It was seven years ago when I had my reversal.I am still on 4 loperamides per day. was originally 5 per day.Had the bag for eleven months.

I go to the gym three times per week (normally anyway, not at the moment!). Go for a four mile walk every morning.

Still occasionally get flare ups, say once every six weeks.

After the reversal it was every day. The flare ups are presumably from what I've eaten.I just go for it and if it flares up them it's my own fault !!

I am in Cheshire and am 77.

Thanks for sharing. It s good to know that I am not alone on this journey. Do you find that with the constant use of the loperamide capsules one's tummy/waist size becomes bigger? My tummy/waist size is bigger than it used to be before the operation and immediately after the reversal. Or is it that I am more inactive during the pandemic? I had my reversal in February 2020 just before the lockdown began.

No, I don't remember noticing  any increase in waist size .

Possibly just lack of exercise during this time. !

Thank you.

Hi. I had my reversal 10 weeks ago and was lucky having quite a lot of support prior to and now following the reversal, although I do have days when I need to go to the loo around a dozen times a day. I was told that I needed to do pelvic floor exercises following my operation for rectal cancer last August. It takes around 3 months for the muscles to be effective and it’s something I need to do a few times every day for the rest of my life. I have found that it does help in preventing accidents most of the time. I have been lucky that I don’t use loperamide too much and am still experimenting with that and Fybogel.

Don't worry, it certainly does get better over time.

But it does take time.

I guess I'm impatient sometimes, particularly with not being able to eat the food I love . The irony is that I used to have a lot of fibre in my diet and love beans, pulses and salads. Maybe one day! 

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?