Two surgeons two completely opposite opinions!

For my mother, keeping stool soft helped with a colon that was narrowed by diverticulitis and scarring. I will say though that when her assisted living missed two nights of stool softener, she had a total blockage and had to have surgery. This may not be relevant.

If you have imaging reports or any other way to find out how much narrowing has occurred that might be helpful.

Personally, I always go with the most gentle, benign approach until a more aggressive one is obviously needed. I think of the term "slow medicine."

I had a similar divergence of opinion about my infrequent afib: do nothing vs blood thinners and other meds- 10 years ago. Doing nothing has certainly proven to be the wise course.

You can always get another opinion to be a tie breaker!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply @windyshores yes I think your probably right. My son in law has just visited and said when his father needed an operation (totally different procedure) the surgeon did say with any operation your never going to be the same after even if the outcome is successful - well right now I'm bobbing along quite nicely thank you! Maybe another opinion is required.
Thanks again

When did you have your colonoscopy? And they said mild case?
This is confusing and concerning.

So the first colonoscopy was arranged at the city teaching hospital and during it they removed a large polyp and they perforated the colon. The later colonoscopy was arranged by the emergency hospital which took place April this year. They said 'some diverticulitis present' it wasn't raging or inflamed infact when giving me the results he was quite unconcerned. He actually said looking at the scans and latest colonoscopy if they were his mums or wife's he wouldn't let them go through the op! The other surgeon said have it elective surgery now while you fit n well with quicker recovery although risky. I'm at a loss!

This is never an easy decision. Results are usually better when you are fit and well; that is, elective surgery. Emergency surgery after a rupture will often lead to an ostomy. I would suggest getting an MRI to determine whether you are in danger of a rupture. Abdominal surgeries are never easy on you. These surgeries leave adhesions which can lead to later blockages. If the MRI reveals you are close to a rupture then definitely have the surgery. If not, delay the surgery as long as you can with the understanding that your situation will never get better.

a traveler, you mentioned abdominal adhesions... do you know what testing or imaging is needed for: finding adhesions outside of the small and large intestines? Inside both intestines?
Thanx, ShelleyW

helen001,
They must teach "how to avoid telling patients the whole truth " , followed by "how to CYA", followed by " how to screw up your patients lives and not get caught "in medical school ‼️
I have 5 opinions about my parathyroid surgery:
1 says:wait and see, test calcium YEARLY ( it fluctuates frequently)
1 says: You definitely don't need surgery (this dr. knows the least about my history)
2 say: definitely get the surgery, based on my history, I will have to have it eventually.
1 says: what is your PTH doing, that is causing you pain (pain has very little to do with this type of surgery)
You must be as frustrated as I am. Good luck with your decision. Have you tried an online AI for questions and clarity? I use one inside the POE app, my favorite, because it allows me to direct how I want answers, short, detailed, dumbed down. I would not use it for a diagnosis, but I sure have been able to find clarity on issues that my doctors just won't discuss with me.
ShelleyW

Imaging can't reveal adhesions. You can only see them during surgery. Imaging can show blockages and sometimes infer adhesions.

My colonoscopy showed Diverticulitis and may be colitis 10 yrs ago.
I had terrible IBS for years. At first, I was able to control with changing diet and taking Pepto to get out of the house because of frequent BM's that were painful and just wore me out!
Jan. 2022, I told my family Dr. that I had a couple of episodes that were different and more painful. She recommended my GI Dr and he scheduled my colonoscopy Maysigmoid sigmoid colon and in the descending colon. He told me that I could get elective surgery. I decided to wait. He also said that if the episodes got more frequent then I should see a colon rectal surgeon.
He was right. It did not matter what diet I followed they became more frequent requiring antibiotics and inflammatory meds. It took longer to heal.
I was in so much pain last Thanksgiving (lower left side) that I decided to go to ER. (I was used to living in pain with these episodes, but this one was different)
ER MRI and CT scan Nov 2023 acute sigmoid colonic diverticulitis with a small distal colonic mural abscess below size threshold for percutaneous drainage
They said it was not an emergency to go straight to surgery.
I then decided it was time to see a colon/rectal Dr. My family Dr. recommended one who got me in ASAP.
I decided after much consul with all 3 of my physicians and this MAYO board that I would have the surgery. I also DID NOT want emergency surgery and did not want to live like this the rest of my life. I could not go through another episode.
I scheduled in in Mar 24 because I did not want to be in the hospital in cold and flu season.
I lived on low residue diet and anti-inflammatory med's around the clock. I tried to stay as heathy as possible and continued to work out.
It has been 6 mths since surgery and I am so glad and extremely grateful that I had my surgeon!
Surgery planned ROBOTICXII-LAPAROSCOPY, SURGICAL; COLECTOMY, PARTIAL, W/ ANASTOMOSIS - **ROBOTIC SIGMOID COLECTOMY**
But, it was so bad that I had to be cut open from belly button down.
They had to call a urologist to make sure my ureters were not affected. My Dr. explained it like this.
Imagine making macaroni and cheese and then frizzing it then trying to separate the noodles form the cheese.
I was scheduled for 4 to 6 nights in hospital but only stayed 2.
I have normal BM's and no pain.
The healing is a slow process. There is no manual, and everyone is different.
The only issue I have is I still get full quick. Everything is still adjusting.
GET all the info you need to decide.

linda82, I am so happy for you that you're surgery was so successful 👍‼️
So, adhesions were major part of your pain? Did I understand that correctly?
Did you get told what kind of adhesions you had?
What symptoms pushed you over the edge, and chose surgery? Any info you feel you could share, please, I need all the info I can get. Thanx ShelleyW