Reggie's Reversal

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GrantC

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Sep 29, 2012
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So tomorrow I am on my way to leave the cool club with the reversal of Reggie.
I would like to thank Reggie for his cooperation and assistance over the past 4 months and will miss him marginally in the future during a long and a prosperous remission (hoping/dreaming).

Sounds relatively straightforward hopefully through the stoma although will wait and see. Will post pictures and stories/updates as an when.
 
Good luck! I had my reversal last may and I never looked back. It was a little painful but worth it Was off work for 3 weeks and back to the grind like nothing ever happened.
 
Well, so long Reggie... you did a good job while you were here. And Grant, you will always be part of the cool club. :)
 
Good luck!!! And may I add I wish you NO running to loo's in the near future! (only thing I enjoy about Stan that)
 
Quick update. All gone well and pain manageable. Managed to eat some soup but taking my time on this following issues I had las time.
I have a small drain in the wound for blood although this is likely to be removed today. The reversal was done through the stoma so didn't have to be split again which is great.

As ever the nurse team here has been excellent.
 
Wow! That's excellent news! Definitely take it easy. Is Reggie talking to you from the other side or has he even figured out what is going on yet? hahaha!
 
Close to a loo. Very lucky in that. Spike to Aston about going well. Small mishap as I am now allergic to my dressings (namely minix (sic)). Feels like tiny oil burns. Anyway nothing to worry about. Minor compared to the 6 inch long stitched up closure😉
 
Drain taken out this evening and allergy 'burns' covered.
Farted for the first time so waiting for the big moment. Will add pictures of the wound a big later.
 
So thought I would attach an image of the closure.... not the for the faint hearted but not many of those around here. Still no BM, but heres hoping.

This is with the drain still to be removed which was a weird feeling...

Probably going to get discharged tomorrow, but hopefully will have had a BM by then.
 

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Ouch!
Glad everything is moving along (except those pesky bowels). hopefully they'll wake up very soon. Will it delay you going home if not?
 
The bowels have woken so on my way home. It didn't look like it was going to matter to the docs anyway as had my name on the out board anyway. So far so good.
 
Glad you are home now Grant. I'm hoping your recovery goes very smoothly. Thank you for posting pictures. Wow, they just opened you from the stoma site alright, that must hurt!
 
Hip. Slightly widened the stoma vertically to make some space, did the join and closed me up. Better than through the original cut although going to be interesting scars.
 
Looks like you're just a week behind me :) good luck with recovery! They went in through my old scar. I do have pics if you'd like to see. My op was Jan 28.
 
Glad everyone seems to be doing well :) Hope you both continue with an uneventful recovery!
 
307922_4994457896792_334940176_n.jpg


Here's what it looks like after most of the steri-strips have fallen off. Taken today. Bottom little scar was my stoma, top little scar was my mucus fistula.



My recovery is going way quicker than my recovery from my stoma placement surgery. I'm kinda glad too cause I'm ready to be done with all of this. Still sore and still trying to get stamina back. My poos have thickened a little... its no longer watery, more like piles. Hopefully I can get solid ones back!
 
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Its good to hear you are both recovering well, does this mean we will miss you in the stoma sub forum? :( Hopefully you will continue to visit us. :)
 
Wow quite a difference in size. Amazing how different everyone is treated and how varied the surgery is conducted.
Similar to you at the moment Katiesue. BM's are not frequent but not firm. Still early days though so will need to see how that goes.
 
Very true. Some folks go home with the stoma incision open but packed with gauze so that it can heal from the inside out.
 
Last reversal I had to be packed every day for 8 weeks, but i'm a slow healer due to pred.
The wound from my last op (Nov 23) is still healing and being packed every 2 days. Doesn't cause any problems other than being home for the nurse, but I don't go out too often so its no problem.
 
Thanks for sharing your reversal stories.
I'm still hopeful I'll be able to join the reversal club.
Eventually ......
 
Thanks Samboi, it is a changing experience. So far things are going well. BM's still a bit erratic although quite solid which I wasn't expecting.
(Ahh the stoma forum. Where BM's are spoken about with ease... ).

Here is a picture one week on. The small scabs and long lines are the result of the allergy to the initial bandaging. I was also zapped by the laser scalpel. Still quite swollen and tender. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1360844243.867963.jpg
 
Poor belly! Battle scars, wear them proudly!

