So, diverticulitis it is. I have been under incredible pain and discomfort for some time now with little or no information on what the problem was. It turns out that I have diverticulitis. Diverticuli are pouches or little folds and pockets that form in the colon (primarily the descending colon) as we age. Sometimes those folds can trap fecal matter or food or bacteria. They can become infected and swell. This creates pressure and pain as well as fever and elevated white blood cell count…other sickness symptoms as well (tired etc..).
I ended up in the emergency room last Thursday morning at about midnight, and had a CT Scan. I went to the doctor yesterday for the verdict. I was referred to a surgeon and they will call me to set a time for a colonoscopy. In the mean time, I am taking Cipro (antibiotic), Darvocet (pain killer), and Donatol (slows the digestive system).
Interestingly, this all began in January when I went to the doctor for what I thought was the flu. She said I didn’t have the flu, but she thought I had some kind of infection. She hit it on the head even though we had no way to know how serious it was.
I need to eat a high fiber diet, but no seeds, corn or other nuts which might lodge in the diverticuli.
I also gave up alcohol altogether because my liver didn’t look very good in the ct scan. I haven’t drank that much, but I don’t think it’s worth it. I have moderate to severe fatty infestation of the liver. And I take a drug on a regular basis (androgel) which is hard on the liver. I might as well not be any harder on it than I have to. I also need to lose weight, but it’s been pretty easy to not eat when eating leaves me writhing on the floor in agony.
So that’s my story today!
To everyone out there who I’ve been neglecting…I am sorry. I need to get myself together. The guys at work have had a pool going on how soon until I die. It’s funny…but not so funny.
