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...
The following information may seem obvious to some of you. Or just plain common sense. But it helps me SO MUCH as a person afflicted with reoccurring diverticulitis that requires surgery, to think about the following, analyze it, and then express it in written words. It really HELPS ME by expressing myself and to share with others. Maybe my words are helpful or meaningful to others too.
OK, here it goes
I am trying to coach myself to be smart and brave. Maybe these words will surprise some of you, but I am eager to schedule my laproscopic colon resection surgery as soon as possible. (Trust me, I was not at all eager when I first learned I needed to have this surgery!) But I have 2 reasons for being eager:
1. My gastroenterologist and a 2nd opinion gastroenterologist both say I need to have and should schedule the surgery. Intellectually, I understand I need to have the surgery. I have done most of my research. And I have made up my mind not to disagree with these doctors and drag my feet by putting off the surgery.
So if I am going to have the surgery, why not just have it very soon and GET IT OVER WITH. If I do not have it soon, then I will allow additional time to elapse. This would mean that for probably at least a few additional months or so I will have to THINK about it much more, WORRY about it much more, WAIT for it much more, and ANALYZE the surgery and recovery again and again much more. All of this additional thinking, worrying, waiting, and analyzing will wear me down and take their toll on me when I do not have to let them.
2. Because I have had many diverticulitis attacks over the years already, I could have another attack at any time. I have had 1 or 2 attacks a year for many years now. The diverticula in my large intestines will get disturbed again, and I will have another attack. Its not a question of will it happen again, its a question of WHEN it will happen again. My last attack was so much worse than the previous ones --- the pain was severe --- and I was very concerned that I was going to have a serious complication requiring emergency surgery.
So the sooner I have this surgery, the less likely I will have another attack before the surgery. I am going to have the surgery anyways, so why risk another painful attack --- that could also have complications and require emergency surgery --- occurring before having the surgery that should prevent me from experiencing these attacks again.
To anyone reading this far, thank you for listening to me.
FL
OK, here it goes
I am trying to coach myself to be smart and brave. Maybe these words will surprise some of you, but I am eager to schedule my laproscopic colon resection surgery as soon as possible. (Trust me, I was not at all eager when I first learned I needed to have this surgery!) But I have 2 reasons for being eager:
1. My gastroenterologist and a 2nd opinion gastroenterologist both say I need to have and should schedule the surgery. Intellectually, I understand I need to have the surgery. I have done most of my research. And I have made up my mind not to disagree with these doctors and drag my feet by putting off the surgery.
So if I am going to have the surgery, why not just have it very soon and GET IT OVER WITH. If I do not have it soon, then I will allow additional time to elapse. This would mean that for probably at least a few additional months or so I will have to THINK about it much more, WORRY about it much more, WAIT for it much more, and ANALYZE the surgery and recovery again and again much more. All of this additional thinking, worrying, waiting, and analyzing will wear me down and take their toll on me when I do not have to let them.
2. Because I have had many diverticulitis attacks over the years already, I could have another attack at any time. I have had 1 or 2 attacks a year for many years now. The diverticula in my large intestines will get disturbed again, and I will have another attack. Its not a question of will it happen again, its a question of WHEN it will happen again. My last attack was so much worse than the previous ones --- the pain was severe --- and I was very concerned that I was going to have a serious complication requiring emergency surgery.
So the sooner I have this surgery, the less likely I will have another attack before the surgery. I am going to have the surgery anyways, so why risk another painful attack --- that could also have complications and require emergency surgery --- occurring before having the surgery that should prevent me from experiencing these attacks again.
To anyone reading this far, thank you for listening to me.
FL
My last scope showed:
- Diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon and the descending colon
- No IBD or tumor
- Some grade 1 internal hemorrhoids
With my flare ups or at other times, I have never had any complications or issues that I or my doctors are aware of.
I have been assuming that a recent scope is necessary before a resection, but it was pure assumption on my part. Part of this assumption was that the scope would show the surgeon exactly where the diverticulosis exits in my large intestines so they would know exactly where and how much to remove.
But maybe the CAT scans are thorough and detailed enough these days that these pictures would give them the information they need before surgery? I am naive about how much detail they show and whether or not they can see the diverticulosis on the large intestine walls with those pictures.
FL
You need to get it done as soon as possible because if you develope another infection they'll decide to put it off. They will only operate in the presence of infection in an emergency situation which is something you want to avoid. The Captain can tell you what can develope while you put it off. And I can tell you how easy the surgery recovery is when complications such as his are not present.
I reconciled myself to surgery 15 months before I managed to get it done. My PCP didn't recommend it and I had to ask him for a referal to a surgeon because I knew I would not survive another infection. When I finally got a surgeon to agree that I needed surgery I made the soonest appointment possible. I made it all happen and it took over a year and I thank God I didn't have another infection in that time. I wouldn't be here to write this if that had occured. If you're afraid, it's normal. I was not, I was excited to get it done. If I died on the operating table, not a worry, because I knew my days were numbered anyway. Believe me, the surgery is not that big a deal. Lapro makes it a walk in the park and healing is faster than you think. I know Captain would not agree because his situation is considerably less fotunate than mine and I can't promise you that yours will go as smoothly as mine. But the long and the short of it is you're going to suffer, suffer, suffer some more and finally die if you do nothing.