It does look like it is healing. Solid poo's!!! Ahhhhh bliss!
 
Wow that looks so sore - I know we've all had it done but it somehow looks worse on someone else. Heres to speedy healing and well behaved bowels for you Grant,
:heart: anna
 
So quick update with the recovery.

Insides are working ok although had a rough night in Saturday with quite a loose stomach. I was a bit constipated leading up to that so something bug was expected. Anyway had first 'normal' BM today which was a good experience.

Also I went to get my stitches taken out today and the nurse said everything is looking good. She had to dig the stitches out which was a touch uncomfortable but manageable.

And then the below happened..... Look away if sensitive).

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361294750.396458.jpg

Split like a gutted fish. So off to the nurses to get it packed and dressed.

Essentially after speaking with my consultant he said that a combination of stitching a circle into a line, possible small infection and weakened skin because of fecal matter in contact with that part of the skin made it weaker. (True, not true- discuss?).

So smooth sailing has hit a bump. Will let everyone know how things go.
 
Yikes! It looks clear though Grant so hopefully it will heal ok. Glad your insides are working well xxx
 
Grant, that must have scared the life out of you to see that happen!!! :ywow:

However, I've actually heard of people who have had their wounds opened intentionally in order for them to heal from the inside out. Can they use seaweed dressing on you in order to help?
 
I don't doubt that the fecal matter/sensitive skin thing is true because out of all three of my wounds, the stoma site is the one taking the longest to heal.

The other two are completely closed and turning purpley as scars do whereas my stoma scar is still a bit pinky/red and still scabbed.

I imagine they'll let you heal from the inside out from here. Thats how my first surgery was treated since they skimped on my staples and I pulled apart at the bottom.

I hope it stays uninfected from here on out!
 
Hi guys. So have been packed with an aqua type gauze. ( sorry forget name) And have to eat it changed every couple of days. Not the greatest but hey will he through this.

Terrinut not heard of sea weed? Is that packed under the dressing? What kind of sea weed is used?
 
That would certainly freak me out while it was happening, but it does look healthy. Glad you got it packed and cared for.

Does it hurt now?
 
No real pain just a light tingle of a wound and dressing familiarising themselves with each other.

Katiesue hope all is going well on your side?
 
Grant, it is an antibacterial dressing. I've heard others speak of it here on CF. It must be frustrating to have this happen to you, but I think it will be ok. I sure hope so!
 
Terriernut said:
Grant, that must have scared the life out of you to see that happen!!! :ywow:

However, I've actually heard of people who have had their wounds opened intentionally in order for them to heal from the inside out. Can they use seaweed dressing on you in order to help?
Click to expand...
My underneath wound opened up and they left it that way to heal from inside out. The seaweed dressings are great; I had absolutely no infection. The actual dressing is made from seaweed - they are actually called alginate dressings. Mine was Kaltostat.
 
Oh Grant, what a nuisance. Sorry to hear about it but better to have it open though than to have a nasty infection brewing underneath. Aquacel (sp?) is used to pack wounds and soak up excess moisture to help with healing, that could be what they are using. My wounds have this packed in them since the vac was removed. My bottom wound which had healed has formed an enormous blister that is seeping liquid so I'm off to the doctor this afternoon to see why its happening. So I understand how frustrated you must be to think youre all healed only to have it open up again.
Have you been on prednisone? That can interfere with healing. I'd imagine too that everything the skin around a stoma puts up with would weaken the skin.
All the best.
:heart: anna
 
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the advice. Will look into the alienate dressings. Anna thats what they are using. Sorry to hear about your ongoing issues. I hope all gets sorted out soon.

I am lucky in a way that I was diagnosed very late and surgery was the first option. I have not been on any Crohns mess so should hopefully get healed quicker. Just an annoyance having it getting it packed and dressed.
 
Doing ok. Taking it easy and keeping the wound stable. First nurse visit in the morning so hopefully all good then.
 
Yes, doing well... I've just seen the surgeon yesterday and she said I looked great.

I did have some little pimple-like things show up around my stoma closure but I drained them and the surgeon said that it didn't look bad and was probably a part of the normal inflammatory process.

