successful ileostomy reversal with rectum removed???

[enterprise837]

I posted this on another thread but it was suggested I try it under this section...ok the lowdown...I'm a 46 year old male/diagnosed stage 3 rectal cancer Sept 2010--6 weeks radiation and 5fu from Oct-Nov2010---surgery 1/17/11 tumor removed/entire rectum removed and given a straight connect/2 of 17 lymph nodes cancerous...8 round of folfox completed about 2 weeks ago...my CEA after chemo ended was a 1...1st catscan after chemo completely negative...have had ileostomy since the surgery...first digital exam after chemo is 7/15(and really nervous about it)...gastrografin(sp?) scheduled 7/25....if all goes well my reversal surgery is tentatively scheduled for 8/8....I am new to this site and have been coming here for positive stories. My concern is incontinence. It seems everything in researching(and loved ones have told me a million times to stop reading the internet stuff) show that if you had your rectum completely removed you are looking at chronic incontinence?!??? For what its worth, my cancer doc is also my cancer surgeon and from what I have discovered they are a top of the line cancer facility and I have utmost faith in my doctor. Are there any positive reversal surgery stories out there where the rectum was removed??? My cancer doc did tell me a few months back that my anal sphincter muscles are intact and I should still have holding power just not as much as before. I can put up with a few weeks or so of diarhea or incontinence but I fear this will be a rest of my life sort of thing.