UOAA Discussion Board

Looking for any and all information about this type of reversal. I'm 25 yrs old and I currently have a ileostomy and will be having a Ileorectal Anastomosis in Feb. '07 (where they will connect the end of my small bowl to my rectum) I had my colon removed in March due to Toxic Mega Colon. My rectum was in good shape. I was 9 weeks pregnant at the time of surgery tho so even if my rectum would have been bad they didn't want to risk losing the fetus. They gave the baby a 10% survival rate even with just removing my colon. Luckily my little girl made it, and I'm currently almost 7 months! I'm having the reversal a few months after my c-sec which is going to be in Oct.!

Does anyone here have this type of reversal? What was the surgery like? What is life like after the surgery? How many times a day do you have to go to the bathroom? Can you eat whatever you want? Any problems with this reversal? I have so many questions....so any and all information you can give would be greatly appreciated!

i had that type of reversal done in '01. i can eat pretty much anything i want, i'm in pain though if i eat mexican, chinese, or italian. i dont really have a prob with incontinence, i do take lomotil every day. i use the restroom usually 5 to 8 times a day, sometimes i'm even able to go 12 hours without using the restroom. the surgery was just like any other abdominal one, 6 to 8 weeks for recovery. the only problems i had were due to scar tissue, if i didn't have so many adhesions i believe i wouldn't have had any problems. hope i answered all your ?'s, if not ask some more

Hello keebz!!
I am so glad to read of another person on this thing, that will be having the exact same surgery as I will be having....I can hardly find anyone that had or will have an ileorectal antamosis operation.
Anyway, my surgery is scheduled on JULY 27th this year. So I am just waiting to see what will happen. But really excited that I won't be needing that bag any longer!!!
I know you have so many questions and so do I!! But I will try to get back at you after my surgery is over and tell you how it went ok....I know it will be of great help to u.
Bye. Take Care. -Jennty