Diverticulitis

TAZMAN said:
Not sure if this is where to ask this or not. I am 57 and in pretty good shape. I run 3 times a week doing 2.6 miles and I lift 2 days a week. I have had a few flare ups of diverticulitis but antibiotics have always caught it until now. I have an abscess, and the surgeon wants to remove a part of my colon. I have been putting it off for 3 months and I now have a very painful case again. Just started antibiotics again.

I know of 3 people who have had this procedure and all three passed away within 5 weeks. One of them was only 32 years old. My surgeon says he does these often with no complications. It really hurts more this time than the last episodes, but I am scared to death of the outcome. Have any of you had to endure this by chance? Hate to go out like this!!lol
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I know someone who's had some of their colon removed and he's doing just fine. let the doctors take care of you, you're not getting any better the way things are going so trust your doctors and we will all be praying for you!
 
The 3 people we know that passed had the same issue. 2 of them were with the same surgeon and 1 was with another hospital. It is a stressful decision, but I figured there were some people on here that had some insight.

Sorry for bringing this on here but I don't so any social media and my friend count is 3!!lol
 
@TAZMAN

I had a flair up once. One of the most painful things I have ever experience. I got over my flair up.

I had friends that got it. They all had c-bags. 2 died like you reference.

From my experience and that of multiple friends, there are things you can do but it seems that once you go "chronic" you are in a bit of a pickle.

I wasn't chronic or abscess but thought about the what if because of experiences with those close to me.

If it were me, put off surgery as long as the antibiotics can keep it in statis. Counter that with abscesses can kill quickly. Change your diet. Change something. Sorry for this next part but it was a factor in all the cases personal know by me. Look at your "daily worries". Emotional stress was a bigger portion for all of us than any other stress.

PM if you would like to discuss more.
 
TAZMAN said:
Not sure if this is where to ask this or not. I am 57 and in pretty good shape. I run 3 times a week doing 2.6 miles and I lift 2 days a week. I have had a few flare ups of diverticulitis but antibiotics have always caught it until now. I have an abscess, and the surgeon wants to remove a part of my colon. I have been putting it off for 3 months and I now have a very painful case again. Just started antibiotics again.

I know of 3 people who have had this procedure and all three passed away within 5 weeks. One of them was only 32 years old. My surgeon says he does these often with no complications. It really hurts more this time than the last episodes, but I am scared to death of the outcome. Have any of you had to endure this by chance? Hate to go out like this!!lol
Click to expand...
I had 12-18 inches of colon removed two years ago because of recurrent bouts of diverticulitis. It was laparoscopic surgery and I was home after one night in the hospital. The night of the surgery was pretty miserable, had to have some pain meds in the middle of the night. The next day I was up walking as soon as they would let me and pushed though it. I knew that was the key to getting discharged and home where I would be able to truly rest and heal. It took about 6 months to feel "normal " but in the end I am glad I did it.
Surgeons make their living by cutting so if your not comfortable with the recommendation, ask for a second opinion. If he gets his feelings hurt maybe he's not the one you want cutting on you.
 
I had severe diverticulitis in the descending colon and Sigmoid loop. I had multiple episodes with antibiotics and pain meds. It finally got so bad that I was nearly incapacitated. They removed 10" of large intestine to get rid of several problem areas. Glad I had it done, but really had no choice at all - I was flirting with a ruptured bowel.

I was expecting to wake up from surgery with a colostomy bag. This is the worst part and biggest unknown. That's because it is supposed to be temporary as one heals up and would be removed a few weeks after surgery...or not. The potential issues is that sometimes the large intestine fails to resume regular operation and the temporary colostomy bag becomes permanent. I was very lucky in that the surgeon was able to bring the pieces together without excessive tension and I never had to endure the bag.

That was 6 years ago and I am pretty much normal except for chronic watery stool (borderline diarrhea) if untreated. It seems the main function of the large intestine is to reclaim water and that's the part I lost. To help with this, I take an Imodium twice a day and that seems to be enough to keep me regular and normal.
 
Sorry to here of this…..but, in spite of what you heard, I think that deaths from the procedure are rather rare. My Father had it done, lived for another 30+ years…passing away @ 94. The worst thing was temporarily having to deal with the Colonoscopy Bag.

This could be one of those cases where…..the longer you put off what is needed, the more the risk.

Hang Tough Partner…..you have lots of folks pulling for you. memtb
 
TAZMAN said:
Not sure if this is where to ask this or not. I am 57 and in pretty good shape. I run 3 times a week doing 2.6 miles and I lift 2 days a week. I have had a few flare ups of diverticulitis but antibiotics have always caught it until now. I have an abscess, and the surgeon wants to remove a part of my colon. I have been putting it off for 3 months and I now have a very painful case again. Just started antibiotics again.

I know of 3 people who have had this procedure and all three passed away within 5 weeks. One of them was only 32 years old. My surgeon says he does these often with no complications. It really hurts more this time than the last episodes, but I am scared to death of the outcome. Have any of you had to endure this by chance? Hate to go out like this!!lol
Click to expand...
I had it years back. Mine was fixed by diet change. I went like 20 years without eating any vegetables. Meat candy and soda.
Avoided small seeds and mine had been ok for a while. But I also intermittently fast Monday -Friday.
That has changed my life.
I highly recommend trying it before surgery.
I basically eat from 8am -noon.
 
TAZMAN said:
The 3 people we know that passed had the same issue. 2 of them were with the same surgeon and 1 was with another hospital. It is a stressful decision, but I figured there were some people on here that had some insight.

Sorry for bringing this on here but I don't so any social media and my friend count is 3!!lol
Click to expand...
Every surgery has risks. I've had many from
My younger days. My good friend had had a much more invasive surgery in his intestines, colon, and stomach from cancer in his 30's. He has come out of all of them fine. Let the doctors guide you.
But for anyone who has had this. You have to try fasting. It's amazing how much younger and better you feel overall.
 
TAZMAN said:
The 3 people we know that passed had the same issue. 2 of them were with the same surgeon and 1 was with another hospital. It is a stressful decision, but I figured there were some people on here that had some insight.

Sorry for bringing this on here but I don't so any social media and my friend count is 3!!lol
Click to expand...
I understand time is of the essence but have you been examined at Mayo Clinic? My experience with family members indicates they employ effective strategies many others are unaware of.

🙏🏻 for you
 

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