A permanent colostomy can be reverse in the near future?

Question

I'm wearing colostomy bag since Oct 2004, according to my surgeon this is for life but when I discussed this to an expert she said this can be reverse soon. Is this possible?

Answer 1

is it possible to reverse a colostomy? yes. is it possible to reverse yours? only your doctor can say for sure... it's not possible on all people, but yes it can be done on some people

Answer 2

A 'permanent' colostomy would suggest that it can't be reversed. However, having said that, some surgeons do like to refer to all ostomies as permanent until they actually get in there and see whether they can reverse it or not because sometimes, if a patient is longing so much for the day their ostomy can be reversed, but for some reason it can't be, they will get so disappointed. Hence they tell their patients to consider it as permanent until it is physically reversed (if that makes any sense).

Has this expert seen your surgery notes? I agree with the above poster. I'd tend to go with what your surgeon has stated since he/she is the one who performed the surgery in the first place and knows what type of colostomy he/she's given you (hopefully).

Answer 3

In some cases a colostomy can be reversed.

You refer to yours as a permanent colostomy.

Permanent would seem to indicate that yours is not the type that can be reversed.

Currently you have 2 opinions, one from your surgeon one from an expert.

I would check the expert's qualifications, and then possibly get a third opinion. At the moment I would tend to lean towards your surgeon's opinion, they know what is going on in there - they have seen it!

Answer 4

Well do you still have some intestine, or your colon? If you have intestine you could have what is called a J pouch, or an S pouch. My sis in-law was told the same as you, but she found a clinic in Cleveland Oh. that could perform this surgery. Look up colostomy alternatives on the internet. Not all colostomys are forever.