Any successful Stoma reversal experiences? What is the timeline?

DO NOT hesitate to get a second opinion whenever you feel uncomfortable with any aspects of your proposed treatment plans. At the very least ask your treatment providers to explain the reasoning behind their proposed plans. Two days before my scheduled LAR surgery I told my surgeon I was having second thoughts. He cleared his calendar for that afternoon and we had a virtual visit and he addressed all of my concerns and more. Two days later, after a seven hour surgery my adenocarcinoma was gone. I am blessed to have such a wonderful colorectal surgeon.

My ileostomy reversal (Oct 2023) was done by re-opening abdominal incision. I got the ileostomy originally because of intestinal volvulus (my colon twisted and part of it died,). The volvulus required 2 surgeries just to save my life (no joke!). I'm guessing that "telescopic" vs incision depends on what surgeries (if any) went before the ileostomy. If you can, ask the Doc why your reversal requires an incision.
Though you don't ask, I was extremely glad to be rid of the ileostomy, even though it took my insides a while to adjust.

What kind of reversal did any of you have?? My Doctor said he would have to open me up again, he won't do a it telescopic,I had such a rough time with my first surgery I'm afraid to go through it again I'm 76 and fear I'm to old to try it. Please give me some advice
Thank you

I was opened up to have my ileostomy reversed about 2.5 years ago. I wasn't offered "telescopic" surgery. I was in the hospital for about a week--mostly because you have to have a bowel movement before they will let you go home. It took maybe 5 days for that to happen in my case. I was almost 80 when my ileostomy was placed, and yes, it was a difficult recovery. The ileostomy reversal was much easier--and in my opinion, completely worth it. If the doctor will do the surgery, then physically, you're not too old for it! I was so, so happy to be rid of my ileostomy bag!

@peggydobbs Thanks so much for letting me know do you know the timeline when mine supposed to be done will be 13

@catbaloo76 months I was supposed to have it done at 12 months but had so many things to get done.

@peggydobbs He told me he could do it telescopic but if he got in there and couldn't do it he would still have to do surgery so would rather just do the incision.

I am having reversal surgery March 9 and am getting anxious. Have the same worries….will I be normal again? Worried about my colon working normally. My resection surgery was November 24. I know this surgery will be much easier than the last one. How long is hospital stay? Dr told me probably 2 nights, but everything I have read says up to 5 days. I will be so glad when this is over!

@adlib071 your having yours done 5 months after wow mine was schedule? A year after but waiting for another month and my Dr said it would be maybe a week. I'm not sure if I want it my first surgery was horrible and don't want to go through the same thing, but I hope everything turns out okay.

@catbaloo76 The reversal surgery is supposed to be a lot easier, though must take it easy to heal…at least 6 weeks with no lifting over 10 lbs. My surgeon said they just enlarge the incision at the stoma site and they “ pull up the intestine, sew it back together and poke it back in.” Then suture incision. I was happy to hear that….I just pray my colon will work properly (I only had about 6” removed where diverticulitis was in lower left side. However, I had a prolapsed rectum that was narrowed to where little could pass through so they removed it (which shocked me!). I pictured spending the rest of my life in the bathroom. But my surgeon repaired the muscles down there and told me the muscles are even more important. She had to put 100 stitches in there (that is why my surgery was so long instead of 3-5 hrs.). That relieved some of my fear (muscle repair). Aside from that, she removed a fistula and my appendix! (I wonder if there’s anything left in me? LOL). She told me she had never seen so much inflammation. I had robotic surgery and the amazing thing was that I had absolutely NO PAIN from the 10-hour surgery!! My pain was 4 months before surgery. I remember waking up in recovery and my first thought was that The pain was gone! Right now, I am mostly upset about losing my hair. I feel so unattractive and depressed.