irritable syndrome and diverticular

I have been suffering about a good 10 years with bouts of diverticulitis attacks. I recently brought in my cat scans, mris, colonscopies, blood work, etc and got a retal scope in the office where they found thickening in my sigmoid colon finding it difficult to insert the tube they use...
Their conclusion is to completely remove my colon since it is with divertitular on right, left and in the middle.
The doctor claims no colostomy bag...
It seems like the best course of action since I am so sick that it is hard to eat. I just finished another bout in the hospital with antibiotics IVS. No other problems are showing thus far in the tests like fistulas, etc.

Scare but determined to find a better quality of life. I have not been able to function or even work for months now.

thank you for any advice,

Lumarie

[Sue357]

Hi.  I am 7 months out from sigmoid colon resection due to multiple diverticulitis attacks that were scarring my colon and causing it to stricture.  I also spent time in hospital as they were watching me for perforation, I guess.  Anyway, I elected to do the surgery.  Spent 3 weeks on IV antiobiotics, at home and they did the nice neat cut, which, according to him, usually means no bag.  My surgery was laproscopic, hand assisted and I did not have a bag.  Over all, I am glad I had it done, but still get some pain, I think depending on what I eat and/or stress.  

[Morecambe]

Four and a half years ago I underwent a total colectomy for torrential diverticular bleeding.

May I refer you to a reply I posted to a question from a Medhelp patient in which I described the procedure and the aftermath.

Try logging on to:-

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

You may want to print off this reply and show it to your surgeon to check whether he would expect you to undergo a similar experience.

Of course everyone is different but I hope that, if you undergo the operation, your recovery will be complete - as mine was.

Good luck - and do revert with any further questions

Morecambe