GI issue - can't figure this out

[ramonesfreak]

I have diverticulitis confirmed by colonoscopy a few years ago after landing in hospital with an abscess. Ruined the last 48 hours and many many weekends the last few years. No idea what I ate this time. Even when being careful, I can no longer predict what will cause a flare up. Two years ago I was eating cliff bars on mtn bike rides because I have diabetes and was trying to have food with me. Bad idea. Never been tested for allergies. I think it was oatmeal cookies my wife made this time. I can tell my issue is getting worse as the years go. I feel your pain

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I have diverticulitis confirmed by colonoscopy a few years ago after landing in hospital with an abscess.

Thats the really frustrating bit. Every bite is russian roulette. Swear I have PTSD around eating.

..but whatever this is can't be too bad, I've only lost 5# after 6 months...

[NY65912]

I have Crohn's and a bad flare is miserable. Any blood in the stool? Weight loss?

I have had strictures in the ileum and been hospitalized 3 times with threats of surgery. Each time I was put on a IV drip feeding me, nothing by mouth for 7-10 days. Last time treated with Prednisone and it resolved in a week. Flu like symptoms, extreme pain encompassing the entire abdomen especially right side belt line, back ache and bad nausea, that's Crohn's. I have wanting to die during an attack.

I would seek out another GI doc for a second or third opinion.

Best of Luck

[astrochex]

With her crohns, my wife did go through a weight loss phase. It was scary.

[techman1]

While you are controlling your diet, does that extend to liquid intake? Specifically water. Are you on well water or main line? Any changes that only you have a dramatic reaction to? Small increase of xxxx that mildly bothered you before, now the increase really gets to you.
Just thinking out of the box.

[cstreit]

Well thank you for all of your ideas and well wishes. The cycle between "wait to get an appointment", get tests, get negative results, get another appointment was not working for me. My symptoms were getting more frequent and less manageable. I saw a point where there were no more good days coming fast.

Over the last few weeks i went on a very limited and mostly liquid diet to no avail. Got home from a work trip a 7P friday and woke up at 4A in pain that made me sweat and gasp so I went to the ER because I needed a sense of urgency that I wasn't getting.

Diagnosis? "Smoldering diverticulitis." Essentially it had become chronic over the last 6-8 weeks and I was not able to shake it. So they admitted me and gave IV antibiotics for 36 hours which turned things around quickly. Just got released tonight with oral antibiotics.

3 different GI's basically said its well past time for surgery. Ive been "managing" it for 7 years but they said after 3-5 major episodes its time. I've had 3 this year alone and more than 7 previous years. ...so plan is get the colon temporarily happy and then go under the (robot) knife. Not looking forward to that, but I AM looking forward to getting back to normal life.

[Noah930]

Best wishes for a successful and uneventful sigmoid colectomy.

[pwd72s]

Hope it all goes smoothly. A big plus on your side is no infection to begin with plus a much better procedure than the two I endured a few decades ago. Dittos on uneventful..

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Hope it all goes smoothly. A big plus on your side is no infection to begin with plus a much better procedure than the two I endured a few decades ago. Dittos on uneventful..

Thanks. Well I sure hope we can get this tamped down in time for surgery. No infection or inflammation makes the surgery much easier and lowers the complication rates. The robot surgery is much less invasive. (still feels weird saying that, but I've watched some videos and I get it, pretty cool) They say 3-7 days in hospital plus 6 week for full recovery.

[smadsen]

I had a kidney removed about three years ago (cancer) with a DiVinci robot. I went home the next day. Just a few years ago that same surgery was a week or more in the hospital because of the huge incision. I ended up with a couple one-inch incisions, and about a four-inch incision where they removed the kidney out the body. Chances of infection are greatly reduced, there is very little pain, and you heal much quicker with the robotic surgery.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I have diverticulitis confirmed by colonoscopy a few years ago after landing in hospital with an abscess. Ruined the last 48 hours and many many weekends the last few years. No idea what I ate this time. Even when being careful, I can no longer predict what will cause a flare up. Two years ago I was eating cliff bars on mtn bike rides because I have diabetes and was trying to have food with me. Bad idea. Never been tested for allergies. I think it was oatmeal cookies my wife made this time. I can tell my issue is getting worse as the years go. I feel your pain

Sadly all you can do is try and manage it. Its not going to go away or "get better". Surgery was always the last thing on my mind - but now its become a serious quality of life issue. ...and looking into the future there are a lot of things I want to do that I wouldn't be able to if this looms over my head.

Multiple GI's have told me the time for surgery for was 3 years ago - so I'm overdue. Hope you are able to figure it out. I'm goign to see an allergist tomorrow because I think there is some trigger - diverticulitis aside - I'd like to know what that is.

[unclebilly]

I’m glad you got it figured. Best of luck in the OR and here’s to a speedy recovery.

[ramonesfreak]

i’m in the emergency department with the worst flare up ive had. i’m on the morphine now. waiting for CT scan. doc said maybe a bowel perforation. i’d be lying if i said wasn’t a bit scared. this stuff is no joke. gonna miss the superbowl i guess

[astrochex]

Sorry to hear that. I hope the doc ain’t right and that its something far less severe.

[ramonesfreak]

unfortunately ct showed a perforation and i’ll be admitted and a doctor just said a surgeon will be coming to talk to me. damn.

[astrochex]

Nuts. Well, I hope you get a good surgeon or surgeonette and everything goes well.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

unfortunately ct showed a perforation and i’ll be admitted and a doctor just said a surgeon will be coming to talk to me. damn.

Dang - best of luck ramones... Keep us posted on how you are. Full positive outcomes are quite typical.

I have been in the ER twice in the last month. Infection didn't clear the first time for me. Talking to a Surgeon tuesday with the intent of a more planned approach than you have right now.

[ramonesfreak]

surgeon came and said no perforation but bad infection and must stay here at least 24 hours and once healed i will need to have the bad parts cut out

[Noah930]

So no abscess on CT scan? That would be the best possible news.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

surgeon came and said no perforation but bad infection and must stay here at least 24 hours and once healed i will need to have the bad parts cut out

Well thats a relief! I was admitted last time and after 36 hours of Zosin I could eat a sandwich with no issues. Best 3 weeks of the last 3 months.. (then the infection came back).

Tried Augmentin last two times - now we're doing the more traditional Levoflaxicin and Metronidazole. I hope this gets it gone so I to can get the bad bit removed.

By June I should be able to eat a good steak. Something to look forward to.