The lived experience of stigmatisation in patients after stoma reversal

Aim: This small-scale, exploratory, qualitative study was conducted to investigate how the experiences of having a stoma and subsequent stoma reversal affected the lives of the participants. Method: Five participants were interviewed about their experiences. Manual thematic analysis, using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), was employed to interpret the data. Results: Common themes were identified as emerging from the data. Themes before reversal were: acceptance and coping; social impact; and anticipation of returning to normal. Post-reversal themes were: returning to normal; interference with anticipated return to normal; and ongoing social impact. Conclusion: This exploratory study provides a rich account of the experiences of stoma patients who underwent reversal operations. It enhances our understanding of the transition encountered when changing from a person with a stoma into someone without one. This research has found that the anticipated return to normal can be hampered by a mix of physical and psychological processes.