Diverticulitis Support Group

I'm glad they know when to call for back-up. I will be pulling for you!

I know you have been thru this false start twice. But, I would be glad they are being thorough before surgery. Sometimes surgery just isn't a cure all--better be safe. This is a terrible disease, and very hard to deal with.

After speaking with my GI this morning.... turns out.... that the surgeon was going to remove the wrong side. So, I am thankful they didn't do it. I do have to have the left side removed. The reason they thought the right side was a problem was because someone misread a scan. I did have one little divy pocket on the right side, but the left side is completely diseased. I will be having this done at our major hospital in our state's capitol..... I am very glad they didn't do the wrong thing. phew........ escaped that one- barely.

Ok, normally I do not give medical advice online because I am not a doctor and many cases are complex. but in this case I am going to break my rule and say, "Holy $#^*"

You are going to have to become proactive and educate and advocate for yourself.

Our cases have some similarity. I have had multiple attacks of pain on the left side and now this last one is on the right.

You state the opposite and yet your left side is totally diseased but your pain had been on the right hand side.

My questions would be:

1. What caused all my previous attacks? (since the pain was on the right)
2. Are you sure I have had more than one attack (the current one) of diverticulitis since this is the first time I have had pain on the left hand side? (often surgery is not recommended after one uncomplicated attack)
3. Can you tell me what my past scans and current scans show? (Do they show evidence of active infection or inflammation or simply the pockets)

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In my case I am tentatively scheduled for surgery on Nov. 16, but my surgeon told me when I last spoke with him to optimize the chances of not needing a stoma bag he wants a 4-6 week window pain free. We are well within that and thus it needs moved back.

Also, my GP is strongly questioning this surgery since only 2 of my past 7 attacks have shown CT evidence of inflammation and the pain was very intense. The last two attacks I have had colonoscopy (I know unusal during an attack buit we wanted a look at what is going on) and it showed completely normal (no evidence of inflammation on direct examination either. Also this time the pain is on the right hand side where we KNOW I have no diverticula.

Good luck and stay on top of this. I know what it is like to be in daily pain.

Spektre

I have had pain on my left, right, or center lower abdomen when I have an attack. According to my colonoscopy and 3 CT scans, my colon is diseased at the end. All doctors and a surgeon said they would probably take out the last 12 inches via lap sigmoid resection. So when your doctor stops the surgery because of where your pain is located, its a little confusing to me.

Traditionally, unless you have full blown peritonitis, the pain of diverticulitis is easily localized over the site of inflammation.

Therefore, if you have pain on the right side of your abdomen, and scans show only disease on the left side, it would raise questions as to what was causing the pain on the right.

Wow, if you had the wrong side operated on, they would have charged you and told you you needed it anyway.

Hospitals bury their mistakes!

Write on your abdomin - "CUT HERE" next time.

How did the surgeon NOT know your case? You should have had a preop visit with the surgeon for non-emergency surgery.

Oh wow, just sent you a message asking how your surgery went? Apparently has not happened. Regardless what a stroke of luck. What if they had removed the wrong thing? YIKES!!! Keep us posted, I am praying for you.