What are the risks of reversal in this case?

[Hayleymariex]

So when Joe had his ileostomy there were a lot of complications. He originally had the inflamed portion of bowel removed, but the bowel didn't reconnect and so he got scepcis, this meant that when he had his ileostomy (10 days later) he was put in an induced coma. This all happened in July/June, and his surgical consultant is meeting with him in January to assess the risks of a reversal, and possibly (probably) book a reversal. The reversal will probably take place in February/March. Joe also has a pig collagen mesh to keep his muscles in place, because when he had his ileostomy he was too swollen (inside) to staple shut immediately, and had to wait 5 days (that was the coma.)

For obvious reasons my anxiety is going wild at the thought of the reversal, and I've not slept properly since they received the news. What are the odds of it going wrong again? Has anyone had an experience like this, and a reversal? Please help, I'd quite like to not be on sedatives at the time of the operation, which is what my GP is suggesting. :frown: I'm actually quite terrified.

 

[2thFairy]

He was already pretty sick when he was operated on the first time in July, correct? If he is deemed ready for reversal, then that would indicate that his intestines are healthy. If they are indeed healthy and the rest of his body is strong, then the complications that he experienced the first time around most likely will not occur this time.

 

[AlexJ]

My experience was not like this, although it may be of some use

I had an ileostomy for 4 months from april to august after a resection, I had my reversal on the 2nd of august and was re-admitted to hospital with a blockage on the 12th of august. It turned out that my crohns had returned all around the area that had been joined, this was the cause of the blockage. I had a pick line and ng tube inserted and was left like this for two weeks (couldn't eat or drink). I had a further resection on the 26th of august, with a new stoma being almost a certainty. I woke up without a stoma, but had terrible trouble getting things going, I had my pick line and ng tube for a further week as my bowels just wouldn't wake up. I was released from hospital on the 14th of september, started uni on the 27th and haven't had a single problem since

Hope this is of some use, although it isn't terribly relevant

 

[robbo87]

I'm waiting for a reversal too and they won't do it because of risks because of other complications I have on going. If they thought there was a risk or that he wasn't ready for the reversal I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be doing it. Hope everything goes ok.

 

[Hayleymariex]

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. The surgeries booked for the 18th of January. There aren't actually any words that can describe how I'm feeling right now, except maybe desperate. I don't know how I'm going to get through that day, I guess I'll just go to college and hope for the best, I don't know.

 

[highlandsrock]

Hi Hayleymariex

I can understand your concerns after the experience in July but a surgeon is not going to risk doing a reversal unless they are satisfied that the patient is completely ready. A few months more of a stoma is preferable to complications after surgery. I had my reversal at St.Thomas' in June 2011. The surgeon postponed initially because my platelets were low but eventually re-booked two months later.

I knew what to expect with the operation as I had suffered terrible nausea after the ileostomy and I was sure it would happen again. It did, but I was prepared so knew how to cope. The thought of being stoma free was the driving thought that kept me going. (If you want the first hand description of the lead up to my reversal and the subsequent op have a look at - http://goo.gl/wLAIG.

Since the operation I've only been taking Loperamide, nothing for Crohn's specifically. I do get an occasional ache in the area of the reversal so I'm off for a colonoscopy on 20th December just to check out the anastomosis. (That's the easy test - it's the non-Crohn's one I'm having next Wednesday that carries greater risks!)

I hope all goes with the surgeon in January and Joe gets his reversal date set

Regards, Nigel