Post Reversal Complications

Dad was the happiest man on earth, when he got the stoma closed and was permitted to use the normal anal passage for motion. Little did we all anticipate the hiccups he had to face. 

For all normal people, the sphincter muscles in the intestines, help in contraction and expansion and pushing the digested food out through the anus. For dad, the muscles never returned to being what they were before, as a result, whenever he would lie down, he would pass motion, most of the times, unknown to himself. As long as he was sitting or walking around, he would be fine.

This resulted in lack of sleep through the night, plenty of embarrassment for himself, though all of us at home were supportive of his condition. He was always assured that with time, it would get better, but it did not. The repeated lack of sleep through the night continued for well past a year post reversal and it took a toll on him. 

Pointers for family/caregivers

1. It is always better to avoid going in for reversal of the colostomy. Some of the side effects of reversal can be paralytic ileus or a bowel obstruction among others.

2. In most cases, assurance has to be obtained that the sphincter muscles post surgery, are restored back to normal, before considering/desiring reversal.

3. Its best to encourage the patient to live with the stoma, which would atleast ensure that unwanted complications as indicated above are avoided.