UOAA Discussion Board

Hello everyone. I’m sort of in a bind. I am 32 years old and I got my permanent ileostomy on March 23, 2020. And now my proctectomy surgery is scheduled for Nov. 9th, 2020.
Now I’m a little nervous as I can’t stay off google and YouTube and I keep watching all of this horror “Barbie butt,” surgeries. However my surgeon will be doing my surgery robotically and said I will have two inches of a pocket left open. So apparently he will not be, for lack of a better phrase, fusing my checks together.
It is important to add I also had my ileostomy surgery done robotically as well which meant no large scars, just small incisions (in quantity and size) and my stoma came out very nicely.
With that being said:
Has anyone had this type of surgery, rectum removal, in this way?
Robotically or without having their cheeks fused together?
I can’t find anyone on my 11Health app that can help and my local UOAA has been to no avail as well. I would greatly appreciate anyone with their feed back if they have had this done robotically or at least without their checks fused together.
Eagerly awaiting and the very appreciative,
Jacqueline

Hi Jacqueline,

Hmmm, as no one has replied, I'll try to help, although I didn't have the robotic surgery you mention. Wish I had! It sounds far less intrusive than the open surgery I had in 2018 which was quite major. I had read posts by folks who had their rectum and anus removed and heard about a Barbie butt. Actually, the "posterior cheeks" are not fused together. There are sutures to close off the area below the rectum and anus. The skin there is tender and I'd never do a split even if I could but the cheeks look and feel like anyone else's who didn't have the surgery. I'm unsure why your surgeon is leaving 2 inches of a pocket left open and suggest you ask. The area below my anus is closed off to prevent any leakage and 2 inches doesn't seem that much but I'd think he'd be closing off the "rectal stump" after removing the rectum and anus -- but perhaps not. Your surgeon must have a reason for doing the surgery this way.

If you're still reading, DO ask your surgeon about every question you have. You need to have trust in your doctor. My surgery which was open because of prior surgeries, was successful although I did have to see a wound care nurse afterwards for about 3 months because a tiny wound developed where the sutures were. Finally, it healed and I'm glad I had the surgery to solve problems with diversion colitis.

I wish you luck and hope you report back.

Hi Jacqueline i had my surgery a long time ago and all at the same time a full open deal and my surgeon left an inch open both front and back for drainage, i had staples in the front and dissolving stitches in the backside. what ever you do dont sit on a donut pillow after surgery sit on a regular pillow as it doesnt spread the cheeks and is more comfy. good luck

Jacqueline,

This was the kind of pillow recommended to me. I didn't use it too much -- but it was helpful right after surgery. A space is cut out for the coccyx area which is healing. Prices differ -- I may have bought it from the manufacturer. https://www.staples.com/comfilife-coccy ... ZcQAvD_BwE

Sorry -- rushed -- I should have put in the short cut for writing out URLs!

Good luck!