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Seeking support for recovery from diverticulitis surgery
I hope I am posting in the right section! I am almost four weeks in recovery from surgery to resection my colon because I have had so many diverticulitis flare ups. My last flare up started in June, 2022 and lasted until my surgery on Oct. 14. I had no choice but to have the surgery because I developed a stricture in my sigmoid colon. The surgery was supposed to be laparoscopic but ended up being open. It was seven hours. I was in the hospital for 11 days. Now home, I am still in some pain although the surgical site is healing well. My bowel function is a mess. Lots of gas too. I am getting no guidance on how to proceed or what to expect. I wonder how others have survived this. I am looking at a longer recovery because of the open surgery. I would love to avoid more problems in the future, and regain my health. I just turned 70. I don’t know anyone who has undergone this surgery and would like to talk to others who have!
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I had ct colonography (virtual colonoscopy) a few weeks prior to sigmoid colectomy. A stricture in my colon was discovered during a routine colonoscopy several weeks prior to surgeon requesting colonography. Surgeon wanted a 3D look at my colon before the actual surgery. Cannot answer if colonoscopy the day before surgery is normal or not but I presume your surgeon wants a recent updated picture of the diverticulosis/diverticulitis.
I've had two bowel resections in the past two years from ruptured diverticula. Two open surgeries. The first surgeon did not remove enough bowel. It can take months to get to a new normal. I am currently 2.5 months post surgery. I can have 2-3 BMs a day or 8. One day I will reach a normal 🤞🏻. Sometimes I have diarrhea. Please don't strain yourself or lift over ten pounds for several months. I take generic Benefiber (Costco) every morning in my coffee to stay regular. Don't expect too much too soon.
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2 ReactionsI also take magnesium glycinate capsule every night. I add a morning capsule if I haven't "gone". I've used magnesium citrate capsules too.