Hi, I recently had a colonoscopy to check for bowel cancer. The good news is that the consultant did not find any signs of malignancy. The not such good news is that he did find, in his words "severe diverticulosis" - so severe in fact that he was not able complete the colonoscopy. So, he referred me to have a colon CT scan. I got the results from this last week and they confirm that I do have a lot of diverticula in my colon. The consultant is now recommending that I have surgery to remove my the affected parts of my intestines.
Looking back I have suffered numerous bouts of GI discomfort - severe indigestion, diarrhoea, abdominal pain etc - over many years. However, I've never had to take time off work, or take antibiotics to treat these attacks, or go to hospital. I simply self-diagnosed IBS and carried on.
So, while I am inclined to have the surgery, I also have some nagging doubts as to whether such a drastic solution is necessary for my condition. Can anybody help me with their own experiences?
Hi
sorry to hear of your troubles, it must be quite bad for them to suggest surgery! From my perspective surgery was literally the best thing that has ever happened to me. I had such severe diverticulitis that my bowel perforated twice before they decided to operate. I had to have an ileostomy for four months before they reconnected everything. It was a difficult time for me, and often I wasn't sure if I could cope, but I did and 7 months on I am normal, there is no more disease, no more pain and normal bowel movements, hallelujah!! Often with surgery they don't need to do an ileostomy every case is different. The disease is so debilititating at times and now I feel better than I have done for years it was literally life saving. Good luck
It is great news that you have no problems now, can I just ask do you have no bag fitted and do you still have to watch what you eat please x
Can I ask why did they investigate you for bowel cancer? Symptoms can be very similar to diverticular disease. They could probably not complete the coloscopy due to strictures, obstructions. These can be caused by diverticular disease. You don't necessarily have to be really sick in hospital in drop to get these. Over time, repeat low grade infection could cause this too. I'm pretty certain surgeons want to operate to ensure you won't suffer total obstruction in future. Believe me, they don't cut unnecessarily these data as surgery carries risk both during and after operation however a ruptured obstruction is more dangerous to anyone than a planned, elective surgical resection if the diseased bit of intestine. If it's elective you may get away without having a stoma bag after too. Emergency surgery is more likely to end with stoma, peritonitis and sepsis.
I have no bag now, it was always meant to be temporary to allow the colon that was left to heal safely. Immediately after the reversal surgery I remained on a low fibre diet and am now reintroducing foods slowly but surely. I think I will always avoid what I called the 'Devils Food' tomatoes, sweet corn, nuts all the seed type foods and one food my surgeon said never to eat was 'mushrooms'. I take time eating and chew my food so much, I'm always last to finish eating!!
HI Carol, thanks for your reply. I'm really glad that the surgery has made such a positive difference to your condition and that you are feeling so well now. I have not suffered such debilitating symptoms as you and that is why I am having my doubts about the surgery. How do the risks of me developing these servers symptoms compare with the risks associated with the surgery?
In January I had a hernia repair operation. Afterwards I was given codeine to control the pain. These caused me to suffer contipation, which set off a bout of haemorrhoids - a condition which I have suffered from on and off for many years. But these were worse than before and lasted for 3 months. Eventually I saw the GP, who referred me to the GI consultant. He treated them and recommended to colonoscopy to rule out anything more sinister - including cancer.
You are correct about why he couldn't complete the colonoscopy - he told me that my colon was too narrow at some point for him to pass the apparatus any further inside me. And he has explained to me about the risk of more serious symptoms developing in the future. But, I haven't yet experienced any of these problems yet and I trying to evaluate the risks that these will occur against the risks associated with the operation.
The thing is that I know that they would not embark on such major surgery unless they thought it was necessary, it is not without risks. I think also that diverticular disease cannot be cured only managed by diet if you are lucky. It is a massive decision and if it was me I would always remember that they would not operate unless they thought it necessary.,
I just thought that the possible risks of not having surgery would of course be more frequent debilitating flare ups possibly resulting in hospitalisation, IV antibiotics etc etc, and of course the risk of one of the diverticula pouches perforating as in my case. Keep in touch I'll be interested to see what happens!!
Hi
How do bowel cancer symptoms be similar to diverticolosis or diverticulitis. Can you explain please. I am having bouts of I am not sure what. Sometimes It feels like IBS but other times it feels totally different. I have a dull pain that will not go away on my left lower abdomen. Plus it feels like a wound when I move around or walk too much. I had a hard time taking a shower today. Bending down is hard. I can only have a CT scan when I have the next bad bout.
