Welcome,
Please check www.russellmariani.com

This man is a nutrionalist and he is currently working on his doctorate. He knows what he is talking about and he claims he has helped thousands of people.

I ordered his book and it just arrived early last night. His book is only $20 and it is so informative..a vast of information.

I plan to go on his 21 cleanse, following his recommendations. I did get a consultation with him, that I paid $155 well worth the money.

I plan to keep you all posted during my 3 week cleanse.

Please email Russell if you like or phone him, he is a very busy man but he takes the time to explain to you what your condition is. He also offers a free E Book on his site.

Best of Luck to you,
Deb

First of all - I'm sorry you're not feeling well!

My history is similar to yours: several attacks over the last many years but 4 this year alone and each one increasingly worse than the last. The most recent was in July after which I had chronic pain and discomfort in the left side despite 2 rounds of antibiotics and a month on low residue diet. My scope revealed the diverticuli in the sigmoid along with scar tissue from years of attacks. Surgery was recommended. My doctor had brought up surgery before but as the pain resolved, I dismissed it and tried to maintain my health with supplements, diet restrictions ect. However, this last round did me in. After interviewing several surgeons and researching for myself risks vs. benefits, I went forward with the sigmoid resection on 11/15. I spent 5 days in patient and am now 3 weeks out, starting to get back to some normalcy. I could tell by day 2 that the diseased portion was gone; the chronic ache is no longer and my energy level (despite still healing from surgery) is already better; clearly my immune system was weary from fighting this for so long. I am only 35 and decided that it was worth it for me; I had lost a lot of myself to the disease and was restricting my life (what to you mean, go to Europe? what if I have an attack?). I'm very happy thus far with my surgery.

Please feel free to message me if you have questions. I applaud anyone that can maintain their health, energy and life without surgery. I could not and made the decision right for me. I did not want to wait until I had a fissure or rupture, I prevented going on a bag and prevented emergency surgery. There's definitely a lot to consider!

Hope you feel better!!

To be honest, I didn't take care of myself until recently, so I didn't really know or care how I felt after the antibiotics. Within the last few months is when I started to get serious about my health, I saw a good Colon and rectal surgeon, had the colonoscopy, and decided to get the surgery. I think it went well, I am now trying to eat healthier, but with a lot of fiber now (which I am definitely not used to). I go back to my dr. tomorrow for my second follow up. I feel that I am pretty well healed now, but I have ?'s for him on the whole fiber thing as my BM's Have seem to have changed somewhat, am more gassy than I used to be, and sometimes cramp up or feel gassy after eating.

Hi,
I have also just been through a resection. I could copy and paste Kimbly's reply and make it my own. We have a very similar history and I made the decision to have the resection for pretty much the same reasons. The surgery was on Oct. 2nd and I am feeling better now than I felt in the previous two years. I believe that my body had been fighting a constant low grade infection for a few years. I'm retired, like you, and wanted to travel but didn't dare plan anything out of the country. It was a tough decision to have the operation but it was the right one for me. I wish you luck in dealing with this. this forum is a great place to get information and advice and has been a big help to me.

My resection was Nov.9,2007. The surgeon left the decision up to me which was a source of frustration. I decided to move forward with surgery.I couldn't cope with the uncertainty of an attack at any given moment. Afterwards the surgeon said it was REALLY good I had the surgery when I did. Scar tissue was wrapping around my bladder and vagina and had to be removed as well. He had no indication of what a mess I was inside from the colonoscope.
My brother died at age 54 when he had his first attack and the infection spread throughout his whole body. I turned 53 while in the hospital. I don't know if this is a genetic thing. Please contact me if I can be of help.
Best of Luck