Is Surgery for Diverticulitis the best solution?

First lets hear from "Roxann"
Roxann is one of our valuable newsletter readers. This is a commment she sent to me recently.
"I had surgery 2 years ago when a polup burst, I was in the hospital for a month. The surgery's consisted of , splenectomy, colostomy,and gallbladder dissected. Then 2 months later the stoma failed so another surgery to reconstruct the bowel. Since then I've had 2 bowel obstructions from adhesions, so I am now on a low fiber diet, and trying to control my weight. I am also on warfin, because I had a blood clot and found I have a 5 factor clotting agent. I am looking forward to another surgery, reconstructive for herniation as soon as I can be ready. It's hard to keep my nerves and diet in check. "

Now this is not meant to scare you, but to inform you. Roxann has had a tough time of it. And repeated surgeries is not something that anyone looks forward to. This can happen with surgery, it is one of those things surgery has risk involved, as does anything.

The thing about surgery is that it cannot be undone, there is no going back from surgery. Surgery should be kept as a last resort.

Surgery for Diverticulitis is actually quite successful, it usually fixes the problem. (However stay on a diet high in fiber to help keep things moving and reduce the risk of any Diverticuli forming in the future). The main side effect seems to be a reduced warning about having to go. I guess this has to do with a portion of the bowel missing.

There are always options to consider. Surgery is rarely the only option. So consider options that are lower risk initially, options that can be undone. And don't just have a lack luster try at them. But rather have a serious dedicated effort, and see how things progress.

If surgery is the only option and you have exhausted other avenues then by all means surgery might be the right option for you.

However if you can avoid surgery then do so.