It does help when a medical person takes time to explain what is going on. Even though most of us really cannot do much at the time, we feel better just knowing. Glad she is improving

Jasdip, i'm so glad your Mom is doing so well. How difficult this has been for her and her family. How nice that the medical person took the time to explain all that has been happening. Thanks for the update.

Yes, thanks for thr update as well as the "unusual" information. My Mom had something very similar many years ago; you have given a much better description. Thanks. Nanny

First husband almost died from ruptured diverticulitis.
He didn't even know he had a problem, and when it ruptured, ignored the pain for hours. By the time I got him to the ER, peritonitis had already set in,and they had to remove the damaged part of his colon.
He was only in his 40's, and recovered completely, but it was months before he recovered completely.

How sweet of that Nurse to take the time to explain things! Not ALL of them are like that (and that's why I've alwsy said "Some were sent...and some just went"). I sat with a lady that had diverticulitis..and landed in the hospital (that was before I started sitting with her). After that experiece she was scared to eat anything! Her lunch everyday was boiled chicken, boilded carrots and instant potatoes. Bless her heart..she loved tomotoes and said she couldn't have them because of the seeds! Guess it never occurred to any of the other sitters to REMOVE the seeds!

I'm so glad your Mom is on the ment...and my Prayers continue for her!

Thanks for the update again. Hope your mom keeps getting better. That's my wish.

Moni

When I had my first ever colonoscopy a few years ago, the doctor discovered I have diverticuli. No symptoms, he just said be careful what I eat.

My DH had diverticulitis in 1996. He had emergency surgery because the pouch ruptured. He ended up with a temporary colostomy for 4 months until the area healed. When they did the take down all went fine until the two joined areas developed scar tissue and closed. I almost lost him. Another emergency surgery to remove more bowel and all went fine for a couple of months when again the area closed. This time they decided to experiment by slowly over the course of several out patient procedures opening the stricture by inflating small balloon like devices. Fast forward to today and he is doing fine. He does have to take metamucil everynight to keep regular. Constipation will worsen diveritculosis.

I'm glad you're mom is doing well. I continue to send healing wishes for a speedy recovery.

It's always much easier to deal with a situation when you know exactly what is going on. Thanks for the up date. It was very informative.

It doesn't sound to me like you are receiving the information you deserve. I would really expect the surgeon or hospitalist or your mother's regular physician to explain things to you. I'm sorry you are so in the dark.

Diverticulitis is an infection in one of those pouches. Diverticulosis is having the condition. So a person with diverticulosis can get an infection which is then called diverticulitis (litis meaning infection).

It's not only people in their fifties, it can happen to anyone with diverticulosis. Hopefully you will receive instructions for things your mother can do to prevent this from ever happening again, and symptoms to be on the watch for. Good luck, glad she is getting better.

jasdip:

My understanding is that a diverticula is not outside the gut, but is small bag like extrusion of the intestine wall. As such, it forms a pocket where stuff may collect. A diverticula may range from a light bulge to a full fledged pocket. When a diverticula bursts or leaks, gut contents passes into the adominal cavity, and as you know, this is very serious - similar to a gun shot wound to the gut.

Many folks with diverticuli may have bouts of inflamation from a poorly flushed diverticula, and may never burst one.

Our hopes go out to your mother (and you).

I have many diverticula and I'm so glad you have shared this with us. I have had several episodes of pain that can last a few days. My Dr. told me to wet a towel with warm water, go to bed, apply the towel and cover with a plastic garbage bag and stay there - a very soft light diet, etc. Also was told if I developed a fever to get right to ER. So far the bed rest and moist heat has done the trick. It is very hard to be so careful with eveythng that you eat.
Sometimes you get away with it and sometimes not.

I hope she is soon feeling much better.

Thanks again for sharing. How wonderful to have been able to have this nurse explain so well.

I went through something similar 7 years ago.

I had never had any indication of a problem in that area.

At about 3 a.m. one morning, I woke with excruciating pain in my left groin area. Called my DD who took me to the ER. I don't recall what all transpired, but I was admitted and many tests were done. I was very sick. The problem was identified as an abscessed, perforated colon. I was kept (somewhat) comfortable while the area was drained, although finding the exact spot to put the drain, while I was awake, was a miserable time. Eventually I had surgery, which was scheduled and then delayed because my potassium level dropped to a dangerous point. My surgeon explained everything to me when I was well enough to understand it.

He told me he does not believe the theory that "seeds get caught in a pouch." The abscess is caused by increased pressure on that area of the colon.

I was in the hospital for 7 weeks. The affected area of the colon was removed. My surgeon told me to eat anything I want to eat. I remember asking him if I could have pecan pie! He repeated "Anything."

As I said that was 7 years ago; I'm still eating pecan pie and everything else I want.

Jasdip, I hope your mother continues to improve.

Sue

Jasdip, I hate to hear you were uninformed for too long; that's hard to understand how this can happen. And how frustrating for everyone.

I've been in the hospital many times with this very painful colon condition...with the stomach tube, morphine and with each visit lasting days. Whew!...not fun and kinda scarey.

