swiftcanyon64 said:I’m assuming you guys will be the ones to have the answer here... Last night, I was jolted awake by this absolutely brutal pain in my lower left abdomen. It felt exactly like one of those intense ovarian inflammations. To be fair, I’d been feeling this nagging, sharp poking sensation in that same area all day long, though nothing too crazy at the time. I ended up popping two Advil, and it took a solid two hours before things finally settled down enough for me to drift off. I feel fine this morning, but now I can't stop wondering—could that have been a flare-up of diverticulitis?
After five years of battling this disease, I can tell you one thing: when diverticulitis hits, it hits hard. That left-side pain you're describing is right where the sigmoid colon is—that's usually where these inflammations start. My advice? If you aren't sure, go get a CRP test. If it’s elevated, you’re dealing with an active bacterial infection. In my experience, I've been doubled over in pain, only for the doctor to send me for bloodwork showing a CRP of 2... then by 6:00 PM, I'm stumbling into the ER with a CRP of 97. The pain can be brutal—a burning sensation spreading through the entire abdomen before it eventually localizes. The most deceptive part is that once the acute pain subsides—usually when you finally rest—the inflammation actually intensifies...
My recommendation: probiotics and digestive enzymes. And don't waste your money on cheap stuff—you need the best available. For diverticulosis, products like Pro-Life or Linex are basically useless water.😢 Sad, but true.
I went through with an abdominoplasty, and honestly—I didn't feel any pain at all, not even during recovery. They actually had me up and walking just three hours after the procedure. My incision healed quickly, which was a huge relief given the massive amount of loose skin I had from two C-sections and separated abdominal muscles. Some people have told me it’s a total disaster and excruciatingly painful. I genuinely don't get it—I felt nothing. I am beyond happy with the results; I finally got my confidence back... though, obviously, you still have to fix those muscles and hit the gym afterward, which is something I'm far too lazy for...
If anyone wants the details on where I went or who my surgeon was, just shoot me a DM... stay brave, everyone. For me, it was a smooth ride. I wanted to look like my old self so badly that I was braced for "intense" pain, but it never came. The only real struggle was wearing that compression garment for six weeks—it was tight and made me feel overheated...
Elizabeth Patel74 said:I’ll just lay it out—it isn't a secret since I already mentioned I'm heading to Holy Spirit. Apparently, they have the top GI Disorder Referral Center in the area. I'm seeing Professor Jurčić, though Dr. Marušić is supposedly great too... and even Dr. Troskot. I saw Professor Babić over at Dubrava Hospital, but honestly, I’d recommend Holy Spirit—they’re the only ones with an anal manometry machine, for instance.
Doesn't Associate Professor Troskot work at Vinogradski Hospital?? Someone already suggested him to me... but I've become incredibly skeptical of all doctors lately, especially when dealing with Medicare referrals. Sorry everyone, but I just don't... not even 5%. And don't get me started on how they won't even ask where it hurts or what the symptoms are...
Tena85, could you shoot me a DM with a solid recommendation for a gastroenterologist? I've been bouncing around far too much already—half of them barely understand how the gut works, and the rest don't seem to care at all. The one specialist I actually thought I could rely on completely bailed on me right after my last flare-up and hospital stay...
GSM Are you actually serious about asking about laparoscopic colectomy? If anyone in the US is performing that... I’m signing up immediately. I know they handle laparoscopic sigmoid colon resections over at Mayo Clinic—plus a few other minor procedures via laparoscopy. If anyone has more intel on that, please drop it here. I’ll switch hospitals and doctors in a heartbeat; I want someone operating with 21st-century methods...
