Symptomatic Diverticular Disease

LadyD518

Hi I am new here but did not find any listings with my problem. At least not active ones. I have been having GI problems for over 10 Years that comes and goes. I have abdominal pain, diarrhea (sometimes constipation), and some fevers with increased pain after eating that lasts 3-5 days which my family MD diagnosed as viral. It used to occur every few months then became closer to be about once a month. In November 2010 I suffered from ruptured divertulitis and severe septic shock. 6 weeks later they removed my sigmoid colon which was still inflammed. I have continued to have these diverticular disease symptoms and two colonscopies show diverticuli in my entire colon. I have had 17 "flare ups" last from 5-42 days each. After several days I can barely tolerate liquids and some baby food. I am on a very high fiber diet 35+gm/day, have tried multiple IBS meds, antiobodics, and elavil as well as herbal remodies. The colon/rectal specialist says I "do not have enough strictures and bends in the colon" for him to do surgery and referred me back to the general surgeon that did the sigmoid removal. But I have been in constant pain daily for over 6 months which gets worse with intake. It is effecting my daily life, interupted my work and family as well as controls my quality of life. My general surgeon has been very helpful and has tried every non surgical option he can find. He says some people do not respont to traditional treatment and I may require a total colectomy. As I have had 6 previous abdominal surgeries I am reluctant but the pain drives me to try anything. Does anyone else have experience in this area or can share their story with me. I feel very alone in all this.