I think my body is pushing out the inner sutures at the stoma closure too... I wonder if this is okay. LOL.

At any rate its closed and scabbed still. I guess we'll see.

I hope yours closes up soon!
 
I'm 3 weeks past my reversal and just about getting back to normal with a little help from loperamide. Going to try going out for the first time this weekend, found that not drinking with meals is helping and avoiding hot drinks in the morning AND I'm finally putting weight back on.

Looking for success stories online for reversals is almost like looking for a needle in a haystack.
 
It may be like looking for a needle in a haystack for success stories, but no doubt there are some! May your reversal be a success story!
 
Good to hear Katiesue. Confused bird I am keeping the faith so will update as things go. Have a holiday planned to South Africa in a couple of weeks so don't want that to be ruined.

Small stumbling blocks to get through.
 
So quick update from a visit to my consultant today.
He is happy with the progress of my surgery and has advised that BMs will settle down in about 2 to 3 months which is manageable and understandable.

Another challenge following my update with the consultant is that I might have a skin condition called http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyoderma_gangrenosum wiki link attached. Essentially described as skin crohns? Not heard of it but hey ho not hocked but much these days. Off to have the GI to have a look at this. The challenge with this is that the wound will take longer to heal. (The word months was mentioned 😳).

Anyway now have to have it dressed daily which is a bummer. Nurse who did the dressing today said it looked good.
Terrinut the dressing used has some of the alienate properties you mentioned so all good their.
Pictures of wound below. Again sorry if squeamish.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361797801.882600.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361797815.834609.jpg

Hope everyone else is doing ok!
 
Ouch comes to mind! I'm sorry you are having these complications Grant. You're in good company though, as we crohnies tend to be the ones that get them.

But, you are going to get through all this, AND you are going to enjoy your holiday!
:ghug:
 
Grant / KatieSue

Thanks for sharing. I was meant to have my reversal in the next week or so however my reversal was done in 2 parts and i had complications after the first part in Dec 2012 so my 2nd part is booked in for 29 May.

how much of your large or small bowel did you have removed? I will be interested to hear of your progress in the coming months and know what to expect perhaps for my recovery. i only have 20cm of large bowel left.

Cheers
 
4 weeks on from my reversal and I am back at work full time, no loperamide, started eating vegetables and had a salad yesterday. 1 toilet trip a day seems like a dream come true! I'm having soluble fiber with my breakfast but that is it, my only complaint has been a bit if bloating but that may of been telling me to stop the loperamide. I never thought I'd see this day! I'm starting azathioprine in April, hopefully all goes smoothly :) I found my success story, I hope you all find yours! :ybiggrin:
 
@ annawato - i had my rectum joined to small bowel and a loop ilestomy formed, 3 days after surgery my Vitamin K depleted, blood thinned out and i had an INR of 12, bled 4 litres @internally, rushed into surgery, had to be opened and packed to stop the bleeding, stayed in ICU, didnt get stitched up for 30 hours. thankfully docs got onto it quite quickly but it was very unexpected. made recovery a lot harded. lost 13kg in 2 weeks. liver had gotten really bad with a billurubin of 170, normal is 20, was very jaundiced (i have PSC - a liver condition) so this was also very worrying because talk of transplantation. luck for me i have recovered well and feeling better, hence why i have delayed the final reversal surgery to gain some weight and let the liver improve
 
Wow that must have been very frightening for you. I'm glad that you have now recovered, and all the best for your reversal in May.
 
Hi Kela80. Sounds like you have had a tough run. Welcome to the forums and if we can help with anything please let us know.

I had about 15 inches of both small and large intestine removed. The reversal went well save for the latest dramas mentioned above.

As an update on the suspected PG I have been referred to a dermatologist to confirm whether this is PG or not.

My GI has me on a wait and see plan with regards to my return of crohns which will be checked every six months via a scope. So no mess yet and he I admin the dermatologist to try and not go the pred or heavy steroid route.

Anyway as it goes the wound looks on to me. As a question to others who have gone this route to get it healed what did it look like for you 3 weeks post op? ImImageUploadedByTapatalk1362173650.262269.jpgage included.

Still trying to figure out what treatment is needed so need to wait and see until Monday.

