1. < Digestive Health

Seeking support for recovery from diverticulitis surgery

Posted by suziq52 @suziq52, Nov 8, 2022

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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ciebrown | @ciebrown | Sep 27, 2023
In reply to @beebe "It sounds like the colon surgery may have left you with motility issues which may be..." + (show)
@beebe

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.

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I stopped taking the ppi they were making me really sick. And I didn’t take a Pepcid this am and last night I had to. My throat feel like it’s on fire and I need some kinda help. I’m doing a smoothie right now. I be glad when this gets under control

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beebe | @beebe | Sep 27, 2023
In reply to @ciebrown "So I had a colon reconstruction on the 25 of Aug and now I feel like..." + (show)
@ciebrown

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

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Sorry to hear your are still suffering. What parts were removed in your colon surgery?

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ciebrown | @ciebrown | Sep 27, 2023
In reply to @ciebrown "So I had a colon reconstruction on the 25 of Aug and now I feel like..." + (show)
@ciebrown

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

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Sigmoid. Now I have bad acid reflux

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researchmaven | @researchmaven | Sep 30, 2023
In reply to @ciebrown "So I had a colon reconstruction on the 25 of Aug and now I feel like..." + (show)
@ciebrown

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

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That is very strange and seems disconnected from the surgery. Have you considered seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist?

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ciebrown | @ciebrown | Sep 30, 2023
In reply to @ciebrown "So I had a colon reconstruction on the 25 of Aug and now I feel like..." + (show)
@ciebrown

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

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They are saying it’s stress.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 24, 2023
In reply to @ciebrown "I am 3 weeks today post surgery for diverticulitis. I have been very nervous and nauseated..." + (show)
@ciebrown

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.

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@ciebrown, I moved your posts to this related discussion:
– Seeking support for recovery from diverticulitis surgery
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/seeking-support-for-recovery-from-diverticulitis-surgery/

How is your recovery going? Are things slowly improving?

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cyndimae | @cyndimae | Jan 6 7:48am
In reply to @lucy155 "A month ago I was hospitalized with a perforated colon, abscess and sepsis. I was treated..." + (show)
@lucy155

A month ago I was hospitalized with a perforated colon, abscess and sepsis. I was treated with IV antibiotics, followed by 30 days of oral. I'm having sigmoid colon resection surgery December 14. I'm trying to get an idea of recovery as I live alone and have two dogs to care for. From the answers in this thread, it sounds like I'm in for a rough couple months.... I'm worried.

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I had a very similar experience with diverticulitis and am facing surgery in a few weeks. If you are still communicating in this group I would love to know how you’re doing now.

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lucy155 | @lucy155 | Jan 6 8:31am

Hello, I'm sorry you need to have surgery. It's a bummer for sure! It's been a year since my resection surgery due to an abscessed colon and perforation from Diverticulitis. Once I recovered, I noticed I could eat foods, that for years, I couldn't tolerate. My constant diarrhea stopped! So, my story ended with a good recovery and a better digestion system.
What I remember from recovery? I worried about my colon working! The first week or so, I HAD to be near a bathroom. Religious adherence to daily Metamucil fixed this. Eventually (a couple months) all BM's did become absolutely normal with a daily movement.
Do not lift anything for two months after surgery. I am going into hospital to repair a post operative abdominal hernia. The incision site was strained somehow and now I need to go in (this Monday!) to have the hernia repaired. Lesson... follow lifting and strenuous exercise instructions.
If you have any specific questions now or after surgery, let me know.
Best wishes for a complete recovery this New Year!

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1 reply
speedbird | @speedbird | Jan 8 8:26am

Sorry you are having a difficult time following surgery. On July 2022 I had laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy due to diverticulitis/stricture in sigmoid colon age 72. Recovery takes longer than you think but the worst part is the frequent trips to the bathroom day in and day out. One starts to wonder if things will ever change. I did not feel confident leaving the house for around a month. I was concerned about frequent urgency of BM’s. Believe me, things do get better once the colon adjusts following surgery. Recovery from open surgery will take much longer than laparoscopic. Moving forward, remember the worst is over with, you are in the recovery phase and over time things will improve. Keep a positive attitude and good luck!

REPLY
beckyt | @beckyt | Feb 13 8:13am
In reply to @lucy155 "Hello, I'm sorry you need to have surgery. It's a bummer for sure! It's been a..." + (show)
@lucy155

Hello, I'm sorry you need to have surgery. It's a bummer for sure! It's been a year since my resection surgery due to an abscessed colon and perforation from Diverticulitis. Once I recovered, I noticed I could eat foods, that for years, I couldn't tolerate. My constant diarrhea stopped! So, my story ended with a good recovery and a better digestion system.
What I remember from recovery? I worried about my colon working! The first week or so, I HAD to be near a bathroom. Religious adherence to daily Metamucil fixed this. Eventually (a couple months) all BM's did become absolutely normal with a daily movement.
Do not lift anything for two months after surgery. I am going into hospital to repair a post operative abdominal hernia. The incision site was strained somehow and now I need to go in (this Monday!) to have the hernia repaired. Lesson... follow lifting and strenuous exercise instructions.
If you have any specific questions now or after surgery, let me know.
Best wishes for a complete recovery this New Year!

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"Lesson... follow lifting and strenuous exercise instructions." Your comment caught my eye. I am 3.5 weeks post-surgery for diverticulitis. I was feeling better before than now. I did lift a couple garbage bags and now I have some mild pain in my lower abdomen. I want to start yoga. Do you know if it's too soon?

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