You'll be in my prayers.

You can do this. I just had the surgery. Yes, I did have laproscopic surgery and I understand it is supposed to be easier. Hospital stay was supposed to be 5 days but I was out on the 3rd day. It is major surgery. I am 2 1/2 weeks post-op and have not driven my car but I did go to the store a few times on short outings and today I trimmed a bush in the yard. I do not lift anything. I had, had an abcess that was never drained the infection had adheared to my small intestine. I had two large polyps at the same site as well. It was a mess and with that, you need to let go and let the doctor do her work. My surgeon was female, had an excellent recommendation with a good bedside manner. You will be anxious until it's over and then, you will go home and still have some worry. It's normal. If you weren't worried something would be wrong. Try to take deep breaths. Close your eyes and just breath. Take comfort from family and friends. You will be in my prayers too. Soon you will be reporting back and healing on the other side. x0x0

Thank you so much to both of you. Your prayers are appreciated, and your words so very encouraging. I feel very thankful after reading through the forum that I hadn't suffered from symptoms for years, and I believe I was fortunate to end up at a great hospital and with good surgeons.

That said, I am one day closer to getting it over. Even the colon surgeon apologized for the week delay, but she had to coordinate with the urological surgeon. The waiting is what is doing the number on my head!

Thank you again, belinda

Hope all goes well for you with the surgery & that you heal quickly.

It's tough to need surgery after the first attack because you don't have the normal progression of having several attacks,choosing to have surgery, and getting yourself mentally prepared for the surgery. It's like, diverticulitis? What is that? How do I spell it? And it requires surgery? Whoa, let's just wait a second here!! So this is definitely stressful and is hard to go through. But from what you have said about your situation please know that surgery is the proper choice. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

belinda-

I had emergency open surgery for diverticulitis after perforating my colon. You can do it! It's hard to imagine but you will probably look and feel better after the surgery. I had no idea I had diverticulitis. I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what it was and I had no idea HOW wrong. lol. Anyway...it's a good option. This seems to be one disease where surgical intervention generally produces good results and an improved quality of life. It's not fun to recover from but keep posting once you can and let us know how you are so we can help you through on the other side of this. xxxooo

This is something you must do, there is no choice. Fear is normal, but it's not necessary. It's counter productive to healing, also. I will pray for you and my suggestion to you is that you look in your yellow pages and call various churches, of any denomination, near you and ask for prayer. When I had major surgery in 1992, there were hundreds of people praying for me. A Harvard University study some years back concluded that prayer WORKS. Knowing that people are praying will help you allay your fears. Fear nothing, not even death. It's better "over there" but you'll be staying around quite a while. This is a learning experience, use it.
Much love and support,
Jill

I agree with prayer. I am a Christian but not a church attending person. Friends, family, aquaintances, they prayed for me. My SIL put me on the prayer chain at her church, a woman who doesn't know me told my mother she was praying daily at morning mass. I drew on knowing that prayers were with me. Prayers are with you too. Including right here with me. Thinking about you daily and praying for you. You will be fine.

There are so many good suggestions here and I truly do feel all of your support which is so appreciated. I am now on liquids, which is almost ok as eating this week has been stressful in itself!

And I love the humor, too! I still am not sure of the spelling of diverticulwhat? yet!! I am also thankful that I did not have years of anguish prior to getting to this point.

There is almost humor in how this started, too. We were coming back from our winter in Florida and had planned two days in Savannah GA just to do some sightseeing. We had a wonderful dinner the first evening, and as part of it they served corn hushpuppies. The next day while doing a city tour on a trolley, I had to get off as I really felt like I was getting sick. I truly thought I had some type of food poisoning. It wasn't until we got back to Wisconsin and I spiked a 103.3 fever that I really knew this was really bad.

Looking back, my first symptom was a sore tailbone. I thought it was from a bad bike seat, so I bought a new one. Did not help! After my first surgery to drain the abscess, the pain in my ... was gone!

Thank you again for all your suggestions and support! PS Is wine an appropriate liquid!!

I have been thinking about you today, you are in my prayers. A big hug and healing thoughts.

Hope all went well with your procedure. I'm 36 and have had 6 or more bouts of DV and am finally scheduled for an August 2 laparoscopic procedure. I'm stressing a bit but know this will be for the best and plan to have a new life after this diseased portion is gone. Please let us know how it all went. Prayers.

I am home! I truly appreciate all your prayers and support, and the miraculous things that doctors can do even in challenging situations! I do not believe I could have been blessed with a better outcome, and all of the pathology test were clear, and the damage outside of the colon though more extensive that initially thought, the urulogical surgeon did her part on that and the colon surgeon did hers, and between then I am home today with only a foley catherter which will be removed Tuesday and a bunch of staples which will be removed next Friday!

Oh, I almost forgot she said it had connected to my appendix, so I no longer have that to bother me either!

She gave me a 4 day epidural which truly provided nearly 100% pain relief, but the withdrawal from the phentenal in there was brutal.

After reading so much about soft low fiber diets, my surgeon said to resume to whatever I want when it feels right. I have had mashed potatoes twice, but she truly told me not to worry. Thank you again for all of your support through what has been such a trying time!

There you are! Waiting for you to post. So relieved that you are now home and mending. Sounds like they needed to fix quite alot. Amazing what these infections will do. I know they told me they worked a long time seperating my large and small intestines. Rest, rest, rest and when you think you have rested enough rest some more. And it is true, take it slow but I am eating anything I want. It's been a month for me and I have re-gained 6 lbs. Love and care to you.

So happy to hear you're doing good! I hope you feel stronger every day. Wow 100% pain relief sounds good for those 4 days. Take care and rest.

Wow...today I slept in until the crack of noon (though I was up several times in the night). I think I found the hospitals would rather keep you up in the night and sleep days!

Just had a shower, and though in some pain I feel almost human. The chills and sweats and weird dreams from the drugs seem to be leaving

Thank you for again for the support. It has truly been another blessing! Hugs to you all!