Diverticulitis and now going to have a Sigmoid colon resection

So sorry you are having issues following surgery. Unfortunately this type of surgery does present a high risk for infection. Recovery will take a bit longer with open vs laparoscopic. The urgency for BMs will continue for sometime, it took me many weeks before I had confidence to leave the house. you are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong and keep a positive attitude. If you don’t mind me asking was the surgery done at Mayo Clinic?

Thank you. I wish there was more information on recovery but, everyone is so different.
The last 2 days have been better. I really have to eat small portions to not feel so full. I also have to drink more. The blood is not as bad and seem to have more normal looking BM's but soft. I am still on low fiber diet. I also started using my infrared sauna / light walking more and it seems to help with relaxing and mental well-being.
It is weird not to have hungry. I started back taking multi vitamins, 2 chewable 500 mg C's and B12, B6 and folic acid for energy. And I have been able to eat my yogurt now without bloating! I consider it one of my meals with a banana (I put a zinc capsule and a probiotic in it too) I added small applesauce as another small snack.
I make sure and have an egg and my husband's homemade white bread and a pce pf bacon for breakfast. Lunch is usually grilled chicken breast with noodle pasta.
The last 2 days I was also able to do some house chores and felt good about that and no naps!
I did not have surgery at the Mayo clinic. I did have one of the best Dr's in my area.
I think the other issues were hopefully just a fluke. Which I will get checked on Monday.
Today I have my normal dentist cleaning appt. and hoping to feel comfortable enough to go after to get some flowers to plant. Being outside and working in the yard is my "drug"
Speaking of drugs. I think I may have had 3 Tylenol this week which is great!

Hey linda82 sounds like things have taken a turn in the right direction. Good news! Stay active and don’t overdo it! Stay in touch and provide updates from time to time!

Update
Tomorrow will be 5 wks since surgery.
I am still tired a lot. Mornings are not painful but, many BM's where I feel pressure. I have started taking 2 Advil in the morning to see if that helps.
I have noticed that to get my energy I go in the sun or in the infrared sauna for 20 mins @ 120F and it gives me more energy and well-being. Once I do that, I have been just doing some light stretching, recumbent bike and some light arm weights. I then try to get outside and do a little gardening and feel like I am accomplishing something!
Food is still light and get full fast. I have to make myself eat because I am not hungry. I also have to make myself DRINK More!
I am feeling better like being out of a "fog"
I have lost a lot of weight and I do not like the way my skin looks. Which I know I have to get back more into exercise. I will go back to the Dr. this week and hoping since my incisions look good, I can get back in the pool!
As for the Fluke I did go see my OBGYN and had the ultrasound that showed my uterus lining was at a point of thickening that I needed a biopsy. That attempt did not work. (past cervical cancer) I have decided to proceed with the DNC and biopsy. At least I will be put asleep.

I forgot. I have been having pain in belly area around incision the feels hard to the touch.
Does anyone else have this pain and does it go away?

Hi Linda, I’ve followed your blog since you said that you had to have surgery. I was diagnosed with severe diverticulitis and stricture in January. In the past, I had been diagnosed with spastic: colon…so when I would have pain, I just thought that it was that. I’ve never been hospitalized. I did go on around of antibiotics two weeks ago just because I had an episode and for the first time had a mild fever. It was gone the next morning, but I asked the doctor for antibiotics just as a precaution and I was hoping it would help with the inflammation. I did clear liquids and a low residue diet which I’m only now starting to try five and 15 g of fiber a day and build up.

Im really trying to Not have the surgery, but I feel it may be inevitable. I was just wondering how you’re doing did you get your ostomy reversed? Just so much to go through!

I hope you’re doing well-and i hope the other person with skin abcess had good outcome and maybe they’ll let us know at some point! Take care!

From this post it did it sounds like you did have the reversal sorry I missed that …Hope you’re doing well and feeling stronger with summer 🌺😎

Hi!