Elizabeth Patel74 said:I don't have ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or colon cancer—thank God. I have colonic inertia—megacolon. As it was explained to me, the large intestine is essentially a "bag." I’ve been dealing with digestive issues for eight years now; previously, I could manage with laxatives, but now I’ve become resistant to them. I spent seven weeks in the gastroenterology ward—my first X-ray showed signs of developing an ileus. Since there were no bowel movements, they had to extract intestinal contents via endoscope. Every single thing I ate caused intense abdominal pressure and pain because I simply couldn't pass it... They recommended some medication from Germany—specialized fibers, tetra packs, syrups, water—then sent me home to observe. If things don't improve, a colectomy is the recommendation. For a while, my condition improved slightly, but now it’s bad again. No movements, just severe abdominal pain... and I am considering surgery because the struggle is becoming unbearable. From what I understand, I wouldn't need a stoma; instead, they would perform an internal procedure—an ileorectal anastomosis? Since I don't have UC or Crohn's, I believe they could leave the rectum intact (supposedly removing about 80% of the colon) and reconnect the small intestine to it. Initially, at the hospital, I was suffering so much that I would have agreed to anything... if I eat, I can't pass it, the pain is excruciating, and I risk an ileus... so I fasted for a period, but I was practically collapsing... Now I’m back home and my gastroenterologist told me to fast again for a while—which is extremely difficult to do at home without IV fluids, not to mention how impossible it was to get any work done during my stay. Currently, I am unemployed—I haven't been able to work long-term due to this illness—but I am hoping for employment soon. I want to know what life is like after a colectomy. Apparently, you might have up to 20 bowel movements a day at first, though it supposedly normalizes. I can work if I just need frequent bathroom breaks, but I cannot work if I am forced to fast. I am terrified of a stoma and the bags... a permanent stoma carries an 80% disability rating, and if I understand correctly, that goes on your permanent record. What are my chances of finding a job at 26 if that happens? Even if it isn't a permanent stoma, if an employer requests an X-ray during a medical exam, they will see that my large intestine is gone. If I get a job and then decide to have the surgery, or if my condition worsens, there is a possibility that after six months of medical leave, I would be pushed into disability retirement—which would be a financial catastrophe. Right now, I am spending a fortune just on medications and supplements that MIGHT produce a movement... $533 Monthly. I’m looking for anyone with similar experiences—even those who had surgery for UC or Crohn's. I would have already gone under the knife if my gastroenterologist could just convince a surgeon to do it—there's a specific surgeon at the local hospital who refuses to operate on this... so I haven't even reached the point of overthinking it. My plan is to head to a local basketball club clinic or eventually a major teaching hospital like Mayo Clinic (if anyone has surgeon recommendations, please let me know). What are your thoughts—is it possible to do this without a permanent ostomy? Maybe just a temporary one? Also, how does occupational medicine view a colectomy? And finally, how does a colectomy impact future pregnancy? Thanks to everyone for any kind of response—whether it was sharing experience, giving advice, or making a recommendation...
Hi. I don't share your specific issues—but regardless, I have to undergo an intestinal resection. After a lot of wandering around, I finally stuck with my doctor at Mayo Clinic. I’ve been admitted to the surgical ward there several times... and I can say with absolute confidence that I would trust them with my life. If you want the specifics or a recommendation for the physician managing my care—someone I trust completely—we can take this to PM.
p.s. It was honestly tough reading about what you're going through—I’m currently navigating my own rough patch, preparing for a resection, and eventually facing a total colectomy... I can't say for certain what lies ahead, but I know this path is grueling and painful. People dealing with this really need their support systems behind them.
I’ve finally reached the point where surgery is unavoidable—specifically an elective colon resection. They’ll be removing my sigmoid colon.
If anyone here has gone through this, I’d appreciate it if you could share your experience—how much pain are we talking about, what does the recovery timeline actually look like, and how does diet work once you're on the other side?
nimbletrucker132 said:Carol Price6, sorry if I'm drifting a bit off-topic here, but could you clarify what the actual nature of this work is? Like, what kind of job are we talking about exactly?
Do you mean the nature of my illness? It's diverticulosis... but since I'm way too young for this to be happening, the real issue is how much it's taken over—almost my entire large intestine is affected, except for the last few inches. Plus, there's the constant cycle of inflammation. It feels like there isn't a single day without abdominal pain anymore. The flare-ups have become a piece of cake at this point—unpredictable and seemingly unrelated to diet—though my lifestyle probably doesn't help. My job is high-stress and involves sitting all day, which just makes things worse for my gut.
Anyway, Daniel Morgan6, I wanted to ask about your diet now. Once you get a stoma, do you still have to watch every single bite for the rest of your life? Or will I eventually be able to enjoy a grilled steak, some cabbage rolls, or those delicious treats that feel like a distant dream right now?🙂
Hi, any forum members here who have a stoma themselves, or perhaps close family members who do? Given my medical situation, I’m looking at becoming a candidate very soon—so I’m interested in hearing about actual experiences.
