Sorry for not posting for a while, but my condition has been taking its toll.
The relief that I found after my hospital visit was short lived, with the abdominal pain returning about 3 days after discharge. It got so bad that on Wednesday, I called my Gastroenterologist and asked what else could be done. He said that he could do nothing further except recommend a Colorectal Surgeon to further treat this condition. Wonderful, I thought.
So back to my GP, who I told my story to from the beginning, told him that the pain had returned and that I would like a referral and some pain relief. My doctor even gave me some more anti-biotics, two types in fact to try and settle down the pain. This would now be the 6th course of antibiotics that I have been on in five weeks. That can’t be healthy in itself. On my way out of the clinic I gave him a jar of fig jam and told him it came from the fig tree out the front of the building. He was well impressed and started showing the other doctors.
Anyway, I managed to get an appointment with the Surgeon for the 22nd April, so hope to get a few more answers from him. I met him when I was in hospital, and he has a great bedside manner and explained everything the the nth degree. At least I will be in good hands.
So, as expected, the antibiotics have not worked at all, but the pain relief has been welcome. I have been feeling horrible all week, and have not done as much gardening this weekend as I had hoped. I have found that I have had to have a rest in the afternoon, or I just don’t make it through the day. At least I managed to get some snow peas and two types of cabbages in the ground where the old pumpkin patch had once been. I had lots of help from the chooks and Ben, who as promised helped me remove the old bean stalks, and planted the seeds and seedlings. He is so looking forward to helping himself to the snow peas, as are all of us.
Hopefully, this week will shed some more light on the road to recovery. I can definitely say that I am well over diverticulitis! At least I can still manage a podcast each week, which keeps the creative juices flowing. Oh, and of course there is my day job. Who could forget that.
hopefully you will have some answers soon Gavin. Good luck and I hope the pain continues to lessen.
I’m sorry you’re still in pain and not feeling well. Hope you’ll soon be as good as new!
That’s no good, no good at all, Gav. Please consider seeking the second opinion of a recommended naturopath as well, or someone who can perhaps talk a bit more of a holistic impression of what is going on. Surely someone you know, or in blog land, can give a high recommendation for a doctor of natural medicine in your area, who is happy to work alongside ‘conventional’ medicine…
I am an RN, but also know sometimes the surgeons get a bit stumped by recurring illness and resort to drastic surgery, because they simply think they have no other options… might be worthwhile finding out there are other, less intrusive and life altering options!
Sorry to go on, I know you’ve probably thought of it, and best of luck to you… will be sending you get well thoughts!
Hey Gavin
Maybe you should see a dietitian… if you haven’t already. One of the things I know you should be avoiding, is Pumpkin seeds. I hear that you like Pumpkins.
The best treatment for this sort of thing is diet. Try to avoid antibiotics if possible…and use yogurt if you must take them.
Best of luck!
More….
Foods to Avoid
Any hard or difficult-to-digest foods, such as nuts, corn, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds.
For more in depth information consider this book: Diverticulitis (How to Cope Successfully With)
I too agree that maybe a change in the diet might offer some small relief. I am sorry that you are feeling so poorly…I pray that you are on the mend soon
Get thee hence to a herbalist; with all those antibiotics I wonder if it might be making things worse rather than better, and killed off your intestinal flora, which isn’t helping.
Bless, sounds awful, get well soon!
How much fig jam have you been eating because my mum cannot eat anything with tiny seeds in it, tomatoes, figs , strawberries sesame seeds anything small that can get caught in the little pockets in her bowel.
She gets so sick and now knows she has to go without.
Hope you get better soon
May I just point out and forgive me for stepping out of line…. Gavin? Change his diet? To What? All he eats is home grown veggies, local top grade meat maybe once or twice a week, HEAPS of wholegrain grains and cereals, Local seafood (never imported) again a rare treat, I mean … seriously!
xoxox
But if his healthy, organic, local diet contains too many or the wrong type of seeds, that might be worth eliminating them from his diet and see how he goes… I think that is what people were suggesting. Just like someone consuming a healthy diet inculding organic, local wholesome dairyfood, who might not tolerate lactose or casein!
Hi Gavin, I hope a change in diet helps. Should surgery be the answer I’m living proof that you can survive with a bit less colon – or, in my case, with only about 20cm left (although this is due to Crohn’s disease).
Do go easy on seeds and nuts, muesli etc.. as they are like sand paper to inflamed parts of intestine. My dietitian describes it as a “no rough stuff” diet.
With full sympathy and understanding,
Michelle and a madly purring Zebbycat
Thanks for all of your sound advice. Avoiding seeds, my fig jam and hard foods until Saturday.
I have booked an appointment with a local Naturopath on Saturday. I am quite excited.
I will tell the Surgeon on Thursday that I want to try a natural treatment at first. I will still visit the Surgeon so that at a last resort, I have a fall back plan if I get no joy from the natural therapy.
Gav x
So good to hear… hoping you are back on track soon! 🙂
My thoughts are with you.
Emily
Hope you are back on top of thingts soon Gavin. Remember to eat lots of yoghurt every day, those antibiotics are killing the natural flora in your gut.
Acidophilus will be in a good yoghurt, it will replace that flora, if you dont like yoghurt you can buy the capsules, I never go without them when on antibiotics and find they make an amazing difference.