UOAA Discussion Board

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and from the UK. I had Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in 2015 and underwent a Anterior resection with a view to a Temp Ileostomy, the Op went wrong due to a leak and I had to have further surgery and more colon taken out, the surgeon stated that I would need a permanent colostomy so in the future would close off the Ileostomy and form the colostomy. I wasn't at all happy with my surgeon so I changed to a different Hospital where the surgeon stated he can try and re-join my colon to the Rectal stump or failing that may perform a Ileoanal pouch to avoid a permanent colostomy, I'm all over the place as to which direction to take, id love to be bag free but at the same time don't really wish to have major surgery that may not work and risk all the nerve damage etc that goes with it, therefore my question is as Ive had about 2 Feet of Colon removed( I still have some descending Colon) does anyone think I may be able to Irrigate should I go down the Colostomy route ??

highpants

HP
Hate to hear about your struggles. If it were me, and there was any chance I could get hooked back up and avoid an ostomy, I would. For me, it would be worth the try. Then, if it didn't work, go to a permanent colostomy.
As far as colon length, yes the more the better, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it wouldn't be productive for you. It would simply have to be one of those "try it and see" situations. This is one of those situations where the answers are likely to be as individual as all of us are.

Hope things line out the way you want them to.

David