I had 18 inches of my sigmoid removed on 3/25/08. Everything was going along fine, normal activities, normal bowel movements, taking in 35 -40 mg of both types of fiber, no caffeine, I do not drink alcohol, a vegan and drinking 14 - 16 glasses of water daily. Sounds good doesn't it? Well on 8/3/08 the old pain, started again, middle section lower abdomen radiating to the lower left with low-grade temp.
I of course came to our message boards to see if anyone else had experienced the same thing only four months post op and was relieved to see some of you had similar issues with pains etc for quite a few months after surgery. On 8/5, things got worse and since it was the weekend, I did not take a chance on waiting until Monday and called the on call doctor from the surgeon’s office who sent me immediately to the ER.
Much to my dismay, I have diverticulitis AGAIN. I sat there in total dismay and of course began to cry. It had taken three years to get to the surgery stage and then to only have it solve anything (or not) for four months. I asked the surgeon what happened and he told me that this does happen more frequently than people are led to believe especially if you are over the age of 50. He also told me this happens where the intestines are reattached. Inflammation can occur if one or more of the staples do not dissolve as quickly as it should and that it can take up to 6 months for the whole healing process. Needless to say, I was not happy but still stayed in the hospital for two days on IVs and am home with oral antibiotics, yep the lovely Cipro and Flagyl cocktail.
I have since call two other surgeons and GI doctors to ask if this is common and was told by all four that yes this can and does happen in about 25% of the cases. Not what I wanted to hear.
My case this time is very mild and nothing like I had in the past prior to the resection but it is just so discouraging.
Sorry this is so long but I needed to vent to my resection family and let you know not ignore your pains just because you had a resection. You really could be having a serious issue.
Vikki,
Do you include in your diet a water soluble fiber supplement like Metamucil?
Being a veggan you may not get enough soluble fiber but mostly insoluble fiber.
I had 2 1/2 feet of my colon removed on 3/4/2002 and have not had any problem since then with the colon.
Yes I used Metamucil (Walmart brand actually) because I am a vegan we are notorious for not getting enough water soluble fiber. It also was a directive from my surgeon. I also use probiotics. I was, and will continue when this bout is over, to do every thing “ they” say is correct for this condition.
I guess I just wanted to warn my fellow resection folks that this can happen and to listen to your body. I am very thankful I did not just shrug this off as post resection twinges. It could have been a whole lot worse.
like you i had diverturultis and lost alo 18 centermeters of my colon also and i got new pockets in my colon again bummer i guess i will end up in surgery again in the near furture i was in surgery back in 2001 so i know just how you feel we will have a lifetime of problems for the rest of our lives from this hope everything goes well will you i have been in and out of the hospital since this surgery so god bless you
[QUOTE=DEEJARIES;3682773]I'm Scheduled For The Same Surgery For The Same Thing. So What Would You Suggest? Have The Surgery Or Not?[/QUOTe
You need to have the surgery. I have never had second thoughts about that issue. There are too many complications that can happen if you don't. My post was to let people know that some of us can still have issues after the surgery and to pay attention to your body. Do not just dismiss them as post surgical pains.
Please do not let my situation stop you from having surgery. I am sure you have been suffering with bouts of diverticulitis a long time and the chances of serious complications without the surgery is almost a given.
Good luck with your surgery. I am sure I speak for all of us here when I say we are here for you.
I had a resection done 9 months ago. I've had pain ranging from moderate to borderline severe. I called my surgeon to ask if I could have a CT scan or other test to see if I had any problem areas that might become infected. He told me that I should wait until the pain is so bad that I need to go to the ER and then they will do a CT scan. Well, the last time he used a "wait & see" approach I ended up in the hospital for 11 days with a ruptured abscess and contracted VRE. I was told by my attending doctor that if I had waited another day I would have gone into septic shock. So I guess my surgeon doesn't want to do anything for me unless I'm about to die. Wonderful...isn't it better to try to avoid becoming severely infected?
However, the surgery did help me as my bowel was almost completely closed off, so I would go ahead with the surgery. It's just frustrating trying to get any kind of preventive care for this condition. It doesn't seem to exist!
Dee, I think Harry meant that he's glad that not all doctors are the same as mine, i.e. not wanting to test or treat anyone until they are dire. I don't think he meant that he's glad that I'm having pain and not him!
I suppose it's unrealistic to expect that someone with diverticulosis throughout the colon, and who had major abdominal surgery would be 100% pain free. But this disease is scary and it would be nice to get checked out so I know if I need to worry or not. But I guess I'll have to wait until I'm very, very sick, which hopefully won't happen.