I am sorry for all of us. This is taking control of my life. One thing that scares me is
since my last bout June 1 2015 I went down from 125lbs to 108lbs and can't seem to gain it back. I an 5'1 feet tall. 52 years old . I kind of look a little sickly. I don't like when people notice. The I have to explain.
Vivian
😕
Hi Vivian
any change in bowel habits, bleeding, weight loss, pain need to be investigated, from the outside the symptoms are similar!! Have you had a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy? They are a very good diagnostic tool and as you say there's not much point in having a CT unless you are having a flare up.
Good luck
Ok John. That explains why they want to operate. I thought you must have experienced some symptoms to be investigated at all to start with. Strictures can come from surgery too. I would really weigh up options if I were yi. If you never had any major issues you may be fine without any surgical intervention for a long long time. However if strictures are from your hernia repair you might only seen top of iceberg for now. I been partially obstructed and it's not nice. However I managed it with laxative, a lot of it. Still take it daily.
Vivian, Carol pretty much said it all. Symptoms shared is pain, change in bowel habits, bleeding, weight loss, nausea. You might drop weight from eating less. In cancer you might loose weight despite eating normal. The cancer speeds up metabolism. Require higher calorie intake to keep weight on. Constipation due to obstructions. Can be cancerous or by strictures. A coloscopy will see what is causing it. Also what's causing any bleeds or prolonged constipation.
John, what country are you in? I can't say for sure but there seem to be different cut off points before surgery is considered depending on where you are and who is paying for it. I'm in uk and I been begging for an operation to remove the pain. They didn't give it to me. I still have daily problems a year on.
Hi
Last year I had a colonoscopy and CT. However following that I had 4 bout requiring antibiotics. Surgeon suggested another CT during an episode. I am not bleeding. Complete bowel irregulation. I gave nig had a sigmoid test and don't know why no Dr
Has mentioned to me. I have nog had a C diff. Test yet either.
Vivian
The sigmoidoscopy is a scope of the first bit of intestine from the bottom. Coloscopy is higher up. They would have seen both sites last time you had a coloscopy. I think you should get a second opinion. If this is affecting you do much it calls for more investigation. Your life, quality is also a factor to consider when deciding to operate or not. I think whatever infection you have lurking in your guts lays dormant between flares. I don't think it ever clears up totally on you. I see you wonder about cdiff. You probably would not have good periods at all if you had it but it should get tested as you been on multiple lots of antibiotics. Speak to your pharmacy, they might send for tests without having a order from Dr. At least it put your mind at rest. I feel for you. I seen you been through a lot. I wish that would take us more seriously and invest more money into research to help us
I also live in the UK, appendectomy. However, I'm lucky enough to have private health insurance through the my job. So I am getting my treatment privately. However, my consultant also works in the local NHS hospitals. so I'm sure I'm getting the same advice as if I was being treated in one of them, although I might be getting it a little more quickly.
Money talks John. Whatever you do, hold on to that insurance. I'm moving to America and I see they operate a lot sooner over there. I have obstructions, daily pain. Nhs won't touch it. Gave me pain relief after I been hospitalised 3 times for pain management. And yes, had sigmoidoscopy and too tight to get any further so they stopped and told me to eat more fibres. Do think long and hard though about surgery. It's not without complications. Who knows where strictures come from? Could they been from your hernia repair? They normally take 6-12 months to appear, give symptoms. Just because the doctor does both nhs and private, he/she xan still give different advice depending on where they work that day. Nhs hasn't got funds for a lot these days. They do keep this in mind when consulting patients. Look at mögel damage with his testicular cancer?! He did not get scan in nhs. Private doctors have it as he was paying. Voila testicular cancer found. Nhs is still very good av treating the imminent, life threatening situation. But unfortunately there is a lack of funds
Hahahaha, meant Nigel Ferage. The ukip leader. Remember the stories in the papers about his balls, if his ball.....
Everything's relative. If you don't have the surgery to remove the affected area and your bowel perforates due to the confirmed severe diverticulitis, ( with research you can confirm this) and then you'll be forced into emergency surgery--now that's drastic.
Hi there, I'm jumping in here about good and bad foods. How did you find out about what foods to eat and which ones not to? And why mushrooms? I'm still self guiding and trying hard to keep away from certain foods but being veggie I'm eating almond nuts (they're in my cereal as well as seeds) and sometimes tomatoes. I still haven't seen a dietician and am now thinking I should.