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Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2020-01-27 21:40:00
by sunshinecst
Hi Steve, I’m replying to your post, currently have the same symptoms and stabbing pains after my colonoscopy reversal surgery 12/12/19, had liquids drained 3 times under incision as I was cut open and liquids pressed against my lungs.
Was saved by my surgeon 3 X. I hope the stabbing pains med section of my stomach above the stoma reversal on the right side goes away soon. I take hydrocod only when I have pains, mostly so that I can get some sleep at nights. I am up most of the night as my mid section hurts, anything I swallow foods and medicTion I feel in my mid section and pains.im on plant based diet, mostly soft foods and cooked veggies and fruit. I was told it may be the healing process.
It all started in sept last year I went in for my 1st colonoscopy at age 56, never had one. Had no symptoms. I ended up in emergency operation diverticulitis and infection all over, fistulas to bladder and vagina and my life was saved. Colon cut in left side, lost 90 ibs and 12/12 had colonoscopy reversal surgery, ended up in ICU, drainage of liquid infection buildup and waking up after 5 days due to overdose of anesthesia. 2 weeks ago January 2020 liquid drainage again, successful. Hope all goes well going forward, only have pains midsection of stomach In crease area and either stabbing pains or spasm like feeling in location of reversal surgery area. Is that normal? I was told it may be part of healing process.

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2020-02-15 13:35:25
by JTman
I am 3 days from colostomy reversal. Just got home. My main concern is I am eating but very low stool output. I believe the tramodyl or anesthia have caused the intestines to slow down. I am going to try dulcolax or some other laxitive. This was not occurring with the stoma. Anyone else experience this?

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2020-03-04 16:39:23
by Cherbear
Hi everyone- 41 female here, I also had my reversal on 2/17/20 and everything went well but the pain is still rough. Oh, and it was the open Hartmann reversal. I’m only taking Tylenol and using a heating pad now, but the pain I feel is in my lower stomach area and it hurts when I walk ( stabbing pain) and also hurts in the rectum ( like up inside, maybe where it was rehooked) whenever I have a bowel movement or gas. It feels like a lot of pressure. It seems pretty common that others are feeling similar pain, so maybe we just need to go through the healing process and it will take time. But this recovery is more sore than the first surgery. I, too, am looking for suggestions on how to alleviate some of the pain. Should I walk more? Speedy recovery to all!

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2020-03-10 00:33:00
by Gayleen
Hi
I've just come out of hospital after having iliostomy reversal,I had a pouch done in September 2019,I have these most awful cramps were the iliostomy was my surgeon says this is normal but will disappear after a while can anyone tell me how long after a while is.Im from NZ
Thanks

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2020-10-11 17:42:59
by Glenda
I'm glad to find this forum. I am 5 weeks post reversal and experiencing new stabbing pain around the area of Miss Lily Ostomy 's scar. I did not expect the pain to get new and worse :( I have no other symptoms and am having 6 -8 stools a day...usually formed. I've tried ice and get some relief. I cannot tolerate NSAIDS so take Curamin for pain and occasional tylenol. They are not relieving the pain anymore and I am discouraged. My PCP told me it can take up to a year for this "nerve pain" to go away. I already deal with degenerative arthritis pain in most joints and fibromyalgia ...I am 72 y/o and live alone. My depression is deepening...but reading others have the same pain has encouraged me. I will pray for all of you and ask for your prayers too!

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-02-21 22:56:09
by Tabtasha528
I know this is an old thread but wanted to post. I am 5 months post reversal.
I had healed and was having no pain around a month out when I sat down and felt like something tore under my incision...it hurt but not bad enough for pain meds. Over the next weeks it felt tender as i moved around and had stinging pain that only lasted for a few seconds at a time. I was worried about it being a hernia. It eventually tapered off and now only occasionally stings. I eventually figured it was scar tissue, but don't really know. My colonoscopy showed no issues and I have a CAT scan in March.
If anyone gets an answer for what it is could you please post. I will do the same.

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-02-22 17:16:05
by To Dream a Dream
Welcome to our discussion board. Hopefully, someone here with experience in post-reversal symptoms can give you a definite answer. Your upcoming CAT scan is a wise decision and may afford you the opportunity to discuss the pain with medical personnel. Please don't hesitate to inform your physicians of any concerns you may have before then. Thanks again for joining us.

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-06-04 06:02:41
by Bevy61
Hi everyone. I really thought I was the only person to be having excruciating pain after my reversal. I had my reversal early April, everything was pretty normal, I had the diahrea, the constipation, discomfort, I got to the point where I wasn't taking any pain relief, then suddenly the pain started, a stabbing pain in my right side lower stomach, I have been seen by my surgeon who organised a scan but said he can't see anything to cause the pain, it's now 7 weeks on and I'm still in so much pain every time I move, I don't like to take morphine as it makes me feel so drowsy. I haven't been back to work and don't feel well enough to go back just yet but I am afraid of losing my job. I just hope this pain will eventually go away so I can get on with my life.