I also want to know how the intestinal surgery actually goes—the procedure itself and the recovery process. I’ve managed to dodge those questions until now... but seeing patients in my ward who are three times my age makes me realize I need to stop avoiding the subject and actually learn what this is like.
wearyangler66 said:It’s been a minute since I last checked in here, hasn't it? Well, I've been wrestling with this condition for about 10 years now. It's honestly pretty discouraging because there were times when I was following my diet to the letter and still dealing with massive flare-ups. Lately, though, I’ve started to realize that stress and nerves are probably doing more damage than anything else—plus, of course, the food itself. I've managed to find a few dietary approaches that actually worked for me, cutting my inflammation down to maybe a 2 or 3 out of 10 over the course of a year. If anyone is looking for some guidance, just let me know and I'll send them over what I've got.
I could really use some dietary advice. After fighting diverticulosis for two and a half years, my doctors are basically throwing up their hands. My only real solution right now is medication—because my entire intestinal tract is absolutely riddled with diverticula—and don't even get me started on the stress that’s killing me day and night.
My doctor, who is the only one who actually listened and treated me properly—and truly tries to help—is an internist working at both the Mayo Clinic and privately at Bates near Saint... As for radiologists, after experiencing a unique, gentle, and wonderful approach firsthand, I highly recommend Dr. Vinko Barbarić Babić at Rib. I heard all sorts of horror stories about irigographies and procedures, and I honestly thought I was going to die from the anxiety of what was coming... but that doctor is such a specialist and, above all, such a great HUMAN being, that everything felt like a joke afterward. Of course, the inflammation isn't a joke—I'm still dealing with it. I feel powerless... I just don't know what to do anymore.🙂
mellowjackal23 said:Things are looking up, I guess. She doesn't need surgery just yet. But then again, she hit a fever of 99.1 yesterday and it’s back again today, so who knows? She caught a nasty cold while staying at the Mayo Clinic and now she’s coughing her head off, so maybe that's what's driving the temperature up?
Everything seemed to be settling down—her white blood cell count and CRP were finally heading in the right direction... but they ran more blood work today and I'm still waiting on the full report. All I know for sure is that her blood ketones are high... and there's blood in her urine again.
No surgery for now, hopefully.
Look, surgery is a godsend in situations like this—believe me. For her, it’s a far better option than suffering through this, because life after a massive inflammation isn't really living. 😢 You're in constant pain—stabbing, aching—you react to absolutely everything, even plain boiled food. Honestly, I would give anything to have a surgeon who actually listens to me and performs a proper exam. They told me surgery would be next after my last flare-up, but I've had three since then... and they still let me suffer. They don't seem to care about my situation at all; they claim I'm "not a surgical case"—which is obvious I will be one day if I ever even make it back to the hospital. My CRP was never even elevated, despite having a severe inflammation... and my white blood cell counts stayed normal the whole time. 😢 Blood in the urine clearly shows the intestines have caused havoc—and in this area, unfortunately, one issue just triggers the next. 😢
goldenmarlin12 said:I’m honestly at a loss for who else to ask, so I figured I’d try my luck here. My three-year-old picked up *Streptococcus pneumoniae* at daycare. It actually spread to his eye, too. We cleared the infection in his eye, but now he's still carrying two different bacteria in his nose. Our pediatrician is insisting there's no reason to treat them, arguing that we’re all just carriers of various bacteria anyway, so he won't prescribe an antibiotic. Even though the eye infection is gone, his eyes are still swollen, which I assume is because of those two lingering in his nose. What should I do? Should I push harder for antibiotics, or am I expected to just keep applying Maxitrol to his eyes forever while letting those bacteria live in his nose indefinitely? No one seems to be giving me a straight answer.
A foolish doctor told us the exact same thing once—then the specialist nearly lost it when he heard her take, telling me to demand Azithromycin syrup for the little guy instead. Treatment lasted only three days. After that, both boys had clean results. The real issue with why they won't prescribe Azithromycin is that it's their most expensive option—but as a parent, I reacted quite strongly. She didn't get a chance to lecture me on the state of the healthcare system because I told her that if she applied those same standards to herself and her own kids, maybe things would be different. I made it clear that no one is going to skimp on my child, and if she said one more word, I'd file a formal complaint.