And Dee, I'll tell you right now that recovery from the surgery was about a million times easier than recovering from an attack, and from my ruptured abscess. I'd go through the surgery 10 times again rather than have another attack & abscess. I think you'll be fine.
First of all, how are you? I just passed my one-year mark for my colon re-section.
This thread is interesting. When I asked my surgeon (after my surgery) if he thought I still had diverticular disease, he said "more than likely." I see him soon and want to request a colonoscopy....just to have a look/see in there.
Anyway, back to your situation re: sucking it up and hanging in there until things are a crisis. I never recognized my symptoms - severe abdominal pain, loose movements, nausea, the feeling that I never completely evacuated, rectal pain, etc. was a result of diverticular disease. After a routine colonoscopy, I was told I had some pockets, but nothing remarkable. Two different gastro docs agreed with me when I told them I felt I had IBS. They both prescribed Bentyl. So, I took Bentyl and Immodium for almost 2 years before all hell broke loose.
Apparently, I was abcessing off and on for quite some time, but the pain became a way of life for me.... I just kept telling everyone I was having a "bad IBS day." when things were bad. While I never had a doc advise that I wait and see, I still feel that one or the other of the gastro specialists should have ordered a CT when I'd complain about my symptoms....but maybe I didn't complain loud enough. Instead, like you, I ended up in the ER with a huge abcess and subsequent surgery.
This disease is scary and I panic any time I have any sort of abdominal pain. Still, like you, I wouldn't hesitate to have surgery again if necessary. They "fixed" me once....and can fix me again if need be.
Take care and don't wait until you're very, very sick! Get yourself to the closest ER when worried. Given our history, I don't think we'll be told to wait and see.
Linda, good to hear from you! Wow, it's been a year already??!! I'm glad you are doing well.
Yes, I was warned that the surgery would remove the worst part, but that I had pockets "all throughout" my colon, and that they could flare up too. And also that the surgery would aggravete my IBS. But the pain is in the exact same place as before, sooo...I usually have pain after I have a BM, anyone else? It's not usually steady, so who knows what's normal and what's not. I do believe that another surgery is in my future, but I can handle it, it just wasn't that bad! The worst was dealing with the healing of the incision since I had open surgery, the incision oozed like you wouldn't believe, but it's all good now, just not pretty.
I still would advise anyone to go ahead with the surgery, because the alternative is to try to live with this disease and the fear that any minute you could rupture, abscess, etc. No way is that a good way to live. And seriously, the surgery is just not that bad!
Just A Couple Questions That I Wanted To Ask. For Starters Does The Surgery Really Get Rid Of The Problem? How Long Did It Take You To Recover From Surgery? Can You Eat What You Want Now? Ya Know, Nuts, Popcorn, Things Like That? I Miss My Pumpkin Seeds!!
One More Week Before Surgery. Now Of Course I'm Getting Paranoid That Something Is Going To Go Wrong . Just Nerves, My Doctor Has A Really Good Reputation So I Guess I'll Keep Reminding Myself That.
I Just Wanted To Thank Everyone Who Has Talked To Me On Here. It Is Nice To Hear Your Stories And Out Comes. Your Stories Have Answered Alot Of Questions For Me. Thank You "everyone"
Just A Couple Questions That I Wanted To Ask. For Starters Does The Surgery Really Get Rid Of The Problem? How Long Did It Take You To Recover From Surgery? Can You Eat What You Want Now? Ya Know, Nuts, Popcorn, Things Like That? I Miss My Pumpkin Seeds!!
One More Week Before Surgery. Now Of Course I'm Getting Paranoid That Something Is Going To Go Wrong . Just Nerves, My Doctor Has A Really Good Reputation So I Guess I'll Keep Reminding Myself That.
I Just Wanted To Thank Everyone Who Has Talked To Me On Here. It Is Nice To Hear Your Stories And Out Comes. Your Stories Have Answered Alot Of Questions For Me. Thank You "everyone"
DeeJaries,
The surgery definitely gets rid of the immediate problem. The complications you can have without the surgery totally outweighs not having it.
You will be fine and two weeks from now your surgery will all be over and you will be on your way to recovery. Please do not let my post give you too much angst. I do believe we need to keep a vigilant watch things and 99.9% of the time it is nothing but since all of here have had or still have digestive issues we need to pay attention to what our bodies are saying. That was the reason for my post. I would not change the fact that I had the surgery. When they took out my 18 inches they told me it was a total mess and were surprised it had not completely ruptured along time ago. So I was a ticking time bomb.
I had laparoscopic surgery and my healing was rather quick. I was back to work within 6 weeks and it only took that long because my surgeon was on vacation and was not around to sign my work release. I felt quite well within 4 weeks.
Everyone is different as to what they can eat after surgery and have been given the all clear by your surgeon. You will know what you can and can not eat.
