Hello everyone. I just discovered this site/forum. I'm not a fan of social media, but following release from a three-day long hospitalization that almost led to emergency surgery, I decided to reach out. 
  About me:  I'm a 42 year old veteran, recently retired from the Army in October of 2019 after 24 years of service. I have a 0 % service connected disability for diverticulitis. I'm tall, slim, mildly athletic, and a non-smoker. Superb blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. No other health concerns of any significance. No medications (aside from the 1000mg Augmenting I sm currently taking) other than whisky and vodka. Was first diagnosed with Diverticulitis on Thanksgiving 2011 when it landed me in an Army hospital in Virginia following three days without a bowel movement followed by hives. CT revealed a micro-perforation that time, but I fortunately avoided surgery as result of treating the episode with lots of anti-biotics.

Since then, I cleaned up my diet, eat smaller portions of meat, get plenty of fiber, had two colonoscopies (both unchanged), and drink lots of water. I've had five or six flare-ups, but all were mostly benign and easily managed with anti-biotics. I'm not particular worried about eating "trigger foods" like seeds, etc, but don't gorge myself on them either.  Popcorn is really the only risky food that I generally abstain from.

  While in Afghanistan in 2018, I had a pretty bad flare-up which landed me in bed rest on pain meds for a few days, but nothing more. It was the worst episode up to that point, but nothing like my most recent episode, just last week. 

  I suffered through 2.5 days of increasing abdominal pain that progressed to the point where sleep was not possible and I was starting to hyperventilate. My usual "damage control" diet of liquids and bland foods didn't help much. The heat pad became my savior. Still, I couldn't really stand up straight and I developed a low fever that started getting worse. Wife took me to ER at that point. Received CT scan and learned that a significant absence was forming. Spent the next two days on IV fluids and Zossyn before getting cleared for discharge.  Attending surgeon says I'm a prime candidate for elective resectioning. I think he is right. 
  I've come to the realization that this isn't ever going away and will likely continue to worsen as I get older. I never realized that each flare-up potentially weakens and damages the colon a little. I like the surgeon and have a consult for another colonoscopy next month after which, we will likely start to develop a plan for laparoscopic surgery.  I think the risks associated with surgery aren't as significant as the much larger risks, later in life, if this disease progresses as I age.  I'm not a specimen of fitness, but I'm healthier than most and have no other contraindications that would complicate my treatment.

  I'm nervous, but have made my peace with this decision. At this point, the concern isn't "if" I'll have surgery as opposed to if I can do it on my own terms now, or be forced into a complicated emergency surgery if my colon ruptures one day...

  I hope to get some insight and feedback from those who already underwent resection surgery. I'd like to hear about what kind of things you wish you asked your doctors prior to this surgery, what kind of complications (if any) you had, and how the surgery affected your lifestyle/activities since then. Likewise, I plan to stick with the surgeon I have now, and he appears to have a respectable track record with other patients, but I'd like to know if there are any patient-friendly sites that can help patients "shop" for or compare surgeons for this type of procedure. 

  Thanks and best of luck to you all. 
  "D"