@catbaloo76 Noooo. The reversal surgery is not long at all! Believe me, my surgery in November was 10 HOURS long!! They had so much more to deal with when they got in there that they did not know about. Originally, they were going to do a colon resection (only 6" removed) and then had to remove a fistula that was from my colon and connected to my uterus. But. they found so much inflammation in me....had to remove my prolapsed rectum (which she said was so narrow, nothing could pass through it) and they had to repair my muscles, had to put in 100 stitches and they removed my appendix too! That surgery was supposed to be 3-5 hours, but it ended up being 10 hrs.

The reversal surgery, I believe only took about 45 minutes! What they do is make the opening where the stoma is just a little bit bigger. They pull up the intestine (stoma) and sew it back together and put it back inside and suture the opening. (My surgeon described it was like a garden hose that you bend it and it is only cut open half way. That is how the waste goes into the ileostomy bag. When they reverse it, they just stitch that half slit shut.) That surgery was not bad at all! I'm a little sore, but I am on meds for that. Just have to rest, don't lift anything over 10 lbs., no driving for a week. I am SO GLAD that bag is gone!!
The only bad part was at 4 am Tuesday, (at hospital) I suddenly had uncontrollable diarrhea for about 6 hours. I got upset and wondered if the surgery was a good idea. I finally just went to sleep and after that, things started improving. Everyone is different though, but just have to be patient and realize that the colon needs to adjust after being shut down for so many months.
My bowel movements have improved, getting more normal. However, sometimes have to go several times and then it's ok. I have not had any catastrophes since I have been home. Thank goodness. I am really happy to be semi-normal again!!

I am 72 and I have worried about all this surgery and anesthesia at my age, so I understand how you feel. But this reversal is a piece of cake after what we both went through with the other surgery! All I have to do is change the gauze bandage each day. When it stops oozing, I am supposed to let it air dry (no more bandage).

My big surgery was robotic surgery and I swear, I had NO PAIN after all that!! I had been in so much pain BEFORE the surgery from the fistula and basically being constipated for 3-4 months! My first thought when I woke up was "I don't hurt anymore!" I did not even need home care. I was in hospital 8 days and then was transferred to a rehab hospital for 2 weeks. Had to build muscle in my arms and legs. It was amazing how good I felt when I went home!

I look terrible after losing 40 lbs and more than half my hair is gone! I got down to 104 lbs! I have gained about 10-14 lbs. now and feel better. Just hope my hair comes back.