diverticulitis | Arthritis Information

 

Has anyone had to deal with diverticulitis on top of everything else? I may be facing surgery and want to know all I can about it.

Kathy, I didn't have diverticulitis, but I did have ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the necessary bacteria in our colon, eventually causing it to kind of disintergrate.  There's also Crohn's disease, which is similar, but affects the small intestine as well.

My mom has diverticulitis, and from what I understand, it means there are little pockets(diverticuli) in your colon.  Small things like nuts, rice, seeds, can all get stuck in there causing an acute attack of diverticulisis, which can get infected.  If only a portion of your colon is affected, they can remove it and resection the the two parts together.  You shouldn't have to get an osotomy bag for that, maybe only for a few weeks at the most just to give the bowel some rest.

Of course, I'm no expert, this is only because I'm so intimately involved with bowel problems!

here's a link that may help:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diverticulitis/treatment.html

Keep us posted, love, Cheryl

 

Yes Mam,

I was dx'd a year ago, after my first colonoscopy.  Maybe these sites will help you.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00070

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis /

I don't have to have surgery but I sure know what it feels like when we have an attack from it.  It's horrible.

I changed my eating habits by adding more fiber and that has helped enormously

As far as dealing with RA and this.  Do yourself a favor and don't go or put yourself in places that cause you stress.  It's stressful enough to have to live with all the ailments we have without adding more stress. 

I am sorry to hear that you may need surgery. I will definitely keep my fingers crossed and a prayer in my thoughts for you.

hope you have a great weekend.

Toni 

waddles38576.3347916667Thanks - those links are very helpful.Kathy, my doctor thinks my bout of diverticulitis helped to bring on my RA.
He told me that joint problems and bowel problems can go hand in hand.
Thankfully I haven't had an bowel problems since last year

I never thought of that but it sure makes sense. When the divertic kicks in so doesn't everything else. Maybe it would be worth the surgery. I have to get used to the idea. The thought of more surgery makes my stomach hurt.

Barb

of an antibiotic I took for a sinus infection!  My whole world flipped upside down in a matter of days!

Lulu

That sounds like the story of my life. It never occurred to me that they go hand in hand but it sure makes sense.
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