Ostomy reversal recovery: Trouble completing a bowel movement, tips?

@asolidrock the thing with the zinc ointment is if you put it on pretty thick, when you wipe, you just wipe off the surface layer of the ointment. You don't even touch your skin, really.

I used Desitin, maximum strength back when I needed it.

Downside is it is oily, gets on everything and you tend to smell like a baby's bottom.

Good luck! I hope it continues to get better.

Thank you Susan will do. I just want to say this is very supportive sight. Everyone is so kind and non judgemental or critical.which is very helpful when you are frustrated or going through a hard time. May I say the women on here (no pun intende) or more compassionate because they are nurturing like all mothers are. Happy late Mothers Day to all you mothers l

May God bless you all

I had an ileostomy placed because I had a volvulus (twisted) colon (not cancer) about 3 years ago. The ileostomy was reversed and my intestines reconnected 6 months later. Overall, the re-connection was successful. Once in a while, gastro-colic reflex strikes (reason unknown) and I have very urgent, completely liquid BMs. Other than that, I'm so, so glad not to have the bag anymore.
Also, I keep a plastic bottle filled with tap water (the kind of bottle that holds liquid dish detergent and with the same kind of top that has a small hole in it) next to the toilet. After each BM, I squeeze out some water to clean myself.

It has been 6 smonths since my reversal & thinks we're going fine. Now for the last 3 days , I haven't had a decent bowel movement, lots of gas and of course hemmroids. I was in Ireland for the past month & came home 4 days prior to this problem. I can't figure it out

Do you think it could be what your eating? After 2 months post op I started having a complete bowel movements hardly any cleaning. I was so excited bit it only lasted two days. I'm not as bad s I used to be but am kind discouraged so I'm wandering if it is what I'm eating

Thanks for your response. I can't figure it out. I have been on the BRAT diet for a day and my BM was better but the stools were not as good as they were for a couple of months after surgery. They are not formed like they were after surgery. Everything was fine and then all of a sudden that werent. I am trying to drink more liquid to help things along but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Right now I am going to just ear smaller amounts and see if there is any improvement.
Let me know how your progress goes. It is frustrating

Yes I totally understand and hope and pray you get to doing better. Thanks for responding

I take 400 mg of magnesium citrate, morning and night. It keeps my BMs soft and easy to expel. Lost half my colon from a volvulus (not cancer) and was reconnected 6 months later. Sometimes, it does seem hard to push feces out--especially if I forgot to take the MgCit. My guess is that my abdominal muscles were weakened by my 3 surgeries--and I've never really tried to re-strengthen them. Also, MgCit doesn't require a prescription but I'd check with doc before starting, just in case it might not be good for your particular situation.

Thank you so much for your advise and again I hope you do get better. I hate to sound like I'm complaining because I am so blessed. I heard that pelvic exercises help whatever that means. I do seem a lot better so maybe it will just take time. I'm suspecting that the cancer along with the chemo had a lot to do with it. So I just pray and ask the Lord to help me. Please keep me updated on how you are doing and enjoy your life.

I did want to tell you not to try to force a bowel movement; they say that ain't good.