Nagging Pain Gone!

[Buckshot323]

My NAGGING PAIN of the last 2-3 years is gone. It has been 23 days since my Sigmoid resection and the lower left abdomen pain is no longer. I still have tenderness from surgery in other areas. It was 1 1/2 years of CAT SCANS, Colonoscopies, rectal exams, urinary scopes and 5 different doctors none of which were confident to call my problem Chronic Diverticulitis except the General Surgeon. Doctors came up with Kidney Stones, Prostrate stones, put me on antibiotics "just in case", and two specialists could not diagnose and could not tell me where to turn next. They knew had DiverticuLOSES but could not tell me why I had CONSTANT discomfort. It was manageable and I could generally go on with everyday life but the specific point of pain was always there and never went away with antibiotics. The surgeon was the first to use CHRONIC DiverticuLITIS. I scheduled surgery within a couple weeks and the pain is gone. See other posts about s my surgery. :

[Denny]

Thanks for all your effort posting about your situation with lack of proper diagnoses. I feel more certian now that diverticulitus may actually be my problem. I went to the local doc with ocasional sharp pains in left side abdomen area,,he diagnoses as possible div. and sent me to a gastro surgeon for further diagnoses. Surgeon said cat scans looked normal,,so he did a colonoscopy,,,and came up with a diagnosis of mild, uncoplicated div.,,,,,,,he said there were only two or three sacs,or diverticulum and they didnt look like they would be causeing any problem. So,,now ,,after about 5 months since the first doctors visit im still haveing those ocassional sharp pains in the left side everyday ,,,but,never at night,,,also a little tender in that one spot on the left side,,,the sharp pains sorta come and go,,,seems to be no ryme or reason as for when or why. so does this sound anything like the pains you were haveing,,,? Im still trying to decide if i need to go ahead and get another opinion or what???????? thanks Denny

[Buckshot323]

I had had my pains for a year or two prior to seeing a Doctor. I had passed several Kidney stones in the past and thought I was feeling stone movement I just never saw them pass. That was not uncommon for me as the stones I did pass took their time and I got use to the discomfort. About 1 1/2 year ago I had a major Flare of some sort. I did not know about Diverticulitis then but I knew something was not right. My pain at that time and as far as I remember at least a year or more prior was a constant mild pain, it never went away. Unless there was a Flare of some degree I could only feel the pain when pressure was applied to it by hand, from my belt, bending or a really full stomach. CAT Scans DO NOT show everything. My father in law went in for Colon resection and in addition to Diverticulitis the surgeon found Sarcoma Cancer wrapped around his intestine and had to cut out 3 more areas. Not trying to scare you but I do want people to know NOT EVERYTHING shows up on CAT scans as he had 4 of them and more than 1 colonoscopy. That type of cancer apparently only shows up on a PET Scan. They say pain on the lower left is generally Colon related or a tumor of some kind as there is not much else in that area. If you feel something is not right you have to pursue it as the doctors only seem to be concerned about your visit today and that 6 month follow up unless you push the point. Hopefully you could control it without surgery. If not, the surgery is better than being sick and in pain. Good luck.

[Denny]

Thanks for the advice,,guess it would be best to go ahead and see another sergeon ,as i was not to impressed with this last guy,,like you said,,he sure didnt seem very concerned about finding the problem,,,,,,,,,if im still haveing sharp pains everyday that come and go ,then surely something isint right.good luck with your recovery and may the Lord speed your healing.

[Buckshot323]

Us guys normally don't live as long as the ladies. One main reason for it they say is we overlook things and DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR. The ladies at least go the OBGYN every year and they pick up on problems sooner than we do. I was in the Hospital with Diverticulitis in March on a supposed abscess. Turned out it wasn't. I still had a pain every day and didn't go back to the GI Doctor until October. I got use to the pain or tried to ignore it. I subjected myself unnecessarily to the possibility of Emergency surgery ( Which I understand is only a 70% survival rate). I should have followed up in March or April. This would have been over and I wouldn't be missing the 2 most income generating months of my work here in SW Florida. My stubbornness and Fear really cost me and could have cost me more, My Health. When we know something is not right we need to get it resolved because it is not going to get better on it's own.

[normajoy]

I was so pleased I came across your posting. I have had about 3 weeks pain free in the past year. I have been diagnosed with diverticular disease and told to go on high fibre diet. But like you I always have pain and sometimes, as you know, bad pain. Antibiotics did not help and a scan back in January showed there was no abscess. I have tried a " no gluten" diet in case I had IBS as well, but now I have full blown diverticulitis with nausea, pain and the runs. I am back on antibiotics and it is settling . After reading about you I think I will visit a surgeon as I feel I have painful diverticulosis as did you. Would love to know how you are improving as I hate the thought of bowel surgery.

[Buckshot323]

My pre-surgery pain is totally gone and I am back to normal, whatever that is. If you have read my postings you know I have had very little discomfort from Surgery. Haven't taken any pain meds since coming home 4.5 days after "Open" Colon resection. With a 10-inch incision you will have discomfort with certain movement for a month or so but I was back in full construction work mode in 8 weeks. With office job you would probably be back working half days in 3 weeks. My surgeon stressed “pain” but I found it to be more like discomfort as opposed to pain were you need medication.

The only bad part of the surgery was the tube in my nose pumping my stomach but I complained and they took it out. Get the epidural and you won't feel much while in the hospital. I had FULL DIET since the 3rd day except not steak until my 1-week appointment. I have not restricted myself from anything food wise. I eat nuts if they are in my food I just don’t eat them by the hand full. I've had popcorn twice in 3 months. I eat anything but I do try to chew much more to break things down better and drinks lots of water. I used to eat fast and not much chewing. We still have the disease and diverticula’s so anything can happen in the future.

If you have surgery and your surgeon does not routinely use both styles, “ Open & Laparoscopic”, talk to another so you get a fair representation of both. It seams they push one style or the other. There are pros and cons to both so once you understand them you can make the choice. I can understand how a lady would not want my scar for the year or two it takes to nearly go away, BUT I have a great deal of comfort knowing my surgeon was all over in there with his hands checking out my organs etc with direct eye contact. I feel at ease knowing my insides had a good look over. My surgeon, who does laparoscopic surgeries, said I would have a 2-3 inch incision along with the instrument holes if he used laparoscopic. While laparoscopic is a quicker recovery, I felt “Open” was best for ME.

GOOD LUCK

[normajoy]

Saw my Docotor yesterday and he feels it would be best for me to have surgery, so I have booked specialiast for 13th May.. Am a little scared but after reading about you I know I will be fine. I will probably choose the open surgery as I had a lot of waterworks problems last year and there could be adhesions as well. Just finished antibiotics and still have a lot of discomfort so I am sure I am doing the right thing. Would hate to have to go to hospital in an emergency and have to have a bag. At least this way I hopefully can avoid that!!Thank you for all your information and hope all continues to go well for you! Take care

[Buckshot323]

Normajoy

Are you still safe from Diverticulitis? We haven't heard any further updates since the other possible diagnosis.

[MWhite]

I had Diverticular Disease for 5 or 6 years. Last winter I had diverticulitis with a rupture and blockage, I was very sick and in the hospital for 5 days. I knew there was something seriously wrong, the pain was incredible...after several CT scans and a colonoscopy I had an open sigmoidectomy due to a blockage, June of 08, I was in the hospital for 8 days. I felt better almost immediately, not that sickly feeling that I had for months before. I have had a bit of bowel trouble since with some cramping, gas and loose stool or constipation. I do worry that it is coming back. I am hoping that it doesn't.