Reversal Surgery Update

It has been a little over a month since “Bob Lee” got reconnected. The past few weeks have been interesting to say the least.

As I have said throughout this journey, “the human body is amazing.” I am truly amazed by how the body functions and also can heal itself; the Lord designed these bodies perfectly. How a doctor could be an atheist blows my mind.

For the most part, everything has gone well post-surgery. According to what I am reading online about the surgery, I am experiencing it all, and within the timelines they give. I have learned, though, that not all healing is linear. What I mean is, just because a timeline says I should be here doesn’t mean I have fallen behind or ahead. From my research, things are looking really good.

There have been painful moments along the way, and they are expected. Part of my colon was not designed to do what it is doing now, so the body is training the new reconnection to function the way it needs to. The other thing is that nerves were cut during surgery, so they need to reconnect and communicate with the brain as they should.

As you know, I have needed humor through all this over the past year; this has been no different. I call the pain I am experiencing ‘contractions.’ The pain is from gas buildup and the muscles and nerves working to push it out. When this hits, it is painful for about 10-15 seconds and fades. This can happen for about 5-10 minutes. I just tell Anna I am breathing through the contractions.

I don’t want to gross you all out with more details, but let’s just say 45-year-old Josh is back to potty training. Open to potty training tips! 🤣😃

A few weeks back, I started to notice a golden fluid leaking from the incision site. I looked it up, and the fluid is okay; it is called serous drainage. I had it off and on for a while, and Anna asked me to contact my surgeon. On

May 29, I went to the doctor to have it looked at. He wanted to visually see it to make sure it was not infected.

At the appointment, the doctor was very impressed with how well the surgical site was healing. He said that about 5% of patients get this fluid buildup behind the wound, and it is not that big of a deal. The doctor opened up the wound and showed Anna how to pack it. We were instructed to pack the wound twice a day and to follow up in a week.

On June 5 we went back for a follow up. The doctor said that the wound is looking great, and we are to keep packing the wound until you can no longer put gauze into the wound. According to Anna, the wound has become smaller, and she is packing less into it. The doctor said we might need to pack for another two weeks.

We learned as well that most of these reservsal surgeries don’t get glued back up. My surgeon glued me up, as that is how he was trained. More of their patients have packing wounds. They are instructed on how to change the gauze until the wound heals up.

Crazy! Having an open wound like this!

Please keep praying. I am making great progress. I am having more good days than difficult ones. Learning new skills, as is Anna.

Chat with you all soon!