Ileostomy reversal - how successful is it likely to be?

[grt73]

Hi all,
I have been blessed with having an ileostomy, had it for a year now and have spent most of it wishing I didn't have it. My quality of life is definitely better with it though and i dont suffer anywhere near as much with crohns type symptoms.
My consultant talks about reversal after a period if time if my crohns is under control. I'm currently on aza and things feel like they are going ok. I would love to go back to the way I used to be without my stoma although a big part of me is pretty nervous. I had an emergency resection which failed before I had the ileostomy and it put me in intensive care for a week.
If I'm brave and lucky enough to have the reversal, how successful is it likely to be? And what are the chances of getting those horrid crohns symptoms back again?
If anyone has any advice I would be most grateful.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I don't think anyone can truly answer that question because it depends on your disease in the future which nobody can foretell.

Where was your disease before surgery? Did you have strictures, obstruction, absecess, fistula? My educated guess is that if you had disease in the colon or small intestine and with resection and medication you heal you have your best bet for a successful reversal. If you have active perianal disease any absecesses or fistula this will be more challenging IMO.

 

[QueenFox]

Noguts is definitely right that it really is hard to tell if a reversal will be successful for someone. Definitely look back at your history and see if any those problems may arise again.

I had my reversal back in 2005 at the age of 16 all with the aim of returning me to being normal teenager. Since then I would say my reversal is 50% good and 50% bad, and I am currently deciding if I should have it disconnected if remicade doesn't work for my 3 fistulas. When I was younger the reversal was the best thing that could of happen it did return me to being a pretty normal teenager, now that I am a bit older and have had a few rough patches with my reversal I don't regret it but I have changed my thoughts on ileostomies - it went from 'no not the dreaded bag' to 'if it gave me a better quality of life I would be happy with it'.

I know it may be hard to think this far in the future and it may never be an issue but if you have a reversal and then decide to go back to an ileostomy it can be difficult. Some of the complications my surgeon has discussed with me if I go ahead with disconnecting the jpouch are short gut syndrome, if the jpouch is completely removed it is a very tricky surgery and needs a highly skilled surgeon due to the blood vessel and bladder, the sewing shut of your backside takes a while to heal. I was never told this when I went in for reversal so learning it recently stunned me a little.

If you have any other questions about the pros/cons of jpouch life I will be happy to help

 

[grt73]

Thank you, it's a lottery and all I want is to stay as pain free as poss!

 

[Samboi]

My reversal in Aug 2013 has been successful.
I'm really happy with it.
My CD is still active - but no return of perianal disease that gave me the stoma.
My bum works beaut!
And I have an awesome scar.

 

[superzeeman]

I had a reversal last may and I was one that was pretty messed up inside with a mass of fistulas all over the place but my bowels were in good shape in general. I too was afraid to do the reversal fearing failure. My surgeon said that I had about a 5% chance of failure so I went ahead with it and have not looked back. My crohns has not come back yet so I am very happy right now.

 

[maria]

It depends. So far for me its been good. I have heard if you constantly get flares and crohns patients rarely are able to get a reversal.