Bottom line: insist. The kids remain carriers, which means they continue to spread the bacteria... you'll just end up going in circles forever otherwise.
Just so you know, because I actually trusted her, my boys were constantly sick, congested, and fighting infections from October through May... all thanks to her stubbornness and cutting corners on patients.😠
Please let me know either way. I’m currently receiving treatment in Washington, D.C. The issue is that her condition will likely just continue to spiral—and honestly, once the inflammation settles, getting surgery to resect that section of the bowel would be her only real salvation. Anything else is just going to be pure misery... Believe me, I feel myself getting worse by the day. Living with this diagnosis is brutal; I have a massive amount of diverticula, and every single one is huge. My entire bowel is affected, whereas some people only deal with localized spots—which puts me in an even tighter spot regarding surgery, because they told me there are no other options besides cutting out almost everything 😢 But nobody has the nerve to operate on a 30-year-old, so everyone is just washing their hands of me for now. No one is even helping me learn how to actually live with this...
I’d be grateful if anyone else could reach out and share a similar experience.
Mom, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Don't let the fear take over—it isn't a death sentence. It’s just a grueling chronic illness, and the sooner they get her stabilized, the sooner she can start functioning somewhat normally.
Like I said, I was diagnosed two years ago, and in the last ten months alone, I’ve dealt with four flare-ups—three of which I had to manage entirely on my own... It's hard. It is incredibly hard 😢 I just want someone to help me find a way to live a semi-normal life without constant pain, but the surgeons won't step in while you're still "pushing through"...
Look 😢 Yeah, unfortunately, I'm young and I've already been through all of this... Exactly what you described. It starts just like that. Ever since my diagnosis, I've dealt with several flare-ups. I can't touch anything unless it's completely boiled... Sadly, doctors don't provide any decent nutritional guidance—I've been wandering aimlessly for two years trying to find someone willing to calmly explain what I can and can't eat, or how to actually live when they basically tell me I can't have any vegetables 😢 because most of them cause bloating... so my diet has basically dwindled down to chicken and carrots 😢
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your mom. I can't imagine how relieved she must be to have received such a heavy chronic diagnosis later in life... At the end of the day, her legs aren't failing her yet... she just needs to pray to God that it stays that way for a long time...
With diverticulosis, you can live for years without any major issues, or you could be eating all wrong without even knowing it until something terrible happens 😢 Please keep us posted on what they tell her—and make sure she asks specifically about absolutely every single food item, both what's allowed and what's strictly forbidden...
mellowjackal23 said:Any advice out there? I'm all ears!
Me too. 🙂
What kind of symptoms are you dealing with?? I'm genuinely curious... I hesitated for a long time before starting this thread... Basically, I was diagnosed with diverticulosis two years ago—at a very young age—and my doctors were actually shocked by how much of my intestine was affected..
What’s your diet like? For me, food is what's killing me and driving me crazy....
Matthew Wood2 said:Honestly, I don't even know where to begin 🙄 Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve been dealing with these horrific digestive issues that make life feel almost impossible... at times. My gut health is intensely tied to my mental state, plus my digestion is incredibly fast. I've been struggling with this misery for about 15 years now. Every single morning, if I don't properly clear out on the toilet, I am simply incapable of leaving the house. Some mornings I have to go five times just to get settled, and other days I'm just completely blocked—feeling all this pressure and cramping in my stomach, and even though nothing is hard, nothing will actually come out. Whenever I have to travel or head out somewhere, especially early in the morning or late at night—even if things had been calm up until that point—everything flips in a matter of seconds. I get hit with cramps, gas, bloating... I immediately feel that pressure in my gut and have to rush to the bathroom, followed by instant diarrhea every two minutes. More than ten years ago, I went to see a doctor because of this; they checked everything out and said it was fine. Then, the doctor referred me to a psychiatrist, whom I saw for a few months, and of course, she didn't help one bit. On top of all that, my digestion is so rapid that I have to use the restroom every day. Sometimes I barely eat anything, yet the next day, three times more comes out of me than what I actually consumed. When my mental health is already hitting a low, this holds me back from leaving the house or even managing basic daily tasks. Over all these long years, I think I learned how to manage my digestion somehow, but despite that (especially lately), things have taken a turn for the worse. That reflex where my body just forces itself to go happens even when it shouldn't... and then I find myself having to rush back home even when there's nothing left to do. I don't know if there's a cure for this or if I should just lock myself indoors and despair! 🤷 Maybe I've learned to live with it, but as the years pass, it's becoming exhausting. It's just draining. And when I finally venture out and that urge hits me... I turn green. I start sweating, I feel cold, I get these chills running through my entire body... and I honestly just get tired of living like this and enduring it. Does anyone have any advice that might help me even a little bit?
