Okay @krazykat, I’ll try my best to keep this short…
Since we speak the same language here through experience you’ll get everything I’m saying.
I’m 57 now, I never get stomach aches, ever! I get headaches just like everyone else but I haven’t had a stomach ache in over forty years. And I’ve only had two bouts of diverticulitis, my first one was in 2016 and resulted in a full weekend hospital stay, came out of nowhere and was very eye opening!
My 2nd bout, May 18th, 2021, one overnight hospital stay. So five years apart, this time resulting in getting my primary involved and he’s who got my consultation set up with a surgeon.
So all this brought out the stubborn, bonehead in me, which resulted in some pretty good fights with my wife….no way in Hell am I even gonna meet with this surgeon much less consider having surgery, not happening! Two to three weeks go by and I’m getting sicker by the day!
So after much more fighting, and more pain I set up the meeting with the surgeon. Very down to earth, matter of fact guy, I was impressed!
Here’s my issue, most people have diverticulitis in their lower left Sigmoid Colon, and they can live with it for years, or for the rest of their lives. It can be managed through antibiotics and pain meds, and it’ll involve hospital stays and a lifetime of pain, but millions of people deal with it, and it sucks!
My issue is….my diverticulitis was dead center and about ~2” below my bellybutton, and in that exact location it involved my bladder. Think about a good apple touching a bad, rotten apple, you know what happens!
That inflamed, infected section of colon was sticking to my bladder sharing all of it’s lovely goodness. Put it this way, when your colon and your bladder start swapping fluids, you’re in serious trouble!!
This surgeon knew exactly what was happening, I’ll never forget this question, he said “how do you feel today, how do you feel right this minute?” I said actually the best I’ve felt in two or three weeks! He said good, you need surgery today, as in right now! WHAT??
He said this isn’t going away, surgery is your only option and you need it now! I need to do the surgery while you’re good and healthy, not all inflamed and infected. We need to set it up soon, real soon!
I had bowel resection surgery in just over two months from that second ever attack and it was rough rough rough! That’s the Cliff note version, let me know if you have any questions.
Oh yeah, he removed 8” of my large intestines, 2” of my small, he had to repair my bladder, and he removed my appendix….that’s another story for another day!
Guess I just answered that one!
