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...
Went to see the surgeon who attended me when in hospital with an attack. (One of my diverticula ruptured..luckily no stool in it..I was on Cipro and Flagyl for 2 weeks). The first thing he said to me was that usually surgery is required for what is going on with me...but he is extremely hesitant to do it due to the fact I've been on prednisone for 17 years. I also have bladder to bowel fistula. He said it would be a huge surgery and maybe more than one surgery if he were to do it. He said to fuse the bowel to the bladder may not even work and I could end up with a coloscopy bag.
He is sending me for a colonography. He does not want to do a colonoscopy because he fears it will irritate my already irritated colon.
So I too...like most of you am living in fear and confusion.
The other night I was thirsty and drank down a full glass of cold apple juice and later had the worst cramps ever. I blamed them on the juice because I ate nothing I wasnt supposed to.
Then last night I looked on my diet sheet and it said I could have ice cream. So I put a scoop into a dish and put a little chocolate sauce on it. Same thing...horrible cramps..woke me up in the night. A gas-x and a heating pad subdued that. So is it cold things that can cause extra cramping?? It just seems to me that it is a coincidence both were cold.
I'm also not sure just how to introduce fibre into my diet. I've been on the fibre free..or low fibre diet for 2 months (had to stay on it til I seen surgeon). I'm so afraid of getting those horrid cramps again.
Doesn't seem to be too much to look forward to in life anymore. I sometimes think I'd be better off just passing and get it over with.
He is sending me for a colonography. He does not want to do a colonoscopy because he fears it will irritate my already irritated colon.
So I too...like most of you am living in fear and confusion.
The other night I was thirsty and drank down a full glass of cold apple juice and later had the worst cramps ever. I blamed them on the juice because I ate nothing I wasnt supposed to.
Then last night I looked on my diet sheet and it said I could have ice cream. So I put a scoop into a dish and put a little chocolate sauce on it. Same thing...horrible cramps..woke me up in the night. A gas-x and a heating pad subdued that. So is it cold things that can cause extra cramping?? It just seems to me that it is a coincidence both were cold.
I'm also not sure just how to introduce fibre into my diet. I've been on the fibre free..or low fibre diet for 2 months (had to stay on it til I seen surgeon). I'm so afraid of getting those horrid cramps again.
Doesn't seem to be too much to look forward to in life anymore. I sometimes think I'd be better off just passing and get it over with.
I Too had Fistulas..2 Into my left Ovary & Tube, I also had Small Ruptures that they discovered while in Surgery..Mine was Easier because he could Just Remove the Ovary/Tube..but Captain had the same as you..and tho the surgery is more Complicated, the Recovery time Longer, and the possibility of yet another Surgery..it IS Worth doing.
Of course Prednisone Complicates things even Further yet for You..but in this day Dr.s can Do SO Much..I would Imagine they would have to Wean you off the Prednisone ? And then what ? As I have no idea why ur on it..I did go Look it up cause I had No idea what it is, or what it is used for..so they could put you right back on it once the Risk of Infection has Lowered ?
I Know it all seems so Overwhelming at this Point..My Hope & Prayer for you is that You have a Good Emotional Support System in Place...That You Feel Safe with Your Dr./Surgeon, cause That is HUGELY Important.
Even with the Surgery, there IS a Chance this could ALL Come back..but I do Not Allow those thoughts into my head..I Live within the Moment anymore..I have been Sick in my Life since 98..and right Now, Today is the BEST I have felt Since before that Year.
I had to get Myself Emotionally Ready..I had to Put my Fears in Order..My BIGGEST Fear was of Rupture, of Sepsis..I got just a taste of that one night..so Since my Biggest Fears was Of the Disease itself, I Opted for Immediate Surgery, Didn't Allow myself Much Time to Think about it..and I Put the Fear of the Actual Surgery on the Back Burner, Forced Negative Thoughts OUT of my Head..And Replaced those with Healing..My Focus is On Healing.
Do You Meditate at All ? I Just do Simple Belly Breathing Several Times a day..and This has Brought Peace when I Started to get Overwhelmed. I Understand Yours is Much More Complicated then Mine was, so If you have Never Tried it...Please Do..It has Immediate Body Wide Benefits..It will Help You to Push out the Negative Thoughts...Allow You To Focus on All that is Good/Positive.
Here is One Song I Sit Back and Breath To..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK0lbDFAtfQ
Get a Plan..There is Plenty to Look Forward to for You.
I think the main problem is that the adrenal glands shut down when on prednisone and the prednisone "tricks" the body into thinking they are still working.
I am sure I can be tapered off it and hopefully after all this time the adrenals will kick back in.
Today I added Benefibre (a fiber tablet) and a stool softner to my arsenal of weapons against this monster inside me. Already my tummy feels more settled as if it is now working and doing what it is supposed to do.
The doc suggested I go on those to ensure that my stools are passing properly without any problems. I am eating exactly what I am supposed to and eating lightly. I cannot stand the feeling of a full tummy anymore.
Is it usual for your whole digestive tract to feel "not normal" after having these attacks??
So that is about it for now, I thank you so much and others too. I love the song...it is very relaxing indeed.
Will keep in touch...Love this group...it really does help.
Anyway..with regards to the Prednisone. I agree with what you said, but I do also have Discoid Lupus (skin Lupus) and my immune system is in such a state as to attack my body due to all the auto immune disorders I have. My biggest problem I suppose (aside from the obvious) is that I am allergic to anti-inflammatories and cannot even take aspirin due to allergies..so they told me Prednisone was my only option. I am being weaned off it thank God...so I don't know if that will change the decision of the doc re surgery or not.
Love you guys for being so open and so kind...it is appreciated more than you can imagine. Hope all is well with you...take care. (((((hugs))))