Seeking support for recovery from diverticulitis surgery

Suziq52
The way you got to your sigmoid surgery sounds a lot like my story. I am a 67 year old female. I was diagnosed with diverticulosis 12 years ago. After that time I Only had a few diverticulitis flare ups through the years. Fast forward to the middle of February 2022. Ended up in the ER where they kept me for five hours released me with medicine. Six hours later I was back. Admitted to the hospital with diverticulitis flareup. After I was released I was on the good old Cipro and Flagyl every 3 to 4 weeks. Contacted G.I. doctor had colonoscopy at the beginning of April 2022 where it showed that the diverticulitis was resolving itself. Well not really. Continued having issues and barely eating. Finally met with a colon surgeon and at the beginning of June 2022 had all my sigmoid colon removed. I would have to say it was pretty uneventful and not as drastic as what you went through. Robotic laparoscopic and no colostomy bag. Experienced the pain and gas alot the first 4 to 5 weeks after surgery. Started getting depressed because I thought I should feel better and I was experiencing a lot of tiredness. At about six or seven weeks things started getting a lot better and I started getting my energy back. It does get better. You went through a lot so give yourself the time that you need to get better. Since I was on so many antibiotics I ended up testing positive for cdiff while I was in the hospital after my surgery June 2022. My colon surgeon and my G.I. doctor told me to just take probiotics for a couple months but did not specify what type.
Unfortunately I had to have some dental surgery where they put me on amoxicillin at the beginning of October. Well 10 days later I started having a lot of bowel issues and bleeding which led me to the ER again. Due to all my times of going to the ER this year for diverticulitis they diagnosed me with diverticulitis and we’re ready to send me on my way as I was bleeding nonstop in the ER. I pushed it and told them I couldn’t believe I would have that type of diverticulitis flareup after going through surgery in June of this year. After more testing they realized it was cdiff. So I was admitted to the hospital and given iv antibiotics for six days. And released from the hospital with a 10 day supply of Vancomycin and to continue the probiotic of Florastor. Apparently it is very difficult to get rid of Cdiff. I am telling you this just in case you have a problem like I did. Don’t let them dismiss it and tell you that you have a diverticulitis attack. If you were on a lot of antibiotics like I was you could end up having cdiff. I know it’s probably too much information but I wanted to share. Hang in there you will get better.

Yes, I have taken Miralax and Metamucil and find them very productive. My bowel movements are more “normal” like when I take Metamucil. I find Miralax to be an excellent laxative. Also, please drink a lot of water. I was told 64 ounces daily. I bought a 32 oz. Plastic “to go” cup from Amazon. It makes it easier to get the 64 ounces because when you drink from it, the opening is wide & you tend to ingest more liquid than if you were to use a glass.

I am worried about c diff too but my doctors don’t seem too concerned. I tested positive for c diff this summer after a diverticulitis flare up, but it was not active. So I was told I was perhaps colonized. I have not had any antibiotics since my surgery but I dread having to take them in the future for fear of having c diff. I am allergic to cipro and Flagyl. I have taken a probiotic for a couple of years. I am glad you are getting healed of c diff. I have heard it is hard to get rid of. As for my recovery, I am on my 6-7th week since surgery, and am feeling a good bit better, but I have a two-three inch hard segment in my right abdomen under one of the laparoscopic incisions. I called my surgeon and was told it was probably scar tissue. Have you heard of anything like this ? I can’t find any information about hard spots after surgery.

He is so right about the cdiff that is what happen to me.

I am 3 weeks today post surgery for diverticulitis. I have been very nervous and nauseated for 5 days now unable to not eat anything also have random pain that hits very hard randomly . I also 1 week after surgery caught c diff and then a week after that had 2 blood clots. Someone please help and give me some kinda light. I am so scared and tired of how I feel.

I had a sigmoid reconstruction and I have been sick with c diff since then and also now have bad acid reflux all of this is stopping me from eating and I am losing weight by the at to wear the nutrient doctor is saying I’m malnutrition. Can someone please shed some light if you had these issues what helped.

So I had a colon reconstruction on the 25 of Aug and now I feel like I’m messed up. I feel like I have some form of kind of acid reflux and it won’t go away I have it all day and nigh. I don’t know how to help it. I have the sensation ok something just sitting in the back of my throat. They put me on ppi in the hospital but I think that has made it so much worst

Hi, You should talk to your Doctor about your symptoms, I hope you'll feel better

Yes I have been.

It sounds like the colon surgery may have left you with motility issues which may be causing gas. Food sensitivities can develop after stomach surgery too so you might need to try the FODMAP diet.

In the meantime ginger capsules may help, you can take them with your meal or immediately after. They really help my digestion, especially when I feel like the food I ate is just sitting there.

While you are healing avoid all alcohol. Chocolate and caffeine can also make the esophageal sphincter tender, it may not cause soreness immediately after you consume it, but turn up the next day. Try to get off of the PPI's as the long term side effects are not good. I think they were originally meant to only be used for 8wks max.