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-06-04 09:06:31
by ot dave
Reading through these posts, it sounds like a lot of you are experiencing some scar formation issues. Some will scar more aggressively than others. When scar tissue is torn from areas that it's not supposed to be attached to, it can feel like tissue tearing...essentially, it is... Also, scars can involve nerve damage from the surgery or nerves that develop after the wound is healed. Unfortunately, there's not really a specific time table as to when the scars will mature and stop growing for every individual.
If scars are close to the surface, some therapeutic massage therapy is helpful in mobilizing scars. For internal scar issues, simple physical activity is beneficial in decreasing adhesion formation. Obviously consult your physician before engaging in exercise to ensure that you have healed well enough to begin an exercise program.
Hope that helps some.

David

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-06-04 23:00:50
by Tabtasha528
I'm now 9 months post take down surgery and the stabbing pains still occur...as time goes on they are less frequent, but very sharp at times. I don't think it is diet or activity related. I do believe it is scar tissue and the nerves coming back to life, as others posted.

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-06-09 16:21:32
by Velcro123
I had my reversal 5 months ago. I have started having pretty intense internal pain at the incision site after I eat. There is no swelling or lump so I don’t think it’s a hernia. I have an appointment with my surgeon next week to check. Had anyone else had this happen? It is a relatively new issue.

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2021-11-16 11:37:11
by Rvan57
Sounds exactly like what I’m going through after my ostomy reversal surgery
I hope anyone going through similar discomfort and pain gets through it as it can be quite debilitating and misery is not fun

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2022-01-01 11:23:11
by Pamela336
It's nice to see that people are still responding to this thread for people like me. I am normally not a forum member or poster, but I was searching for answers and ran across this thread. I just turned 68 yesterday. Yep, New Years Eve baby. Had a loop Ileostomy June 19 of 2021. Just a few days ago, December 30, 2021 I had my reversal surgery. I can't tell you how thankful I was and how much I was looking forward to this surgery. Spent an overnight in the hospital and came home yesterday (31st) in the afternoon. No pain medication was prescribed, other than take 1000 mg of Tylenol every 6 hours. Excruciating pain hit me last night around 7pm and I headed to bed with Tylenol and an ice pack. As long as I am laying down, or somewhat elevated (but not much), everything is tolerable. The minute I stand to go use the bathroom or any other short distance maneuver, the pain near my stoma is unbearable. I had a bowel movement yesterday around 1:45 p.m. None since, but I can hear rumbling in my abdomen so that is a good sign. Careful and eating soft foods. Got up this morning and tears came to my eyes, the pain is nothing like my actual June surgery. I know it will get better. Just wanted to know if anyone else out there is experiencing such incisional pain shortly after their reversal. I am usually a high tolerant person when it comes to pain, but this is different. Any input of support would be great. Today is News Year Day so I will wait to talk to my doc tomorrow, though I am scheduled to see him this Friday anyway. Am I just being a whiner?? :D

Re: Severe pain and discomfort after reversal!

Posted: 2022-01-10 01:45:24
by GeorgeB
Hello All, I am male, 74. I joined this group to talk about my reversal of Nov. 23, 2021. There are two ways to perform a reversal - laparoscopic and incisional. I had the laparoscopic which is done through the ostomy opening and one or two small openings. This results in less pain than if large incisions through muscle tissue need to be made. My Dr. told me about both ways and said he would not know which to use until the actual operation started. I had two days hospital recovery and the pain meds worked well. When I got home, I had no pain until I tried to move - you have no idea how many movements involve your core. Sitting and watching TV was pain free. I had to sleep sitting in a chair - I tried to lie down once and felt like I was ripping my guts out. I moved slowly and walked bent over which lessened any pain. I did not need any pain meds at home. I see that some people report their ostomy opening was closed after reversal, mine was not. I had wound care Nurses to come and clean and repack my opening daily until my 10-day Dr. appointment. At my appt. the Dr. said no more packing or Nurses were needed. Just change an exterior dressing every other day. I was told I could eat anything but I chose to eat soft foods just to be on the safe side. I did have a horrible taste in my mouth which no amount of teeth cleaning or mouthwash could help and also, horrible smelling urine. I thought this would get better in time until I ate a large bowl of ice cream about a month post-op. I had the worst gas pains and I am not lactose-intolerant. Suddenly a lightbulb turned on. My Microbiome (gut bacteria) was totally depleted. I had a colon cleanse so the Dr. could see if I was healed enough for a reversal, then 3 wks. later, another cleanse to prepare for the operation. I took 6 Probiotic pills a day and after 2 days the foul taste in my mouth was gone and the urine smell no longer caused me to gag. I have since eaten ice cream as well as cheese with no problems. I have had a 20-day Dr. appt. (before the ice cream) and I have been given a full discharge. I was told not to lift more than ten pounds and be careful of hernia. I purchased a hernia support belt from Amazon and it helps a lot. I'm walking straighter and getting back on my treadmill for 10 minute slow walks once a day.