Post Takedown Questions

Not too sure on the changing the gauze question. My doc just stapled it - apparently staples are easier to remove than stitches in case an infection happens. ANd since that area has been bathed in stool for the last few months, that’s a likehood it may happen.

Did you ask her how long you’d have the gauze or if you think you’ll have to see a wound nurse? My stoma was about an inch- tiny thing- and i have a 3-4 inch scar. It will prob depend on the surgeon and how they intend to close it and stuff. My stoma has started to grow into the skin- apparently it didn’t know it was temporary and wanted to settle in. So maybe that’s why my scar is a little bigger. 

In terms of traveling, it may depend on where you’re traveling to. Backpacking around Europe is prob something you may want to postpone but a cruise is a diff story! I’m two months post op and traveling 6 hours (driving) each way to see Family next weekend. I’m sure I’ll be tired but I’ll just make sure I get plenty of rest. 

Good luck with your surgery! I know I was so excited for mine - mostly to get the show on the road and get back to normal life. 

No quite a flight to Italy but within 3 or 4 days of my takedown and during my journey home, I had to endured a 4 hours train journey, all before I finally arrived home some hours later and I only required the use of the toilet once.

My old Stoma site also healed from the inside out, which appears to be routine, although my surgeon insisted the wound not be packed to prevent infection and only be cleaned, observed and a fresh dressing applied.

My wound required dressing daily for the first week, then every three days, initially by visits from a Nurse, then by the third week I attended a the local clinic and within three to four months (since takedown), my wound had completely healed

I believe by allowing the old Stoma site to heal from the inside out, without staples or stitches, is to prevent scaring and probably to reduce the risk of infection.

My old stoma site is hardly noticeable now unless pointed out.

  Within 6 weeks of takedown, my mobility was back to normal, only isuues was when getting up from sitting down and get in and out of bed.

I had an open incision which was left to heal from the inside out. I was in the hospital for the first several days, so by the time I got home, I wasn't looking at a huge hole in my stomach. It just looked like a long wound. I think I had to change the gauze 3x daily initially. I recall squirting sterile saline on the wound and then covering it with sterile gauze pads. Then a laced-up cloth cover was placed over it. To change the gauze, I just unlaced the cover. I think it was healed within a couple of weeks, but it was tender for a while. I never cleaned the wound at all. It healed by itself without infection, but I think I was on antibiotics. I could handle it myself and didn't have to have a nurse visit. As for traveling in Italy, I probably wouldn't put that pressure on myself. I would  make sure I was well and strong so as to enjoy the trip 100%, but you may be able to handle the rigors of traveling better than I. My info is from 25 years ago, so things might have changed since then. You have my very best wishes for the most successful surgery. Once it's behind you (so to speak!!) you will be thrilled.

my Doctor removed the gauze in the hospital, it was packed in tight.  It leaves a huge hole that looks really odd but mine healed quickly...

i would put a fresh pad over the hole after I showered.....I was amazed at how fast it healed...

i had my take down 3 weeks before spring break...we didn’t plan a spring break because I didn’t know if I would be up for travel, but I could of....went back to work on lifting restrictions 2 weeks after surgery..this surgery has changed my life and the best decision, don’t know why I waited so long to have it.  

Goid luck to  you, I wish you a speedy recovery!!!

JB788 wow! That’s amazing. I hope my surgery goes as well as yours has! How long until you felt like you had your full strength back? 

JMITCH39....Well, I guess my post takedown experience, posted 3 days ago was not so informative.

STRANGE your response was definitely helpful! I truly appreciate everyone taking time out of their day to respond to me! Im still new to this whole process so every bit of information helps. I’m so happy to hear your pouch is doing well and you were able to return to normal so quickly. 😊

Bubba1028 posted:

Not too sure on the changing the gauze question. My doc just stapled it - apparently staples are easier to remove than stitches in case an infection happens. ANd since that area has been bathed in stool for the last few months, that’s a likehood it may happen.

