Anyone had a loop ileostomy converted to one single end?

Posted by sansa @sansa, Oct 21, 2024

In 2012 I had cervical cancer with a mass so large, it could not be surgically removed. Instead, ureteral stents were placed for backed up kidneys, which I wore for a year. Then chemo and radiation was administered for about six weeks. After that treatment was completed, I went to a hospital in a different county for a three day stay for brachy therapy, another radiation treatment. I was grateful that my life was saved, but my colon was never the same after cancer treatment. A few months later, I began having chronic bloody diarrhea. The only help offered to me was a course of sulfasalazine. I was diagnosed with proctitis, colitis, enteritis, and large oozing ulcers. Rectal bleeding continued. Two years later I developed severe anemia. I ended up in the hospital for a three day stay with three 450 cc bags of blood and one bag of iron. So again, my life was saved, and I will always be grateful to my internist for rushing me to the hospital. So seven years later, Fall 2022 a recto/vaginal fistula developed. My guess is that my largest rectal ulcer ate its way into my vagina. The result of that is too terrible to describe. Needless to say, I was very happy to have an ileostomy. So now you know my story. Living with an ileostomy is a breeze compared to what I have been through. Now I replace my base and bag every three days. I have deep red irritation and red bumps from leakage. Stoma nurses have been of no help. I believe that I have this issue because my lower small stoma is almost flat. Cutting out the base to the correct size for a good fitting is challenging. I would love very much to have one single stoma. So I have a question for someone out there. Has anyone had this procedure done? To convert a loop ileostomy to one single end ileostomy? I have been to two proctologists who stated that they could not do it. I keep thinking that it’s just a matter of a surgeon with more experience. Am I wrong? Has anyone had this particular surgery done?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy & J-Pouch Support Group.

Profile picture for hardingv @hardingv

I just went straight to an end ileostomy. However, we did discuss leaving an option for a reversal to a j-pouch. My CR surgeon told me if I didn't do the j-pouch within a couple of years, he would go back in and take out the remnants.

Jump to this post

Wow hardingv, Yours is the first indication that what I was thinking about - Pouch removal - is really a "thing." Thank you so much for sharing. -Dave

REPLY

I had a loop converted to straight after enduring a year and a half of excruciating pain. I dreaded eating because my output went into high gear. The stoma was flat, so I had a terrible time with leakage as well, which is what caused all the pain. Since I had it converted it's been great. I still have one difficult area that hard to keep sealed. I use some paste and Skin Tac to help. That surgery changed my life. I have a nice round stoma now, which enabled me to get the Convatec moldable wafer. No more cutting to size! I was having difficulty with a lot of redness, itching, and small bumps. Found out I was allergic to the glue on the wafer. So I switched to a hypoallergenic wafer. Problem solved.

REPLY
Profile picture for davem @davem

Susan_f. Hi Susan, I'm going to ask for a quick detour from loop ileostomies to j-pouch abandonment. Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (later changed to Crohn's) I had a colectomy, j-pouch for 30+ years, and now an ileostomy. All is well and functioning properly. My question to you, Susan - was your j-pouch actually removed or just disconnected and abandoned? The colo-rectal surgeon who unhooked mine mentioned to my wife, "he will probably want to get rid of the pouch some day." None of my doctors have brought it up. Apologies for the interruption everyone! Happy New Year!

Jump to this post

@davem
My j-pouch was removed. The surgeon wanted to wait and do a second surgery to remove it, but as I had so much active disease in the j-pouch I opted for removal.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.