10-03-2018, 06:30 PM
Almost died from it two years ago. Went to ER with stomach pain, took a while, but diagnosed as diverticulitis. Spent 5 days in the hospital on antibiotics. Seemed to be doing better, so they sent me home. Woke up that night with different kind of pain, went back to ER the next morning. Kept getting worse as the day went on, and they finally decided to operate. When they got me open, the doctor said my entire abdomen was infected. His exact words were "it was like a vat of pus" (sorry for that visual). He said most people in that situation do not survive. They ended up taking out my entire sigmoid colon.
Thankfully, I was otherwise healthy, so my body fought it pretty hard. Spent 9 more days in the hospital, lost 30 pounds in those 9 days, and went home with the temporary colostomy bag. Was out of work for 3 full months, and then two months of mostly telework. Went back after a little over 3 months for reattachment. Other than multiple hematomas in my abdomen caused by stitches that were supposed to dissolve but never did (leading to yet another surgery to remove said stitches over a year later), I've been ok. I take a teaspoon of metamucil every morning, but otherwise I have no dietary restrictions. When I went in originally, they said I'd probably get flare ups once a year or so. So in some ways, I'm glad they removed the section of colon where the problems were.
Thankfully, I was otherwise healthy, so my body fought it pretty hard. Spent 9 more days in the hospital, lost 30 pounds in those 9 days, and went home with the temporary colostomy bag. Was out of work for 3 full months, and then two months of mostly telework. Went back after a little over 3 months for reattachment. Other than multiple hematomas in my abdomen caused by stitches that were supposed to dissolve but never did (leading to yet another surgery to remove said stitches over a year later), I've been ok. I take a teaspoon of metamucil every morning, but otherwise I have no dietary restrictions. When I went in originally, they said I'd probably get flare ups once a year or so. So in some ways, I'm glad they removed the section of colon where the problems were.