Has anyone had a resection of the bowel done ? Is it worth it or is it better to stick with an ileostomy ?

Has anyone had a resection of the bowel done ? Is it worth it or is it better to stick with an ileostomy ? Are the risks worth having a resection done , i have had an ileostomy for 17 months now but i am on a waiting list for a resection, I wonder if anyone who has had a resection could give some advice on their experience 

thank you 

  • Hello Gordgrc,

    l would say it depends on how you have coped and lived with it .For me l loathed my stoma and for the eighteen months l had to live with it ,the skin around the site refused to heal so l was just sticking it onto a bloody mess, and constantly opening up the skin

    The bowel then went into overdrive after the reversal and it took 5 years for it to approach anything resembling normality. l am now 9 years out and the bowel has now conceded defeat and is behaving itself.Admittedly l am one of those few unfortunate exceptions and lots sail through a lot easier.

    This said l have never regretted my decision for one moment

    Hope your decision works out for you,

    David

  • Hi Gordgrc I had a right sidebbowel resection in 2015. The reason  I had to have the bowel resection was I had a flat sessile polyp,that contained pre cancerous cells, id previously had it cut away in five sections ,after blue dye was inserted ,so they could see to cut it away and not damage the bowel wall.  It grew back ,so the resection was sheduled to be done. I also had a small piece of my intestine taken away and my appendix,as thos is attached to your right side of your bowel.  

    It was scary,I had to drink build up high calorie drinks couple of weeks before the operation. I also had to have a fit to operate test where I had to go in an excersise bike with a clip placed on my nose. I passed it ,so had the operation in 2015. It wasn't the easiest time,ibwas oetrifies id end up with a colostomy bag.  But glad to say I didn't. I went into illiestmy * kept being constantly sick,so had to have a tune inserted  through my nose and down my throat and unto my stomach.  My throat after days of having this inserted ,felt like it was cut,the tube was so uncomfortable.  It had a kinda  clear bag on it,that kept filling up with liguid( sick and stomach bile). It wasn't the best of times,had csndukars out in so I could get some glucose ,fir energy. I waa nil by mouth  for quite a while, then I realised that's why I has to drink the high calorie shake drinks before the operation.  It was tough,but eventualy I stopped being and feeling sick,tube came out, and u started to take broth tyoe clear  fluids ,then cup id tea with milk, then soups, then eventually food. My bowels started to work,and eventually after physiotherapy, proving I could get up and down stairs, I was allowed home. I used to walk around my garden ,very slowly,then down my drive,then a little bit further each day. Would I do ut agsin 100% yes,I definitely would. It probably  saved my life. Cancer has tried to get me,I went onto be diognosed with breast cancer on my right breast,in 2020. I had lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, im five years on from that.  Then 3 years ago I waa duognosed with vin 3 ...ore cancerous cells of the vulva,I hadb3 monthly checks, then 6mthly checks ,and biw u have yearly checks, As  was told it can return ,hope it diesnt so far so good. But yes id definitely have a resection again,what ever you decide will hopefully be right for you . Good luck on whatever you decide to fo,but think carefully on what impact it will have on the rest of yoir life,if its going to.improve it,then its definitely worth going through it for sure. X

  • Hello Gordgrc  I had a bowel resection in April this year  because of cancer  my tumour was taken out through key hole surgery  part of my bowel taken away and rejoined my colon  my bowel as recovered really well after resection  so for me it was the best thing for me  I know it’s different circumstances  between yours and mine reasons for having it done  hope you make the best decision for yourself and take care x

  • Hello   I see your message was.6m ago si maybe you've taken a decision?

    I know some other posters here. As they know, I had my ileostomy reversal almost 3 weeks ago. For me it's a huge relief to have it done. I always felt a real discordance with the idea of a stoma and having one got me down, exacerbated by chemo and some personal challenges.

    So im happy I had it reversed recently. The surgery was fine and I was up and about quickly. Much easier than the earlier major surgery to remove the tumour and do the ileostomy.

    19days in my challenge is bowel movements. I was warned by the medics it would be an adjustment and some days would involve a lot of toilet visits, which is a bit demoralising, restricting and tiring. But my approach throughout has been to try to carry on as normal as much as I can. Im told the bowel movements should settle down to something more regular over time. I'm hoping that'll be weeks rather than months or years.

    So it's frustrating and it can me.very down at times, but I am glad I had the reversal and incredibly grateful for all the treatment I've had.

    Best of luck with whatever decision you take.