You should have the antibiotics (if fever) and inflammatory meds on hand. My Dr. did not that for me. I would say that it will keep happening and restricting food only helps when you have an episode. You will keep having the episodes and they will get worse. When my Dr. told me what he had to go through to remove mine it was terrible. The scarring was stuck to everything. He said I was right to decide.

Now
I am back to normal! The fog is gone! LOL
Normal BM's, I forgot what they were!
I had told my Dr. I want to get up and go to the bathroom normal and no worries for the rest of the day!
I have not had to run to the BR in 2 mths! I have no pain.
I still do not eat big meals. He did remove 12" of sigmoid and had to reposition it. I get full fast and if I do eat too much, I will feel like I might need to go to the bathroom. But, I have control and go if I need to. One down fall from this is I have been addicted to tootsie pops and hard cinnamon candies. It's like I want to snack, and I have no room. So, I just have a tootsie pop!
I make sure and have my fruit and vegetables every day. Which it has been a while due to issues of it bothering me before surgery.
I drink a lot. Juices, water, herbal ice teas.
I would say due to mine not staying robotic only and having belly incision made it longer.
Thursday will be 4 mths. (and last check up with Dr.)
I love adding new and old foods back. (anxiety still haunts me)
I worked in the yard and swim every morning! Rides bike and back to weights and other exercises.
First time I swam I had to take Advil for a week. I think I was still out of shape from surgery.
The only issue I still have is mental. Since I am doing better and feeling well it may take time to say "book that trip" and do not worry!

Wow! Thank you so much for all of the information. My doctor doesn’t give me antibiotics or anti-inflammatories on hand either. He really just is pushing surgery…
I know what you’re saying - I am afraid of them getting worse and continuing. I do have a surgical consult in August so I’ll go from there.

It sounds like you’re doing very well though, and I’m so happy for you! I think it pays to be in the best shape that you can physically as well as to get back to it when able. I’m not in bad shape. I do walk regularly but haven’t done weights in a while and I’m 63.

My 93-year-old mother lives with me and I don’t have a lot of family help, so that is a little bit why I’m trying to put this off, but I know that stress can exacerbate it.

It sounds like you had an excellent doctor and I feel that I will too. Like speed bird I am in Cleveland, but I am in a different hospital system. Can’t go to the clinic because I work at the other hospital, but there are two excellent surgeons so I will, looking at one of them when/if I proceed.

Thank you again for taking your time and being willing to explain so much to me! It helps so much to hear from someone who’s gone through it! I do hope you continue to feel more secure in your new normal and get to book a trip soon 😎✈️

My Dr. said that he would have older patients stay on inflammation medication just because they could not go through the surgery for other health reasons. I had a running prescription for the inflammation. I would only take the antibiotics if I had a fever. You do not want to stay on antibiotics more than required. Plus important to get blood work to keep track of infection.
When I say weights. I mean light weights. All the episodes depleted and muscle I had because I was not getting the nutrition. And each recovery wore me out.
I am 60 and I am fortunate to have my husband that helped! We are retired and no kids or other family to take care of.
I know how important it is to take care of your mother. ♥
Maybe you could get assistance from health care for your mom and you in that time?
The main thing he did was run errands, cook and he made a spreadsheet I followed for meds and meals. Also, for any documentation for Dr.
I could not drive for a mth. He drove me when I went out. (Had to wear loose clothes and a pillow between seatbelt and belly.
I had no issues taking showers light cleaning. Walking/hydrating is your friend, and you have to do it as much as possible.
I would talk to both of the surgeons and decide from there. Have them go over your colonoscopy and find out where exactly the diverticulitis is in you colon and if it is anywhere else.
Planning as much as you can and going forward is your choice and you do not want an emergency and you have no idea who is doing it. 😔
I WISH there was a manual for this. especially what to do before and after surgery recovery.
Of course everyone is different. But, it can be scary. I was messaging my nurses a lot in the first couple weeks.
Main questions Is this normal? How long will it last? I am always tired and no energy etc. ☺