Get a colonoscopy. I deal with the exact same thing... it's like I wrote your post myself. Unfortunately, they diagnosed me with diverticulosis. 😢 My tests always came back "normal," though they'd constantly note excessive gas in my system. They kept pushing me toward an internist/proctologist, someone I really wanted to avoid. Eventually, I had to bite the bullet and schedule a colonoscopy under anesthesia... They took a biopsy to see what was actually happening. They confirmed what they suspected, and now I just live with it. It isn't easy, obviously, but that's a different conversation entirely...
So... how are the post-op pains? How mobile can you actually get?? I mean, a C-section incision sounds absolutely brutal—everything from your gut downwards just aches... at least for me, since my digestive system is already a mess. I’m genuinely terrified about that part of the recovery, though I assume they aren't opening up your entire abdomen, just making an incision through the skin, right?? What’s the hospital situation like? Are there any private suites? After my time at Washington, D.C. General, I lost all desire to stay in four-bed wards and share a bathroom with men 😢
Anyway, my doctor at Dubrava Basketball Club told me they can't fix my stretch marks—I have about a million of them... And what happens to the belly button? Do they remove it? Mine hangs almost down to my floor... look, I know I'm being self-critical, but I've simply never looked like this in my life, and I've never felt this insecure or dissatisfied... Plus, I am incredibly, deeply terrified of this procedure because waking up from anesthesia is a nightmare for me. I always get terrible nausea, and my blood pressure goes haywire every single time because of those drugs they pump into you during surgery..
I'm actually glad this thread exists... I've had two C-sections, and now my stomach is literally hanging past my hips 😢 My second one was a nightmare because my skin was so loose that the incision became inflamed almost immediately 😢 Even though I managed to squeeze back into my old clothes, nothing fastens anymore—this extra skin has basically bumped me up three sizes... I already went in for a consultation at Dubrava Basketball Club, but the surgeon did nothing but look horrified at the state of my skin. He claimed he hadn't seen a case this bad in years, yet he offered zero explanation regarding the procedure itself or the recovery process... All he told me was that I need to wait at least a full year after a C-section before even considering this kind of surgery.. Can anyone share how the recovery goes?? The only thing I’ve managed to find out is that the incision is just as large as the C-section scar and they join the skin at the old site...... Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anything as revolting as my own reflection; I'm absolutely devastated by it, feeling disgusted with myself, while my husband keeps trying to comfort me, saying I'm still beautiful and that this will all be fixed eventually... By the way, how long is the wait for the operation?? I have no idea where I'd even go for this—with two toddlers, the only time I can carve out for myself is two minutes to run to the bathroom, and I wouldn't dream of stepping foot in Dubrava again. That doctor didn't inspire any confidence whatsoever; he just made me feel worse with his comments, not to mention the stares from the medical students 😢
Melissa Grant58 said:My OBGYN told me I have a "tilted uterus"—some people call it retroverted or just a "tipped" uterus. He mentioned it shouldn't cause any issues for me. I'm not sure if you have the same thing, or if "deeply retroverted" is just another way of saying the same thing, but I'm definitely interested in learning more about this topic.
I have a tilted uterus myself—gave birth twice without a single issue. Got pregnant literally on the first try, then the second one was right on schedule. On top of the tilt, I deal with PCOS and a laundry list of other issues, yet everything worked out fine. The only thing doctors say is that with a tilted uterus, it helps to have a partner with high-quality sperm counts. Mine never even had to get tested... but clearly, his quality is 😂excellent.