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Ostomy take-down post-op

Thu, April 23, 2015 12:54 AM

I have struggled for years with UC and just completed a series of 3 surgeries over 8 months- 1) total colectomy, 2) j-pouch construction, and finally 3) my ostomy take-down which was done last week. I'm really hoping for some replies on how people have done following the ostomy take-down. I was feeling so great after my colon was removed; I was even dealing well with having an ostomy, but now I'm back to bowel movements every 1-2 hours and feeling the CONSTANT discomfort of the urge to go. The doctors keep saying this takes time to settle down and over time it will normalize, but I could really use some real life stories of this happening. Feeling very discouraged right now because I feel that I'm back where I was before all these surgeries. In some ways I'm lucky because I have not had any accidents or seepage, and I know it's only been a week and I need to give it more time, but I could just really use some reassurance from someone who has been through this. Please help :(

juliekins824
Joined Feb 6, 2009

Wed, April 29, 2015 2:56 PM

Reply posted for juliekins824.

Your doctors are right. It can take a while. After my total collectomy it took me 5 to 6 years to normalize. I have extremely aggressive crohns and ulcerative colitis. After those 5 years i was amazing for almost 10 years. Caught up with me again though, but im surviving. The struggle is real.

scotlemay
Joined Apr 29, 2015

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