Surgery for diverticulitis?

I have had perhaps 6 or so bouts of diverticulitis over the past 10 years and am undergoing one now after 5 years of none.  My internist sent me to a surgeon who told me I was having a mild attack but he recommended surgery to remove the diseased colon (12" of lower sigmoid).  None of my diverticulitis attacks have been severe to the point of hospitalization and the current CT scan doesn't show anything extraordinary.  I am 64.  I'm trying to decide what to do, as I know I can come out of surgery worse off than I am now, or if I let it go I can have a life-threatening attack in the future.  Are there any resources out there to help me make a decision?  I would like a second opinion from someone who is not a surgeon, but what kind of dr should I see?  I live in a small town but would travel to see someone who could give me an objective opinion.

[boron]

Diverticulitis (inflammation of diverticles) comes and go, as you see. Diverticles stay.

Surgery is usually recommended when diverticulitis seriously affects your life, or when diverticles, even if not inflamed, cause resistant constipation. Diverticles themselves are not "dangerous", and there is no need for surgery, if you don't feel to have it.

They are gastroenterologists who can give you second opinion, if you want it.

[Morecambe]

Nearly five years ago I suffered torrential diverticular bleeding and, after weighing up all the options, I opted for a total colectomy rather than live life with the threat of further bleeding which can be life threatening unless you are able to reach a hospital quickly.  During my episode I required about 16 pints of blood over a 2-3 day period so, although diverticular bleeding is not that common, when it happens then you require rapid emergency medical help.

I think that you will have to decide whether you are prepared to live with this risk - or whether you prefer to undergo the surgery.

Try logging on to:-

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166

where you will see my own description of my own total colectomy in response to another Medhelp patient who was contemplating a similar operation - albeit for another complaint.  You might want to print off this posting and show it to your surgeon to check whether my experience is similar to that which your own surgeon contemplates in your case.

I think you should seek out a major hospital with a G.I. specialist team who, preferably, perform colectomy operations daily and who can educate you to the whole spectrum of post-surgery experiences that they have encountered in the treatment of their patients.

Good luck and do come back if you need any further info.

Morecambe

[roadrunner940]

i have severe abdominal pain that is intermittent. i was late for my period for 24 days.i am still having abd. pain, however i started my period today. i felt terrible. whatis the reason for this?i have never been late and never with the abd. pain on top of this. i am eating like a pig.does anyone think that i may be paramenopausal. i am only 41.,or do u think something more is going on?

[snoozies43]

It is very possible that early menapause has started.

I would check with your Gynocologist to rule that out. first. has your mother or any family members started menapause early?

Have you noticed the pain after eating certain foods? Let us know more.

Also after going to gyno, keep us posted as what the results are.

Best to you

[Sue357]

Hi.  I am 7 months out from sigmoid colon resection.  Boy, I thought I was reading my own post, at first.  LOL.  Mine was caused by 6 attacks of diverticulitis, over a 5 month period, which did not respond to the antibiotics that they put me on: Flagyl, Cipro, Levaquin were the most frequent.  I was hospitalized, for 5 days, over the holidays, and that is when I both met my surgeon and made the decision to do the surgery.  They took out about 7 inches.  Deciding factor was the fact that if the colon were to rupture, as the doc put it, the results could be "catastrophic".  Not to scare you, but a couple of months after my surgery, my hubby's best friend had that happen and spent a month in ICU but was never able to recover from the toxins in his system.  In my case, I have a small large colon anyway( doc says that is "how God made you" and I was developing a lot of scar tissue, from all of the attacks, which was causing the colon to stricture ( close up), which I didn't even realize, I just knew I was in pain, especially when I had a bm.  By the way, those were thin like pencils, which are a sign of stricture or something, but I didn't even pay attention.  Anyway, it was my first surgery and a hard decision to make.  7 months later I still have some residual pain, I think depending on what I eat or do, but good news is that he ordered a CT scan, 2 weeks ago, and results look normal or what the radiologist called " Post op changes".  It is an invasive surgery and recovery depends on the person.  I am a big baby....lol... and have a fear of pain....anyway, I hope this helps.  Feel free to contact me.