laproscopic surgery

[sfg62]

I just had my fourth episode of diverticulitis and want to consider laproscopic surgery for the condition. I live in Columbia, SC. How can I find a local surgeon with experience in this procedure? Secondly, How long is the recovery when the surgery is done using this method.  

[Morecambe]

In case your treatment subsequently develops into a total colectomy ("surgeon's hands inside you " - i.e. not a laparascopic procedure) I can relate my own experiences which you can find on:-

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

of course this may not be relevant to you - I hope that your condition can be treated with a less invasive procedure.

Good luck
Morecambe

[Sue357]

Hi.  I had the hand assisted lapro surgery in Jan. of this year.  I had ended up in the hospital, so that is how I met my surgeon.  I would suggest that you consult your GI for referrals.  If you don't have one, then your PCP should be able to help.  As for the recovery, it seems to vary by person.  Mine has been slow but I am much much better, and almost a year out, am finally glad I did it.  I had 6 episodes in 5 months and the oral antibiotics didn't work.  Each episode caused more and more scarring in my sigmoid colon to the point where it was starting to close up.  He removed 7 inches. Go to a thread on this site, problems after bowel resection ( don't be scared of the name) and you can read the stories of many of us who have had this surgery.  Good luck.