’m very comfortable in my hospital bed. I’m right next to the bathroom which is good, and my roommate is quiet. I’m at Lenox Hill Hospital and the nurses here are all so great!

It’s SO weird to reach to my side and not feel a bag there.

Now comes the hard part - getting my bowels to wake up over the next couple days. :|


They will wake up, so in the meantime, enjoy the time off (those were actually a bit of blissful downtime!) Also get out there and walk if you can- it will help move things along.
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)

User avatar
O Stoma Mia
Posts: 1709
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby O Stoma Mia » Tue Mar 13, 2018 12:21 am

O Stoma Mia wrote:... There is a very important point that I think should be emphasized for all patients undergoing CRC surgery: it is the possibility of tearing of surgical site due to any unusual, vigorous activity that puts stress on the new incision. This condition is called an "incisional hernia" when it occurs at the site of the main LAR or APR incisions, and it is called a "parastomal hernia" when it occurs near the ileostoma incision site. These two conditions are to be avoided at all cost because they can cause considerable problems later on and can reduce the subsequent quality of life.

The good news is that incisional hernias and parastomal hernias can be avoided -- but only if the post-surgery patient takes extreme care not to allow unusual tension at the incision sites. This means, among other things:
  • Absolutely no lifting of any heavy objects in the post-surgery period. 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.
  • No lifting yourself up or pulling yourself up out of bed in the post surgery period. (Call the nurses if you need assistance in getting up out of bed.) Do not try to use the hand rail or overhead bar to raise yourself up, or you risk the possibility of tearing the surgical site.
  • No coughing or sneezing during the immediate post-surgical period. If this is unavoidable, then I think you should insure that you have some kind of abdominal support to hold the surgical incision site(s) firm. Devices like abdominal binders might be appropriate in this case, if approved by the doctor. Or you could use a small pillow pressed against the abdomen for support. If you develop uncontrollable coughing and sneezing, then you could damage the incision site, causing delayed healing and eventual incisional hernia.
This is just my own personal opinion, and the reason I am mentioning this here is that there seems to be a constant reminder that we have to "walk, walk, walk" just after surgery, but there is rarely any mention that in order to get up to walk you have to first get out of bed, and the maneuvers that you use to get yourself out of bed could easily cause problems with your new incision.

User avatar
Shana
Posts: 401
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:45 pm
Location: Sonoma, CA

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby Shana » Tue Mar 13, 2018 1:13 am

Hope you are doing well and wishing you a speedy recovery.

I can only imagine how great it feels to have that bag off your abdomen!
DX - 12/16
MSS - KRAS wild
Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma at splenic flexure
Stage IV CC with liver mets
5FU - Failed twice - 1/17 and 3/17
Irinotecan + Cetuximab: 8/17
Irinotecan and Erbitux ran it's course. CEA rising
Primary tumor invaded tail of pancreas and spleen. Liver mets major concern
Y-90 radioembolization on 9/17/18, liver enzyymes have dropped. 10 Radiation treatments to primary tumor completed too. CT scan Nov to assess overall situation...

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Tue Mar 13, 2018 8:05 am

Yes I’ve walked around three times since surgery. Meanwhile, per usual, my roommate isn’t doing what she needs to do to help her pain by walking around, same as my last two roommates. So frustrating to me.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby susie0915 » Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:12 am

Glad to hear you are doing well.I remember the first thing I did was feel my stomach after surgery. I do have a small hernia, although, it was there before surgery. Just more obvious now after surgery. It really doesn't bother me. The surgeon doesn't was to repair unless necessary and that's fine with me, it is tiny. I do wear a belly binder when doing exercises that involve my abdomen. Glad you are able to walk and are doing it often.It really does help. I was happy that the hospital I had surgery had all private rooms for the patients, was helpful for recovery. But, you prob won't be there long.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:13 am

Oh man, a private room would be a game changer for me. It’s a luxury here in NYC. :) I’ve had five hospital roommates and three of them have been awful: complaining and having complications and refusing to get up and move. Doesn’t inspire me much, except maybe greater motivation to leave soon! My very first roommate after the last surgery was the best. She was an older lady and had been through a similar surgery to mine. She was very encouraging.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Wed Mar 14, 2018 5:31 am

Just spent night number two in the hospital and still no passing gas. I have plenty roiling around in there but so far it’s just come out through burping. Now that I’m no longer getting IV fluids I’m going to put some normal clothes on and walk around the hospital. I walked a lot yesterday, but each walk itself I think was too short. If I’m going to get back to “normal” I need to start feeling more normal in other ways.