When is your surgery? I will keep you in my thoughts and know that we are all here for you.
Dee.....having surgery will not eliminate diverticular disease. As mentioned, a lot of us had a very diseased portion of colon that had to come out. I saw mine after having a barium enema prior to my surgery.. The surgeon had the results on the computer and we viewed it together. Looked like a worn tire ready to blow! Diverticular disease is common. However, it's a small percentage of people whose diverticulosis develops into diverticulitis requiring surgery.
I, too, had the lap procedure and was driving and back to work part-time in about 3 weeks. Your bowel movements will be funky for a while..especially after you start introducing various foods. Best to check with your surgeon re: the nuts, seeds, etc. Mine told me I could eat anything I wanted, but I still avoid certain things. We all heal/recover diffferently....and as Redneon and Ezmeralda said....I, too, wouldn't hesitate to have surgery again if necessary.
Best to do it electively rather than in an emergency situation.
Linda, good to hear from you!* Wow, it's been a year already??!!* I'm glad you are doing well.Yes, I was warned that the surgery would remove the worst part, but that I had pockets "all throughout" my colon, and that they could flare up too.* And also that the surgery would aggravete my IBS.* But the pain is in the exact same place as before, sooo...I usually have pain after I have a BM, anyone else?* It's not usually steady, so who knows what's normal and what's not.* I do believe that another surgery is in my future, but I can handle it, it just wasn't that bad! The worst was dealing with the healing of the incision since I had open surgery, the incision oozed like you wouldn't believe, but it's all good now, just not pretty.I still would advise anyone to go ahead with the surgery, because the alternative is to try to live with this disease and the fear that any minute you could rupture, abscess, etc.* No way is that a good way to live.* And seriously, the surgery is just not that bad!
well my colon rupurted and i was very lucky because if i didnt go to the hospital the day that i went than i would of died from my ruppurted colon i lost about 18 centermeters of my colon also* i was in icu for 11 days after the surgery, i was one lucky person, i would of died from this* and i was in kidney failure also, so i thank god for saving my life and all *it took me about 10 weeks before i stopped hurting from the surgry but i get pain in my stonach also also i had this fear about this happening agan i got more pouchs in my colon so i will end up* having more surgery* later on again because of this* so i hope i dont have to have this surgery agan but i still have problems on and off with my pain in ny stomach, so all i can do is pray they i dont* have to have more surgery* becasuse i was cut wide open and* it was very painfull if u know what i mean* well good luck on youre surgery* and all
Last edited by jeanette66; 08-15-2008 at 06:00 PM.
Reason: misspellin of some of my words
My Surgery Is August 22. Next Friday. I'll Let Ya Know How Things Go.
Thank You For All You Talking To Me. I Dont Know Anyone Around Here That Has This Problem. Except My Mother Was Diognosed With It A Long Time Ago. Fortunately She Has Never Had A Problem With Her's.
DEE
Hi There Thanks For Taking The Time To Talk To Me. I'm Just Getting Nervous. My Surgery Is In One Week. Actually To Be Honest, I Think I Developed A Fear Of Nuts And Seeds, So I Probably Wont Touch Them, Anyhow. My Visit To The Emergency Room 2 Yrs. Ago With A 105 Temp Was Scary And Painful! I Was In Pain For 2 Weeks. Thought I Had A Intestinal Virus That Everyone Was Passing Around At Work. But Their's Was Going Away . As Mine Was Getting Worse. God Willing, I'll Never Go Through That Again!!!! I Seriously Thought That I Was Dieing!. Spent 5 Days In The Hospital. And Havent Been Right Since. It Seems Like Every Time I Turn Around, I Have A Flare-up. This Stuff Definitely Has It's Own Mind!!!!!!
Anyhow Thanks For Your Imput. Believe It Or Not , I Am Actually Looking Forward To My Surgery After Talking To Everyone!FOR THE MOST PART!
Thank You Everyone!!!!!!!!!!
Dee
.
well my colon rupurted and i was very lucky because if i didnt go to the hospital the day that i went than i would of died from my ruppurted colon i lost about 18 centermeters of my colon also* i was in icu for 11 days after the surgery, i was one lucky person, i would of died from this* and i was in kidney failure also, so i thank god for saving my life and all *it took me about 10 weeks before i stopped hurting from the surgry but i get pain in my stonach also also i had this fear about this happening agan i got more pouchs in my colon so i will end up* having more surgery* later on again because of this* so i hope i dont have to have this surgery agan but i still have problems on and off with my pain in ny stomach, so all i can do is pray they i dont* have to have more surgery* becasuse i was cut wide open and* it was very painfull if u know what i mean* well good luck on youre surgery* and all