Diet is pretty much normal at the moment, trying to stay off the rich food. BMs are pretty much normal although I have been warned this could change at any time. Going about once or twice a day.

Wishing everyone a good weekend!
 
Ha after I wrote that I read it and thought it sounded that way! Just reading about the colonoscopy every 6 months, I really hope I don't have to have that, my first colonoscopy had to be stopped because I was in so much pain, 3 days later I was in the most pain I have ever felt and had suspected peritonitis, which is how I ended up with my ileostomy. I really don't want to go near a colonoscopy ever again lol, MRI wasn't the most pleasant thing but I'd rather feel sick than in pain :(
 
Grant thats exactly what my lower wound looked like except mine was about two inches deep - my tummy is a lot fatter than yours. :).
I'm over 3 months since surgery and still having my wounds packed every one - two days. The community nurses mentioned PG to me too but I think its just all the pred that I've been on that has slowed the healing.
Is it cos of the wound they are mentioning PG?
Oh yes my GP put me on a zinc and vit C supplement last week which is supposed to help with wound healing. Worth trying anyway. If only she had mentioned it a couple of months ago!
 
Toothy I laughed my head off about the foot removed from the intestines too.
was still chuckling when I though about it later in the day.
I know small things amuse small minds. :)
 
Thanks Ana. Yes taking vitamin supplements- D, B12 And C. Not zinc but don't see the harm so will add that in.

Will update tomorrow post the dermatologist visit. At dressing change yesterday it looked better to me- not as much purple around he edges and no here near as much discharge.

Fingers crossed then.
 
So it's been a while since I last posted here. Which in a way I have realised is a good thing as not much has been happening, but bad evade not been keeping in contact with my fellow Crohnies.

So last post was when my surgeon and consultant thought I had PG in my burst wound. They referred to me to a dermatologist who did not agree but thought it was healing by secondary intention and the lumpy tissue was a granulation (good) and the yellow stuff (doctor speak: exudite. Normal speak: pus) was my body forcing out the bad stuff.

So she recommend I do nothing. Keep it dressed And clean etc.

So went to sunny SA for a holiday and with the power of vitamin d have healed quite quickly. From this ImageUploadedByTapatalk1364816743.493877.jpg

To this in 3 weeks.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1364816774.854704.jpg

Other docs are all happy at the moment. So can't complain.

Internally all is ok. BM's quite normal unless having to much alcohol etc.

So getting their and feeling good.

Note on my main scar. Dermatologist says it is not keloid but hypertrophic which is more manageable with silicone based creams.
Reference nutrient deficiencies my consultant is doing full blood works so will let you know but think vitamin D is a winner.

Hope everyone is good and had a good Easter break.
 
Thanks Grant.
Seeing your progress makes me feel excited about getting my reversal in a few months.
Also makes me feel reassured it will all go well.
 
Here's what my scars look like after 3months the reversal and 6month after the hemicolectomy.
I've had a good recovery, there's a little bit of pulling and soreness but I really can't complain. I have been to see GP then dermatologist to see what can be done to reduce the scars here's what they suggested at each appointment

1) Bio Oil/ Vitamin E cream (yeah right)
2) Silicone (prescribed the sheets and gel: http://www.dermatix.co.uk/introducing-dermatix/default.aspx)
3) Got referred to another GP office that had some speciality in dermatology
4) When I told them it was either Keloid or Hypertrophic scarring they then referred my to St Thomas' Dermatology dept
5) St Thomas' prescribed Haelan tape (to help with the discolouring) and Dermovate (to use the steroids to thin the thicken scar)
6) 3months later no real improvement with the tape and ointment, had steroid injections into the scars to flatten them, should have another 2 rounds over the next 4months.

My next line of enquiry is to try and get a referral to the following plastic surgery clinic (they offer other non-surgical options):
http://www.keloids.co.uk/treating-keloids-clinic.html

Here is some useful info about preventing looking after your scars:
http://www.keloids.co.uk/keloids-care.html

(ps. the other strange patterns on my belly are from my holiday & swimwear)
 

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All I can say is I wish I had a waist like yours! The scars don't matter if you can't get rid of them, they are part of your life journey, but good luck with the plastic surgery anyway. We all like to look our best. :)
:heart: anna
 

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