Did you ask her how long you’d have the gauze or if you think you’ll have to see a wound nurse? My stoma was about an inch- tiny thing- and i have a 3-4 inch scar. It will prob depend on the surgeon and how they intend to close it and stuff. My stoma has started to grow into the skin- apparently it didn’t know it was temporary and wanted to settle in. So maybe that’s why my scar is a little bigger. 

In terms of traveling, it may depend on where you’re traveling to. Backpacking around Europe is prob something you may want to postpone but a cruise is a diff story! I’m two months post op and traveling 6 hours (driving) each way to see Family next weekend. I’m sure I’ll be tired but I’ll just make sure I get plenty of rest. 

Good luck with your surgery! I know I was so excited for mine - mostly to get the show on the road and get back to normal life. 

Thank you for your reply! So my surgeon said I will be packing the wound myself. I guess at first it needs to be changed twice a day but as it heals I will have to change it less frequently. He said it takes about 6 weeks to heal.

How did the 6 hr. drive go? How are you feeling two months post op? 

No worries the drive is this weekend, but we might not be able to go bc the northeast is supposed to get a huge storm tomorrow. They already cancelled work. 

This past week my mornings have been going really well. I empty in the am before I leave for work and I don't have to go again until 11 or 12/lunchtime. It's def getting better. 

My fatigue is getting a lot better too. The first month I found I slept almost 12 hours each night, and could still take a nap in the day. I'm finally getting back to 8-9 hours and even that's a lot and I wake up early. Big transition, but def going well!

BUBBA are you sleeping through the night? 

I WISH! Nope. I usually sleep 3 hours at a time. I get up 2-3x per night. No accidents this so that’s good. 

Awe man. I was going to say “wow! I’ve never heard of someone sleeping through the night so soon”. What you’re experiencing seems pretty common from what I’ve been reading. Yay for no accidents!! 

Since my takedown, well since arriving home, I've always slept through and with no accidents.

  Only time I don't sleep through is when I go out and eat late when I get in, then I'll awake to use the toilet.

Tiredness could be a sign of dehydration, especially if still feeling tired after 8 or 9 hrs sleep, as during sleep, fluids are not being consumed and as we no longer have a colon to absorb fluids from the contents of our bowel.

During one of my many bouts of dehydration (prior to takedown), one of my Doctors said I should be urinating no less than 3 times per day and any less is a sign of dehydration.

Wow! That’s awesome you have been able to sleep all the way through! Do you take any Imodium/Lomotil?

Yeah, I take one Imodium just before bed and one when I awake in the morning.

I'll take another two Imodium through out the day.

When my output is more loose than normal, I'll take two more Imodium, then maybe another one at around 6pm and one more just before my bedtime,

Although my bedtime can be at anytime, 11.30pm, midnight and no matter when I go to bed, I always take one Imodium.

I've never taken more than six per day and more often than not, I take 3 or 4 per day.

Ok thank you for all the info! I’m allergic to Imodium but I do take 1-2 Lomotil a day right now with my ileostomy depending on my output.

I take Immodium once at night also (2 pills) and occasionally take Lomotil during the day, if I am taking a hike, bilking or will be gone for a while.  The only other thing I use besides vitamins and some supplements is Benefiber in the morning with breakfast.  I am almost 17 months post takedown and use the toilet typically 4-5 times a day, never at night, and no leakage at this point.  Regarding the incision site, I had laparoscopic surgeries, so he just went through the stoma site, about 3/4 inch.  I had steri strips and just placed gauze and tape across it.  Eventually, just a bandaid.  From what I remember, it healed pretty quickly.

This thread is a bit old but Im interested, thanks to everyone who shared their experience, Im used to traveling, and considering travel after a month takedown overseas. I did a 1.5 month trip between surgery #1 and #2 (currently on loop #2) Ive been through a lot of bad times with all this and it would help me recharge to d another fun trip, before next semester at university I have some tough classes. But idk if its too soon for a trip that long. Guess we will have to see. I do heal super fast.