Recovery from Barbie Butt surgery

A new Barbie Butt has arrived…

What a whirlwind it has been since my last blog post; in fact, I am writing this approximately 6 weeks later and wanted to provide you with an update on how things are progressing…

On Tuesday, 26th September, I was admitted to the hospital for proctectomy surgery, commonly known as the ‘Barbie Butt’ procedure in the ostomy world. This surgery involved the removal of my rectum and anus, and the permanent closure of my bum.

For me, this surgery was always planned to occur 3-5 years after my ileostomy operation. Unfortunately, it had to happen slightly sooner than originally anticipated, as my rectum was frequently flaring up with the loss of mucus, blood, and the development of uncomfortable strictures.

I felt quite anxious on the morning of the surgery; I had so many questions, yet at the same time, I felt quite numb – a strange feeling! The hospital team was reassuring, and before I knew it, I was waking up in my hospital bed, and the recovery process had begun…

No matter how much I had prepared myself for this surgery, the first few days were challenging. I tried my best to remain positive. Many of the pain relief medications made me feel really sick, so I declined them and managed to cope with paracetamol every 4-6 hours.

Surprisingly, some of the worst pain was in my shoulder, where trapped wind accumulated following the keyhole procedure. (A top tip – peppermint tea really helped relieve this!)

Emotionally, day 3 and 4 were particularly tough for me. All I wanted was to be back home with my family, yet I could barely get in and out of bed on my own.

One thing that kept my spirits up during my hospital stay this time was having my beautiful family and friends visit me to bring a smile to my day! During my previous surgery, this wasn’t allowed due to COVID restrictions.

On day 6, I had gained enough strength to return home. I was discharged with an inflatable cushion (borrowed from the hospital), and there’s truly no better feeling than being home!

Since then, week by week, I have been getting stronger, but it’s fair to say I had underestimated the healing process. It’s a lengthy journey, and progress occurs in small steps. I found that two weeks post-surgery, once I had my stitches removed (ouchy!!), the wound felt more comfortable, and it wasn’t as ‘stretched.’

I am now over one month post-op, and my wound still hasn’t healed. I’ve been informed that due to the location of the wound, it takes longer for this to happen. I’m doing my best to keep it clean and dry. In fact, I’m using stoma powder to help with the healing process, as recommended!

Constantly resting hasn’t been realistic for me, and I don’t stay still for very long, but I do my best to take things slowly and steadily.

Now, at around 5 weeks post-surgery, I can go on short walks, sit for brief periods, and I have been working from home for a couple of weeks now. I even had my first few hours back in the office!

I genuinely hope this provides some guidance for those of you facing similar surgery, and please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Charlotte xxx
@char.crohnsftwilson