i'm trying to decide on surgery and have been coming to this site for a while now. i've tried to search for these questions but can't come up with anything:
1. what is the difference between a 2 step and 3 step surgery?

2. how long is the typical recovery after the 1st step?

3. does anybody regret having surgery and why?

4. how long are you hospitalized after each step?

thanks for any input!

my long ago surgery was two step (25 years ago)-
1-remove colon and create pouch (in one step)
2-takedown--remove ostomy and connect pouch

1. A 2 step: 1st step = colon removal, j-pouch construction, loop ileostomy creation 2nd step = takedown of the ostomy

A 3 step: 1st step = colon removal and end ileostomy creation, 2nd step = j-pouch creation and loop ileostomy creation, 3rd step = takedown of the ostomy

2. A 1st step recovery will typically be around 4 weeks, give or take 2. Quick healers with desk-type jobs may be able to work after a couple weeks. Heavy lifting jobs will require 6 weeks for sure. It just depends on how things go. And this is true for 2 or 3 step procedures

3. No regrets.

4. Assuming a 3 step procedure: 1st step = 7 days, 2nd step = 5 days, 3rd step = 4 days. Those numbers will vary, obviously. Some people have bowels that are slow to wake up and can find themselves in the hospital with an ileus for longer times than those. A few get out quicker than what I noted

Steve

what is "take down of the ostomy?
thank you for the responses.

"Take down of the ostomy" - in laymen's terms:
it's where the shove your intestine back in so that you are connected to your j-pouch and you poop out of your butt, and not your stomach.

I'm sure someone could have fancy medical lingo for you, but this is essentially it.

Oh yeah, and I have not once regretted having surgery.

I was on the 3 step plan. I was in the hospital for four nights after step one, four nights after step two and only two nights after step 3.

I took 5 weeks off for each surgery, although for the last one, I could have gone back to work after two weeks - it was a breeze.

good luck!

how do they decide if you need a 2 or 3 step procedure?

It's sometimes called "reversal of the ostomy". It means the small intestine is sewn back up where the stoma was (I think this can be accomplished several different ways), and tucked back inside. Then the j-pouch is active.

Anjuli

Oops! Lisa already answered your question about takedown!

2 v. 3 steps is often decided based on your health. For example, if you are on high doses of prednisone, your body's ability to heal will be adversely impacted; thus, in step one, they would take your colon and wean you off of prednisone. By the time step 2 comes around, in theory, you are stronger and healthier giving the j-pouch a better chance to function as designed.

This is just one example, but the net/net is that it's something your surgeon will likely decide based on your overall health.