1. < Ostomy

Colon reconnection: Tough decision. Is it worth it?

Posted by stork1 @stork1, Apr 24 11:28am

My doctor scoped me this week and said I was ready to reconnect after almost two years since my colon was removed because of colitis/crohns. My question is whether it’s worth doing. Reconnection would lose the pouch but subject me to the potential for increased fistulas and strictures. I’m taking Skyrizi, which increases the chances for cancer and infection. I’ve quit smoking six times and every time the colitis/Crohn’s comes back with vengeance so I’d be hesitant to try to quit again. If I have everything removed, all of those questions disappear. Such a tough decision. Anyone else face anything similar? I’d love to hear from you. Greg

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy Support Group.

terrydalecasino | @terrydalecasino | 4 days ago
In reply to @rioa21 "I recently had had the Sugarbaker method done laparoscopically to repair my parastomal hernia. It’s been..." + (show)
@rioa21

I recently had had the Sugarbaker method done laparoscopically to repair my parastomal hernia. It’s been a month and I’m still having some pain. How long did it take for you to be pain free? Mine was very large and painful.

Jump to this post

After being in the hospital 🏥 for (3) weeks and being on Gabapentin I spent another month in a nursing home to learn how to change my COLOSTOMY BAG.
I was on Gabapentin for at least (90) days after that.
I was also on a "RED"
Capsule, I can't remember what it was called but it did help with the pain I had but the doctor prescribed it once I got home use only as needed for pain.
So answer to your question, I would say at
least (120) days.
But I had special circumstances with my recovery. (4) days after my surgery I went for a walk and my surgical area opened back up again and about a pint and a half of blood poured out of my anus so the surgeon had to come from home and do emergency surgery again to close up my anus area.
He told me he put some kind of stainless steel clip in to hold everything closed and told me not to walk until "I" felt comfortable with walking.
I don't know for sure, but I think that is why I went to the nursing home so they could keep an eye on everything so it wouldn't happen again.
I hope this is helpful to you?
But I did have pain for a very long time.
But then again, you have to consider the surgeon removed (15)
centimeters of my anus and rectal area and (8) millimeters of my sigmoid colon where I had "CANCER" ♋!
But I consider myself very lucky that the cancer ♋ was caught on time before it spread to other parts of my body.

REPLY
terrydalecasino | @terrydalecasino | 3 days ago

I think I gave you the wrong information. What is described above is my ABDOMINAL PERINEAL RESECTION.
I apologize.
My stay in the hospital 🏥 for the Robotic PARASTOMAL HERNIA REPAIR WITH MESH AND ENTEROTOMY was (22) days.
The doctor did send me home with Norco pills but I'm not sure what dosage.
I want to say though I had pain for at least (6) weeks.
I noticed especially I had pain if I ate too much or too fast.
I also had meals that were perfectly portioned and cut real small so my colon didn't have to work as hard.
But I would say about (6-8) weeks after my surgery
04/19/24.

REPLY
cromme50 | @cromme50 | 3 days ago
In reply to @peggydobbs "In March 2023, I had approx. half my colon removed, (the half that starts at the..." + (show)
@peggydobbs

In March 2023, I had approx. half my colon removed, (the half that starts at the end of the small intestine) because of a volvulus (twisted colon, not cancer). I was given an ileostomy because a 6 month rest for my colon was supposed to help it heal. I had a successful re-connection in Oct 2023.

After the re-connection, I sometimes soiled myself. I had to be very careful to pass gas only on the toilet, because my colon had forgotten how to tell the difference between gas and stool. This problem slowly righted itself. I also took dextrin to firm up my stool.

Now (June 2025) I mostly have normal but soft bowel movements, 2-3 times a day. Occasionally my colon decides to pass what looks like dark brown water--lots of it. Gastroenterologist says this is caused by the gastrocolic reflex. I cannot identify anything in my daily eating that clearly triggers the reflex.

Despite these problems, I very much prefer re-connection to keeping the ostomy.

Jump to this post

An alternative to dextrin is Citrucel - same goal, it is bulk forming to firm up the stool. Walmart has their generic version of it which is half the price of Citrucel. It is called "Fiber Therapy".
It has only one ingredient methylcellulose. I have gut damage due to pelvic radiation (cancer) which is not fixable and this has been very helpful.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.