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Sigmoid removal 2020, now functional issues, adhesions, or new disease
I'll try to keep this as brief as possible. At the moment I'm in the bathroom contemplating when exactly I'll decide to go to the ER.
So here's the cliffnotes version of my GI health since 2019. 2019, diverticulitis and early cancer. End of 19' & early 20' hospitalized 3x prior to surgery in February of 20'. February of 20' had 8 inch of sigmoid removed. It wasn't a lower anterior surgery. That, said...my post surgery life has never been good. I've been in and out of the ER every year since my surgery. Currently, I'm having bad cramps, and stool that's between pudding and water. At times it feels very similar to pre-surgery life. Before surgery, I was terrified I'd have another microperforation prior to my surgery date. Staying healthy for surgery in 2020 was difficult. I was on 800 mlg of Augmentin for two months prior to the sigmoidectomy.
Fast forward again to July 2026. Left sided flank pain under my rib, near the top of my hip, and a location exactly to the left of my bellybutton. I had a hematoma that went away after using a heating pad. This occurred after my surgery six years ago.
Here was what I need help with...I've had 5 CT's in 2 months. The first two from an area hospital showed nothing. Blood work also clean. A month goes by and I'm back at the ER. Two more CT scans, with two more clean scans. The only slightly odd issue was one barely raised liver enzyme. Fast forward 3 more weeks and I go to a highly rated teaching hospital. CT ordered again, this time, unlike the other four scans showed diverticulosis throughout the GI tract. Questions. How can the previous 4 with contrast miss such a thing???
I truly need some brilliant advice. I think that some of these physicians are going to treat me poorly as they don't seem to take me seriously. My insurance situation is good so that cannot be a problem.
I think I either have something going on in my colon, or I have some brutal adhesions. Either way this must get fixed. I'm sick of living like this😔. On top of my medical bs my wife is 7 months pregnant. If I go back to the ER they need to order something other than a CT. I'm thinking an MRI. Or, just order the bloody colon scope and tell me where to go, & when? Thoughts? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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@jacob73 it sounds like you are going through a lot. Have you gotten a referral to a GI doctor after any of these ER visits? What does your primary doctor say?
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1 ReactionJacob,
It sounds like you are having some very bad difficulties. Perhaps you need to see a new doctor and get a fresh opinion of your situation. One thing that you could do is research the side effects of all of your medications, surgical procedures and over the counter medications and supplements. This can be done easily on the Mayo Clinic website. This may tell you what some of your symptoms are caused by. If you find that information, don't act on it until you see your doctor or your new doctor first.
Congratulations on the new baby that's going to enter you and your wife's life! That's fantastic! A gift from God!
Speaking of God, ask him for help with your situation. Just talk to God like he's your best friend and he is! God made you and he can fix you. I'll say a prayer for you and your wife and the new baby too.
I wish you the best!
PML
@jacob73 - I'd like to join @susanf8 and @pml in welcoming you. I know from my husband's (not unkind, but realistic) comments about me being pregnant years ago that having a pregnant spouse alone can be a lot to deal with. Hope all is going well with her pregnancy.
Sorry to hear you've gotten conflicting information from different medical facilities. I do know that the quality of imaging and of radiologists can vary from hospital to hospital, so perhaps the differences lie in there somewhere.
It would indeed be great for someone to determine if you have something going on in your colon, some brutal adhesions or even something else entirely. As you know, a clear diagnosis is critical for a path forward to healing.
Did you decide to go to the ER? How are you doing today?
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1 ReactionI have a colonoscopy and the upper scope on Aug 20. I'm just hoping I can stay out of the ER until then. My current symptoms are chronic achy pain on left side, and back. Also, cramping the comes and goes all day. I'm taking my miralax as prescribed to keep things soft. I'll write more later. I think there's something not right going on.
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2 Reactions@jacob73
Hi Jacob
I wanted to give my situation as it sounds similar to yours. I was having horrible low left side pain and it felt like someone was tugging on my insides right above pelvic. I finally found a great surgeon who found I had adhesions on my colon and it was kinked. Before surgery I had to force gas out and bowel movements were either liquid or very skinny it was all my colon. I pray you find the right surgeon and let them know when they do CT scans adhesions can't be seen