Wishing your dear mother all the best and hugs to you, too.

The simplest explanation is that the colon is like a garden hose.
Diverticulosis is when the hose develops a thin/weak spot, diverticulitis is when infection occurs, usually because the weak spot springs a leak.

Good for your nurse. I think in a hospital situation they are the ones that respond to our needs.

As I mentioned, I know and have experienced the exact same things although I knew going into surgery what was happening and what had happened......

I'm going to send you a private message..

I'm surprised it took so long to tell you what's going on with your mom too.
My mom has the same thing.

This whole saga shows that you can be TOO polite and reserved. Jasdip's mother deserved to be seen by an MD and hospitalized days before she was. She and her family deserved to be told what was happening *immediately*.

You MUST stand up for yourselves and your loved ones, not be cowed by 'the system'.

It sounds as though Jasdip's mom will recover well, but it didn't need to become touch and go as it did.

Chisue,
When we were in on Tuesday, and she STILL had not been seen by her Dr, since Sat. we were not impressed.
We'd asked the nurses when he'll be coming in, and they have no idea, as he does surgeries, and comes in whenever.

He did come in Wed. am, and both us, and my brother tried getting info out of the nurses what he said. They wouldn't tell us. Brother lives in Toronto, and he is forceful, but even he couldn't get answers.

This whole thing has been not good care from the get-go IMO. When the paramedics first got called, and he looked in her garbage pail and said. Quote !"I've never seen anything like that before!" , and her resting heart-rate was over 130,
they should have taken her in.
Actually, they DID say, they could take her in if she wanted, but she had to sit in a chair, and wait her turn to be seen. The only way she could be rushed to the top of the line, if it were something dreadful/death-threatening. So we should be glad that she won't be at the head of the line. AND she couldn't get a bed.
The paramedics the second time we called, took her in, and stayed with her, on the stretcher. That's what we expected with the first crew.

My husband has this its usually more than one, theyre not big,can be serious though.

Thinking good thoughts for your Mom.

I hope you will take this up with the hospital. Nobody deserves this shoddy treatment -- not the patient and not the family. Is your mother's attending MD too important to talk to you for three minutes? Everyone -- from the paramedics who refused to recognize her real distress and take her in the first time to the attending MD -- all need a stiff reminder about their duty. The paraMEDICS were negligent! Her attending owes you an explanation of what he is doing and what to expect in future. You shouldn't have to badger nursing staff to get information.

Sorry, this sort of thing drives me CRAZY! You deserve better and the 'system' should be looking to avoid a lawsuit.

Her attending owes you an explanation of what he is doing and what to expect in future. You shouldn't have to badger nursing staff to get information.

I was a middle of the night admittance thru the ER last week. After a day of unknown DRs, I asked where my regular doctors were. The attending Dr never bothered to report my admission to my personal physicians. The nurses tracked down my Dr on rounds the next day and told him I was there. I am still livid.

I have this condition, and as a matter of fact, had a bout the end of October. It took 3 different anti-biotics to get rid of it, and then I got a bladder infection which I found out is not unusual following the diverticulitis. I've had it for several years. My doc's PA told me to never eat popcorn or whole kernal corn, and I did go for a whole year once w/o an attack. The info you get when you google this contradicts itself. One site will say it doesn't matter what you eat, and another site will say it does matter. I'm not sure, but the only time I went a year w/o an attack was after I quit whole kernal corn.

A friend had the surgery for it and said it is awful and to do everything you can to prevent that. 3 times is the most I've had it in a year, and it takes a week out of your life b/c you can't do a thing. Sorry your mom had so much trouble. It's for sure an awful thing and it hits fast and it hits hard. It's a bummer getting older! My doc gave me a new prescription for the meds, b/c I never travel w/o those 2 meds. Flagyl and Levaquin.

They moved Mom from ICU to Acute-Care.

Correct me if I'm wrong.....I'm not a nurse after all, but she hasn't been allowed anything to drink for over a week, and she was ill a week prior to that. Not eating anything.

She got her first meal tonite....Salisbury Steak, rice, frozen mixed veg (corn, beans carrots), jello, tomato juice and Tea, that she asked for.

She couldn't cut the steak (still weak). Now is this a **normal** meal for the first time eating??? I didn't see a nurse anywhere around, or I would have asked her!
Hell, corn doesn't digest in OUR systems, much less an invalid who's been on iv fluids.

I expected jellos and puddings, then whipped potatoes.
Geesh.

Glad to hear your mom is doing so much better jasdip. I wouldn't have expected the corn either.

Red meat and corn??? For a first meal in almost two weeks??? Sounds like it could be VERY hard to digest! I'm no dietician or nurse, but that just doesn't sound right. I'd be a little concerned......

No, no, no--she should be started on clear liquids, progress to semi-solids like puddings and such, then onto solids. They are setting her up for an obstruction or ileus, especially if she is still on narcotics!!! And corn and mixed vegetables are the last thing she should be eating. There is a serious lack of continuity of care and communication in that hospital and I would be very concerned (and really voice my dissatisfaction) if I were you.