The surgical team just came in and changed my gauze. The area is still tender so it hurt a little. It’ll be interesting to start changing it myself or have my sister change it. They said they can try to start me on some solids today. I thought I had to pass gas first but maybe that’s not the case. I’m so ready for some solid food!
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Wed Mar 14, 2018 8:10 am

So I took a walk around the hospital and finally passed some gas and liquid stool! Now the floodgates have been opened, lol. Time for some solid food.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

User avatar
Atoq
Posts: 412
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:31 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby Atoq » Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:22 am

heiders33 wrote:So I took a walk around the hospital and finally passed some gas and liquid stool! Now the floodgates have been opened, lol. Time for some solid food.

So nice to hear that things are going so well! Bon Appetit!

Best

Claudia
1972, 2 kids
Dx rectal cancer 10.2017
T3N2aMX (met left lung 8 mm)
Lynch neg
CEA 1.8
Neoadjuvant chemoradio Xeloda + 25x2 Gy
05.12.17 laparotomic surg. for blockage, colostomy
25.01.18 laparotomic lar, hysterectomy, ileostomy
05.03.18 core needle lung biopsy
07.05.18 CAT scan, lung met 11 mm
04.06.18 ileo reversal
26.06.18 wedge VATS
24.08.18, 31.02.19 CAT scan
12.09.18, 06.02.19 scope, CEA 1.6
19.11.18 scope
20.08.19 CAT, eco
13.09.19 scope, CEA 1.2
18.03.20 CAT, eco, scope, NED
29.11.20 CAT, NED
2023 NED

User avatar
Atoq
Posts: 412
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:31 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby Atoq » Wed Mar 14, 2018 12:34 pm

O Stoma Mia wrote:... There is a very important point that I think should be emphasized for all patients undergoing CRC surgery: it is the possibility of tearing of surgical site due to any unusual, vigorous activity that puts stress on the new incision. This condition is called an "incisional hernia" when it occurs at the site of the main LAR or APR incisions, and it is called a "parastomal hernia" when it occurs near the ileostoma incision site. These two conditions are to be avoided at all cost because they can cause considerable problems later on and can reduce the subsequent quality of life.


How do you know if you got a peristomal ernia? My ileostomy is not protuding but the skin where the bag is hanging is protuding a bit, like a circle around the stoma, but not if I lie on my back. The fisiotherapist at the hospital said I could resume all normal activity but to do not lift over 3 kg and do sit ups for 8 weeks. The nurses said it was very important to sneeze to avoid pneumonia. The stomy nurse said that there are also risk factors like being overweight and not well trained and that it was unlikely that I would develop an ernia. At the pharmacy they scared me to death and sold me an ernia belt but I cannot breath with it and feel like is bloking the blood stream. I got open surgery twice so my incision is 30 cm through the belly botton. Also the stomy opening was the same for colo- and ileostomy.

All the best

Claudia
1972, 2 kids
Dx rectal cancer 10.2017
T3N2aMX (met left lung 8 mm)
Lynch neg
CEA 1.8
Neoadjuvant chemoradio Xeloda + 25x2 Gy
05.12.17 laparotomic surg. for blockage, colostomy
25.01.18 laparotomic lar, hysterectomy, ileostomy
05.03.18 core needle lung biopsy
07.05.18 CAT scan, lung met 11 mm
04.06.18 ileo reversal
26.06.18 wedge VATS
24.08.18, 31.02.19 CAT scan
12.09.18, 06.02.19 scope, CEA 1.6
19.11.18 scope
20.08.19 CAT, eco
13.09.19 scope, CEA 1.2
18.03.20 CAT, eco, scope, NED
29.11.20 CAT, NED
2023 NED

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby heiders33 » Wed Mar 14, 2018 2:37 pm

Just got home from the hospital. I’ve had four BM’s today, all pretty small and liquidy (except the first one was more). I ate some solid food before I left the hospital. My stoma site is very tender and the rest of my abdomen feels tight from gas and maybe some swelling from the surgery. Everything seems to be normal. Now for a nap.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Reversal surgery

Postby Caat55 » Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:03 pm

Welcome home. I bet it feels good. Do you have a special diet or any limitations? How long are you out from work? Pain?
The thought of the reversal is pretty scary, I worry about urgency, frequency but your system is still just a little sleepy yet.
S
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 120 guests