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Diverticulitis and now having sigmoid colon resection. Had this?

Posted by linda82 @linda82, Jan 16, 2024

I have had 4 occurrences this past year treated with antibiotics and Mesalamine ER and now getting ready for surgery. This last occurrence I ended up in the ER and was lucky the abscess was small enough to treat with antibiotics and liquid diet.
I have been on low fiber diet and Mesalamine. The Mesalamine has been great but very hard to find and go form one CVS to another to find stock. (it is not being manufactured right now and insurance will not pay for it) I also to do not want to be on this the rest of my life or until another occurrence when it will be an emergency surgery. Right now all my blood work is great and back to normal and MRI and CT scans have been completed.
I just can't handle another episode of this and will be 60 yrs old this year. I am retired and all episodes happened after vacation and do not want to live in fear of going anywhere! I am in good health and do not take any other meds.
I am curious of others that have gone through this surgery and get helpful insight on what to expect.
Surgery will be in March and will be robotic.
Thanks in advance.

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linda82 | @linda82 | Jan 22 6:30am
In reply to @wizdum "@linda82 Interested in the "tummy massage" you mention. Did you do a self massage (not usually..." + (show)
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@linda82 Interested in the "tummy massage" you mention. Did you do a self massage (not usually effective for me), or did you see a therapist for visceral massage. I am interested in massage that might help with adhesions. thanks!

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@wizdum I did self-massage. Not pressing hard. More like round small circles and lightly pressing with fingers. It just made me feel better. You can get a massage therapist. But, my family Dr. said I was doing a good job and said it was tender.

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linda82 | @linda82 | Jan 22 6:40am
In reply to @ajica "@linda82 Muchas gracias por el comentario! Yo tambien uso el banquito para ir al banio, sin..." + (show)
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@linda82
Muchas gracias por el comentario! Yo tambien uso el banquito para ir al banio, sin eso me resulta imposible. A la maniana tomo magnesio, agua tibia con limon y camino + hago ejercicios de taichi para el intestino. Luego tomo el desayuno. Consultando en chat gpt me comentaba de hacer fisioterapia del suelo pelvico. Por el momento esperare a ver como evoluciono.
Podria preguntarle cuanto tiempo tardo en recuperarse 100%?

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@ajica the first 3 months the changing is nonstop. My main issue was having no energy. Once my Dr. told me I could start swimming, get in the sauna, and exercising more is when it became so much better. I would say the 5th month you feel "safe" to stay out longer. You may have issues of going and do not realize it.
If you stay with the small portions making sure you get all the nutrition, you need it will help tremendously.
Pelvic floor therapy is a must. Must start slow.

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ajica | @ajica | Jan 23 11:21am
In reply to @linda82 "@ajica the first 3 months the changing is nonstop. My main issue was having no energy...." + (show)
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@ajica the first 3 months the changing is nonstop. My main issue was having no energy. Once my Dr. told me I could start swimming, get in the sauna, and exercising more is when it became so much better. I would say the 5th month you feel "safe" to stay out longer. You may have issues of going and do not realize it.
If you stay with the small portions making sure you get all the nutrition, you need it will help tremendously.
Pelvic floor therapy is a must. Must start slow.

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@linda82 thanks for the comments. I also began swimming two weeks ago, and it makes me feel really good, better than hiking. Do you do pelvic floor therapy because of the resection? I began thinking about that, but am not sure if I need to go to a physioterapist for that?

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jamiemj | @jamiemj | Jan 23 1:52pm
In reply to @linda82 "@ajica I had the same for a while. You think you need to go but, you..." + (show)
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@ajica I had the same for a while. You think you need to go but, you do not. You feel the pressure but, it is not ready yet. I would get scared and think it was stuck.
It will go away. I would suggest a potty squatty. It will help tremendously. Never "sit there" and never "strain"
Also, even though it is the morning. When you get up drink a full glass of liquid and just walk around. It will help move it!
With surgery everything moves around, and it is like a reposition. I also, did tummy massage.

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@linda82
Its difficult not to sit there and not strain...I have been told to "push your stomach forward" and then "push down" ...thats difficult to remember to do too...I've found that eating the right food for easy digestion and drinking more water does help relax everything more. Good luck to us all

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linda82 | @linda82 | Jan 26 9:09am
In reply to @ajica "@linda82 thanks for the comments. I also began swimming two weeks ago, and it makes me..." + (show)
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@linda82 thanks for the comments. I also began swimming two weeks ago, and it makes me feel really good, better than hiking. Do you do pelvic floor therapy because of the resection? I began thinking about that, but am not sure if I need to go to a physioterapist for that?

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@ajica yes, before just for stomach strength,
You can also do core exercise in the pool. I use arm and ankle weights too.
I just look up videos "pool exercises for abdominal muscles" and "pelvic floor exercises"
And used the best ones for me.

You really to not need to see a therapist. Just ask you Dr. what you can start doing and go from there.

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ajica | @ajica | Jan 27 3:40pm
In reply to @jamiemj "@linda82 Its difficult not to sit there and not strain...I have been told to "push your..." + (show)
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@linda82
Its difficult not to sit there and not strain...I have been told to "push your stomach forward" and then "push down" ...thats difficult to remember to do too...I've found that eating the right food for easy digestion and drinking more water does help relax everything more. Good luck to us all

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@jamiemj
I also do in that way: i push a little and then push the stomach forward. It helps to me. Although i eat the right food , drink a lot, walk a lot.. i need to push the stomach forward, it s a way of relaxing it.

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