Diverticulitis Support Group
Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, in particular the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon. Diverticulitis results if one of these diverticula becomes inflamed. Diverticulitis most often affects middle-aged and elderly persons, though it can strike younger patients as...
Hello all, I had my "laproscopic" surgery on 7/13. (So why do I have this 3/4 inch incision?) As well as a tender navel and a few other divots? Dr. Officious said she removed my sigmoid colon and I was discharged 48 hours later. Could hardly move - but sent home. O.K. must be meeting my goals. Been taking Vicodin for the ongoing discomfort, but feeling better every day. I can stand up straight, bend, etc.
Moved bowels after 5 days with the help of Milk of Magnesia. Also take a stool softener every night as a precaution. My stomach is getting stronger every day and it doesn't hurt as much to just adjust my position.
When I came out of surgery, my waist was quite distended.. seems that they tip you up with head down while operating so that the blood doesn't go to your extremities, therefore the waist swells. It is diminishing daily. FYI, I did ask about an epidural and told it wasn't necessary. (That is the usual answer to most of my questions.)Just wanted to give an update. Feel free to ask any questions. Best to all.
Moved bowels after 5 days with the help of Milk of Magnesia. Also take a stool softener every night as a precaution. My stomach is getting stronger every day and it doesn't hurt as much to just adjust my position.
When I came out of surgery, my waist was quite distended.. seems that they tip you up with head down while operating so that the blood doesn't go to your extremities, therefore the waist swells. It is diminishing daily. FYI, I did ask about an epidural and told it wasn't necessary. (That is the usual answer to most of my questions.)Just wanted to give an update. Feel free to ask any questions. Best to all.
So gald you are doing OK. I was waiting for an update.
Best Wishes,
John
Mary Anne, I did wear a Spanx type panty and felt better for it. NO - they didn't suggest that, or any follow up since I left the hospital! On my own unless there is a crisis..
best, sally
They would not scan me and were mad because I should have read all 12 steps first. I thought the thing was a step by step instruction sheet that was to be followed real time. I bet they get mad at a lot of there stupid patients.
I just had my surgery consult today and feel very nervous
about this operation. My surgeon said she could probably do it laproscopic but she would not for sure until she starts the surgery. I am 55 with several attacks but no rupture...yet. This is why she thinks I should do this surgery. She also wants me to have another CT before the surgery even though I just had one 6 weeks ago with my last attack. Do you or anyone else have advice??
How far apart were your attacks? I am against too many CT's. Once you have had a CT to prove diverticulitis. What is the point of ading risk if you are not displaying symptoms of complications.
You might ask you Doc how may millisieverts of radiation she has exposed you to. and how many she feels is a safe lifetime limit. You assume someone is keeping track.
Any dose of radiation increases your lifetime risk of cancer. There is no safe dose. An abdomen scan = 10 mSv. A pelvic scan 10 mSv. A diverticulitis scan is an abdomen and pelvic scan. Then they can do it pre and post contrast doubling it to a total of 40 mSv. I have had 4 of them for DD and several body CTs for other problems. I estimate my lifetime dose is at 320 mSv. Anything between 100 - 200 mSv has a substantial lifetime increase in cancer risk.
Just one CT of only the pelvis is equal to 100 - 250 chest x-rays. I bet you Doc does not know that. Ask! Would she send you for 1000s chest x-rays just to check a minor problem? The contrast they give you can hurt your kidneys too and some people have bad reactions to it.
Unless you have had three attacks in one year, your Doc is going against recommendations by the College of Colorectal Surgeons that now says 4 attacks of non-complicated diverticultis before CONSIDERING surgery.
Your chances of rupture are much less than a person that has not had an attack yet, but will. 80 percent of ruptures happen on the first attack. You have made it though the high-risk area for rupture.
I can get you supporting links for all my statements that come from the very respected researches on the cutting edge of this disease. I have no medical training.
Best Wishes,
John
Your replies are very helpful...thank you so much! I will call my doctor today about the CT scan and now think maybe I should wait a while before scheduling surgery.
4strikes how many attacks have you had? Did any rupture or where they controlled by antibiotics? My last two attacks were 4 weeks apart and before that 2 years ago.
I have had 4 attacks - aka 4strikes. Like most people, my first attack was the worst requiring a week in the hospital. My last was the weakest. I have had almost ten years since my first attack. I am on Mesalazine to prevent attacks through a research study that is still open and has many sites throughout the world where you could join.
Here is the research that change the 2-strikes rule to 4-strikes. Dr. Flum had a real nice power point presentation that has evaporated from the web. I will post the general conslusions and a link to the research (below). I am just a layman. I have no pipeline to the truth. Everyone should research the truth. You will find that the truth is not always in line with current medical thinking.
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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T91-4DV094X-D&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F01%2F2004&_alid=965965863&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=5101&_sort=r&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=2&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b1a6f212fe91cd0cac7d0d3d8bb836dc
Results
Performing colectomy after the fourth rather than the second episode in patients older than 50 years resulted in 0.5% fewer deaths, 0.7% fewer colostomies, and saved $1,035 per patient. In younger patients, performing colectomy after the fourth episode compared with the first episode resulted in 0.1% fewer deaths, 2% fewer colostomies, and saved $5,429 per patient. Expectant management through three recurrent episodes with elective colectomy after the fourth episode was the dominant strategy across the full range of the variables tested in the sensitivity analysis compared with earlier intervention.
Conclusions
This study suggests that expectant management is associated with lower rates of death and colostomy and is cost-saving for both younger and older patients.
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Here is a paper written by my Doc (that is how I found him).
http://www.sovegastro.com/pdf/Enfermedad%20Diverticular%20y%20Diverticulitis.pdf
Here is a good place to di your own research:
http://diverticulitis.researchtoday.net/
Continuing to improve but still laying low. Less pain, but still a bit uncomfortable. Had some prune juice picked up today as the stool softeners are not completely doing the trick. We'll see.
I hope you are back to normal soon. I had a colonoscopy before the meds. They will give me one when I exit the study (in 2 years or when they kick me out for getting sick). I am not required to get a colonoscopy, but they would like to give me one.
Diverticula are forever. The do not go away unless cut out. Most people have no trouble with them. I want to be like them.
I am interested to see if my inflammation is less. I am pretty sure it is. I feel nothing anymore and I use to be aware of every little thing passing my hot spot..
Take Care,
John
tloree
Yes, I want to be one of those people with uninflamed diverticula too! Had my surgery 2 weeks ago today and am better, but not great. Tire and sore. But, still feel better than I did being attacked and taking Cipro/Flagyl etc!