DIVERTICULOSIS BLUES-Surgery or ??
Find a Conversation
DIVERTICULOSIS BLUES-Surgery or ??
| Thu, 06-14-2007 - 3:51pm |
Hello all. A 51 yr young female here, just had my second hospitalization for diverticulitis. Been fighting with this for 4 years, never have had any perforations, but high infection treated with iv antibiotics, then oral. This last time in, it was suggested to me that once the inflammation, etc. calm down, I have surgery to remove the stretch of "bad road". I apparently have ALOT of diverticula pouches. I also have GERD, and a hiatal hernia. Geez, if I had no guts I would be just fine! LOL, anyway, has anyone else out there had this kind of surgery, and what was your experience? I really, really do not want to risk continuing on with this disease and run the risk of perforation resulting in infection and possible fatal results, so the surgery makes all the sense in the world, but I would like to know what to expect, etc.
Thanks for any advice, help, suggestions, etc.
Thanks for any advice, help, suggestions, etc.

I don't have personal knowledge to share, but do have some great information that you might find helpful...
http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/diverticulitisdiverticulosis/diverticulitis.cfm
http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/diverticulitisdiverticulosis/diverticulosis.cfm
Hopefully another member will come along with more information that is based on their own experiences, but from what you've described, surgery does sound like a good possibility.
CL of

<My husband is going through something similar right now. He is 35 yrs old and recently had a hospitalization for a small perforation due to diverticulitis. He was on the IV antibiotics and now oral antibiotics and is out of the hospital, but still running a fever. I fear that he is still at risk for the type of surgery that would result in a temporary colostomy since he is still running a fever. If he does not end up having that surgery, we would probably go ahead and have the laproscopic surgery in about 8 weeks when he is healed. From what we've been told, he's got a lot more years to live with these intestines so they would like to take out the "bad road" as you said. Also, we've been told the laproscopic recovery is pretty good (2 days in the hospital and able to return to normal activity very shortly after that.)
Can I ask you a question? When you were on the IV antibiotics and then oral antibiotics after a bout of diverticulitis, how long until you felt better and stopped running a fever (if you were running one)?
Thank you for your information. This is all new to us because this was his first episode.
Hi traceynelt,
Sorry to hear that your hubby is going through this, and as young as he is too.
Very true regarding your comment that he has many, many more years to go with those innards of his, so considering the surgery is a good idea depending on the stage of his disease.
Anyway, the diverticulosis surfaced about 4 years ago for me (age 47). I was running a low grade fever, and pain that I would compare to as a "stitch" one would get after running alot. Except the "stitch" was high up in the mid abdomen. Just would not go away. My wbc (white blood count) was highly elevated, so they put me in the hospital on the iv antibiotics. I was in there for a week, absolutely no food or liquids for the first 2 days, then liquid diet only for the next 2 days, then mushy/soft foods allowed. They released me on oral antibiotics then. My temp was normal, but I still did not feel all that great. The antibiotics are so strong, they can really make you feel sick too. However, I never had any perforations apparently....or at least that is what they tell me. I am constantly fearful of that though, and have decided to have the colon resection asap. I am now on my third round of antibiotics since March, and am calling the surgeon tomorrow. I would love to have the lap surgery if it is available to me, but I don't know if that is possible, but will sure be asking about it.
To answer your question as to how long before I felt better after my first bout, I would say it was about a month after I was off the antibiotics. Be sure to have him get everything checked out as he really does not want to continue to mess with this darn thing like I have done for the last 4 years! Best wishes and good luck!
Goddess,
Thanks for your reply. Since I wrote to you, I had to call an ambulance for my husband because he was in severe pain and barely conscious on Sunday morning. He is back in the hospital, on IV antibiotics, ice chips (not even liquid diet.) He has developed an abscess. The plan is to pump him full of antibiotics, and do the surgery later in the week. It is looking like he'll end up with the temporary colostomy bag.
I think you are thinking along the right lines with looking into the surgery. I just wish we could have gotten to the point where my husband could have had the laproscopic surgery, but it is not going to be possible. I sure don't want to have to deal with this like you have for four years! We have three small children and I've had to depend on my parents who live 8 hours away to come and help us out, so I can't imagine doing this for years to come. Thanks again for your reply and good luck to you.
--Tracey
Oh Tracey, I am so sorry to hear about your hubby's troubles! And I know how difficult it can be with the kids too, thank God your folks can come by to help out even though they live so far away.....God love 'em!!!
Yes, he is going to have to have a pretty narly surgery once they get his wbc down and that infection calmed down....and he will have to have the colostomy bag too. However, I am sure he will be able to have the ends reconnected about 3 - 4 months down the road. Eventually he will not have to worry about this again, but it is going to be a little rough road for him to travel down for awhile. It is a very serious situation that he is in right now. I will keep your family in my prayers.....please keep in touch and let me know how everything goes.
Deb