Hi, I have had the reversal, last July, been a challenge to say the least, 

am now using an iry irrigation system, it’s changed my life, use in the morning and have no thoughts of the bathroom all day and night, it’s made by Braun, none invasive, I feel like my old self before all this cancer started 18 months ago, .

Hello Turner, Thanks for the response to post. Good you resolved the Ileostomy reversal problem. Almost at my wits end now with problems after reversal and wish I had never had the operation in the first place at times. Although being informed I would not see next Christmas last year, makes you focus. I do not want to appear ungrateful for what has been achieved and I`m sure many that are suffering wish they had had the chance of stopping the Cancer or the opportunity. I am living on Loperamide and taking anything up to 15 or 18 a day some days. Having to dah to the loo 20 or 30 times in a day. Also confined to the house, for several days at a time. Then have the reverse situation when I am in severe pain, due to constipation and unable to get the balance the right.

Having had severe Diarrhoea, for almost 4 months now. This in turn has caused incontinence at times and requiring disposable underwear, particularly at nights. As well as hemorrhoids and extremely painful also.

I have seen my consultant and was informed this may last for some time, sadly but unavoidable.

Maybe will enquire about the irrigation idea.

Once again, thank you for your response

Regards Virgil

I had all the same problems, it was miserable, one day I started running to the loo at 3 pm. Until 2 am, 

have worn padded pants since the reversal,  I did at one time wish I’d kept the stoma, it was so much simpler,

however since using the Braun iry,  I honestly feel normal, like my old self, I use in the morning, and forget it till next day,  I cannot believe the difference it’s made ,

i hope you find things get easier, good luck. 

I had all the same problems, it was miserable, one day I started running to the loo at 3 pm. Until 2 am, 

have worn padded pants since the reversal,  I did at one time wish I’d kept the stoma, it was so much simpler,

however since using the Braun iry,  I honestly feel normal, like my old self, I use in the morning, and forget it till next day,  I cannot believe the difference it’s made ,

i hope you find things get easier, good luck. 

Hi Turner 

Thanks for  the  reply  . I'm having  not good up most of  the  night and all I went through  has effected my kidneys  . I also picked up  infections  along the  way and ended back in hospital  . They have suguested returning to  the  stoma but I have  come this far I would like  to  try everything before this would happen . Have you ever done pelvic floor exercises  .. I really appreciate all your adviced . 

Regards Cormac 

Hi cormac,,  so sorry your having such a hard time,  

i too had kidney problems was very bad at one point ,  I see specialist every few months now, it’s up to 40% and stable. For now,  looking back I realise how ill I felt up to th e stone reversal, I assumed it was normal,! 

The things that have changed my situation are the iry irrigation system from Braun, I get it on the nhs, 

fibregel every day, ( makes huge difference to the diarrhoea, ) and of course Imodium, 

im sure you know most of this, my reversal was last July, I haveonly  just felt normal, when I look back I realise that it was improving over the months,  but for sure the irrigation has made the biggest difference, 

i was also advised by docs to take multi minerals and vitamins, which helped a lot, 

hope you find this encouraging,, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Best regards.

Hi Turner 

Thanks  and for positive advice .. I picked up CDIF 

I was isolated  in hospital  for a month  bleeding  a lot .

I'm home now and  have  problems with  constatpation 

And hard stools make me bleed . It one way or the other  other . The have  mentioned  returning the  stoma bag  but at present  I'm not strong for another operation  as  what I eat sceem  to run out of me ..

I'm trying  to  staying positive  but it's not easy I miss getting  out my energy  levels  take a knocking on toilet  travels .

Regards Cormac 

I know it’s miserable,  I used to get icy cold after the loo , 

do try fibregel and irrigation, ask your specialist nurse that’s how I got mine, 

i do wish you well.

Hello Turner. I had my reversal in March, so very recent. I seemed to be doing well at first although slightly constipated and found I could quickly get back to walking with only one accident until I started taking Fybogel., I find it results in accidents now that I didn’t have before. You say that you still take Fybogel even with the irrigation system. Were you taking it prior to having the Braun and if so what was your experience? It says on the packet to take morning and evening with food. I have tried that and less and stopping after a few days, but nothing seems to make any difference. I am also wondering why you need to keep taking it and Loperimide with the irrigation system.

Hi,,  it's sometime since I wrote that message,  I don't take fibregel anymore, 

It's  3 years since my operation,  I still use the Braun iry and take 2  Imodium most days,  this is what was advised by my surgeon,  I try managing without both but I do get uncomfortable , and then it takes a few days to get back in my routine, .

the iry has been a blessing to me, gives me comfort and peace of mind, it's not uncomfortable to do at all, 15 minutes in the morning and I am free to go and enjoy my day without any worry.

hope you find this helpful,  good luckc

Thanks Turner. I guess I'm hoping for too much at this early stage. Most posts seem to say that it takes a good while to find 'my normal'. However, most people posting about the irrigation system are so positive about the benefits. What about your diet now? I was eating a high fibre diet with beans, pulses and salads prior to my cancer diagnosis and had given up meat, but are fish regularly. Are you anywhere near where you want to be with your diet? 

Hi,  

im not a big foodie, small appetite , same as before,,,  but now generally I try to avoid pulses as they create uncomfortable and uncontrollable wind! 
I don't get loose bowels now I think because I eat white bread potatoes etc,  I avoid  some fruits, 

I am now eating more salads and some fruits, my doctor advised me to take good sumpliments, ie: 

multi vits, calcium  magnesium,  as my diet is not great.

I dealt with a lot after the reversal for about 10 months before I discovered the iry , it changed my life! 
it's so easy, the only downside is it takes me an extra 15 minutes to get ready in the morning, I think it's worth it,

I had rectal cancer, stage one , I was lucky, no chemo or radiotherapy, 

hope this helps, I found this website a great comfort, realising I was not alone it's like a club, 

good luck, x

Thanks Turner. Yes it means a lot to know that we can all  talk so openly about the problems we are facing. Unfortunately I’ve always been a foodie. I love new and exciting food and used to tend to go for anything I’d never tried before. Food, particularly the healthy variety has always been one of the great pleasures in life for me, so your message is disappointing about the foods I love to eat and I guess it’s time for me to start coming to terms with the potential limitations instead of railing against my lot. Hey ho! I shall gradually and over time keep trying to see what I can get away with so I’m sure there will be some bonuses. Ive heard so many good reports about the irrigation system and the difference it makes to the quality of people’s lives. I shall bring it up with my LARS nurse when we meet later this month. What’s 15 minutes out of the day. Made up by less time on the loo

Hi again, one thing to remember, it affects us all in a different way,  maybe age comes into it, I'm a woman I was 71 yrs when it all started,  74 now and doing well, 

all the bestx