Hi Teresa. I met with a Colorectal specialist at UW Hospital in Madison, WI in February. He did a digital rectal exam and asked me to squeeze in order to determine whether I might have control of stool if he were to reverse the colostomy. He said he felt that I would be able to do so but suggested I do regular squeeze exercises. He said he also would like to do a EUA (exam under anesthesia) since his in-office exam didn't reveal a fistula. We did the EUA which also did not reveal the fistula so then scheduled a Barium Enema. The scans were clear and no evidence of fistula was seen. I am now scheduled in mid-June for takedown of the colostomy. I am both excited and anxious, worrying that #1 the fistula is actually there and will raise its ugly head after the surgery, necessitating yet another, and permanent ostomy or #2 that I will be spending most of my life in the bathroom, not being able to have a normal, once daily bowel movement and perhaps not gain sufficient control. And there is always the worry at my age of having another major surgery. I keep wondering if I am placing myself at undue risk by going ahead with this, even though this surgeon has done many colostomy take-downs and is confident of a positive outcome for me. However, he cautions me that a healed fistula may recur since that area, though healed, is weakened from its previous trauma. If that happens, a colostomy is again in my future. I am certain that I have found the right doctor for this procedure and I also understand that it will surely take some months for my colon to find its routine and become somewhat reliable if I take care to eat properly, drink plenty of water and continue withy my daily exercise routine. Fingers crossed! Thanks for listening.