Has any one gone to see a Colorectal surgeon?

Hi Madeline 27614 !  Thanks so much for your response.  Sorry that you are suffering so much.  I was diagnosed in April and have had 7 infections since then .  My doctor referred me to a gastro but have just learnt it's actually a Colorective Surgeon she's referred me to.  I think it's better than a Gastro after having googled it ! 

Are you in the U.K. I have heard they only do surgery here if it's really the last resort. I saw a colorectal surgeon who did a sigmoidoscopy and a flexible one took 4 biopsys they came back ok. I had a colonoscopy last year that showed multiple DD   He thinks it's my IBS that gives me the pain and bloated feeling.   I personally would wait until everything else had failed before I had surgery. But that's just me. I hope you feel better soon 

My screen keeps freezing on this Forum, not allowing me to type.  I DO NOT MEAN TO SCARE YOU AT ALL . But I feel it's important to give certain information.  I bumped into a friend of mine.  He told me that his aunt had Diver.  She had an infection and went to doctor , got the usual antibiotics.  The pain was too much so she went to ER.  They admitted her. They rushed her into the operating theatre but her bowel burst on the table and she died.  My friend and his cousins are very angry with the hospital as she was advised not to have surgery. This happened a few weeks ago.  But having surgery also has risks . 

Hi Susan95516 .  Yes I am in the UK . Thanks very much for letting me know .  I saw an earlier post from you to me in another discussion and every time I tried to reply to you the screen kept freezing ! So sorry about that, I wasn't ignoring you! I will definitely take on board what you're saying and not rush into surgery.  I'm just fed up being so ill and bed ridden all the time!  Thanks for your well wishes. 

BTW I was diagnosed with IBS years ago but it's never affected me like this.  i believe the doctors know very little about diver and fobb everyone with 'it's IBS' .  When I said that to my doctor she agreed with me! 

So true. I was given a website to look at and told nothing can be done unless it's life threatening. I try to keep away from things I know will upset me. They think I might be celiac but I asked to see a dietitian and was told there aren't  any in leeds were I live which is a lie. I have only had one bad flare last December I ended up on antibiotics they made me feel so ill   I think it's IBS at the moment. Hope you feel better soon 

It's ridiculous that they said that to you about the dietician.  What a blatant lie! . But they tell big porkies all the time .  You should insist that your GP refers you until she/ he does to a dietician. Google a list of dieticians that work in hospitals in Leeds and give it to your GP! 

Also it would be a good idea to get tested for Celiacs disease.  Yes antbiotics side effects are awful but I'm used to them as I have regular urine /kidney infections .  Thanks for your kind wishes.  I hope that you feel much better to with your IBS. 

Thank you for your reply. I am going to see my GP next week. My daughter works for the NHS and has given me a name of a dietitian   I am going to have a blood test for celiac so iam going to ask him to do that   X

That's fantastic news!  I can tell that you're a strong woman and won't take 'No' for answer from your GP.  You have every moral right to look after your health and not let these medics fobb you off.  It's good to insisst until you get what you want from your GP.  It's great that you're having a blood test for celiac disease! Xx

Thanks Ben1994 for your reply and advice .  I will definitely pay heed to what you're saying .  It is not easy for me to have an op , as I am diabetic, asthmatic and my blood doesn't clot quickly .   But I have been considering because I am suffering so much .  However, you've made me re-think matters .  And you're right!   I do use Dulocease which is a fantastic stool softner.  I had taken senna which was prescribed by one of my doctors but I will no longer do that.  The trouble is that as soon as I constantly have an infection and so can't eat .  Then eat low fibre food after a week of not eating , which is hard as I am diabetic . Continued...

Continued, sorry this website stops letting me type suddenly.  As soon as I can eat fibre , I have another infection.   I have just started getting symptoms again last few days and today have the shivers , temperature etc.  All I had was vegetables , potatoes , cheese.  I am a Celiac so cant eat wheat. But will hold off going to doc or taking antibiotics until it gets worse.

 

Hi Dracula. 

Yes Dulcoease is another excellent choice of laxative to keep stool soft.

Again I really want to stress - keep surgery as a last resort. Its not a magic wand that magics away your diverticular colon. Its someone cutting you open and cutting it out and healing can take a long time afterwards (especially when you’re diabetic).

Keep it as option, but only use it when you really dont feel you can go on anymore.

I also watch high fiber foods as they cause me cramping so watch your intact on them and if you must eat some try to space days between them and make sure they are cooked well.

I just read where anti inflammatory meds can cause diverticulitis bleeding so I am now watching how many I take.

No seeds, nuts or skins and Miralax is a must for me. No straining and it’s hard to prevent hard stools limiting your diet so as soon as I get a sign I take Miralax. I have even put it in my Morning coffee.

wow Madeline I would of NEVER thought of that!  if an infection start and that why we get the pain and such then how can you first stop it before the dreaded antibiotics become a half to take!

Try a heating pad on that area. It does help..

Hi Ben 1994 

Thanks , I'll keep taking the Ducolease !   I'd visited other forums a couple of months ago and read the posts where people who'd had the op , were having a very active life after it . They said it was the best decision they had made.  That gave me hope after suffering so many infections , tiredness, pain etc .  But you've made me realise that it's not the miracle solution , especially for me with my other health complications.   Thanks very much for your advice and help.