Any successful Stoma reversal experiences? What is the timeline?

Posted by sacul2 @sacul2, Feb 27, 2025

Is there anybody out there that actually had a good or easy stoma reversal? All I see are horror stories that three months later major problems. Six months a year later etc. etc. I was led to believe that 2 to 4 weeks a could have a burger and a beer with normal bowel movements. No creams or potions or adult diapers.

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jaspithill1946 | @jaspithill1946 | Mar 31 5:23am

I had an ileostomy reversal at age 78, four months after surgery. No problems or complications.

catbaloo76 | @catbaloo76 | 6 days ago

In reply to @jaspithill1946 "I had an ileostomy reversal at age 78, four months after surgery. No problems or complications." + (show)

@jaspithill1946 Thank you for letting me know that.

peggydobbs | @peggydobbs | 2 days ago

To catbaloo76: I was 79 when ileostomy was placed. 6 months later ileostomy was reversed--at that point I was 80. I would have died if I hadn't had the first surgery--but my near death experience was caused by my condition (volvulus), not by the surgery. The surgery saved my life. As far as I know, there's no medical necessity to reverse an ostomy if you don't want to, though I'd ask your doctor about this.

I spent about week in the hospital after the reversal surgery, mostly because they won't let you go home until you have a bowel movement--and it took that long for my bowels to start working again.