Oh where oh Where has my little colon gone...?
In taking a quiz I found a website that explains, in detail, what's wrong with my and why I had to have my colon/large intestine remove. I'll post the pertinent bits here so people will get the streamlined gist of it all. I know many are confused about how one can live without your entire large intestine, believe me, it is possible, it just sucks hardcore for a while. Regrowing it is an interesting and painful process.
"Diverticulitis is a sometimes painful condition that develops when pouches (diverticula) that form in the wall of the colon, part of the large intestine become inflamed or infected. Most of the time, diverticulitis can be treated with dietary changes and-if there is an infection-with antibiotics. About one-quarter of people with diverticulitis have complications, such as an abscess, fistula, or obstruction of the colon, that require surgery...pressure may cause pouches (diverticula) to form in weak spots along the colon. Diverticulitis occurs when these pouches become inflamed or infected.
"Symptoms of diverticulitis depend on the degree of inflammation or infection. Most commonly, diverticulitis causes pain in the lower left part of the abdomen. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and chills and fever or other signs of infection. Diverticulitis develops when bacteria become trapped in pouches (diverticula ) that have formed along the wall of the large intestine, leading to an infection. The bacteria grow and cause inflammation and pressure that may lead to a small perforation or tear in the wall of the intestine. Peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdominal wall, may develop if infection spills into the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. Diverticulitis develops when bacteria become trapped in pouches (diverticula) that have formed along the wall of the large intestine, leading to an infection. The bacteria grow and cause inflammation and pressure that may lead to a small perforation or tear in the wall of the intestine. Peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdominal wall, may develop if infection spills into the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity.
"Surgery for diverticulitis involves removing the diseased part of the colon. You may decide to have surgery for diverticulitis if you have:
A partially blocked colon or a narrow spot in the colon (stricture).
Repeated attacks of diverticulitis. Surgery to remove the diseased part of the colon often is recommended if you have two or more severe attacks.
A high risk of complications (such as people younger than age 40 who have had an attack of diverticulitis).
Repeated problems with bleeding from the colon.
An abnormal opening (fistula) that has formed between the colon and an adjacent organ, most commonly the bladder, uterus, or vagina.
A risk of cancer.
Surgery for diverticulitis, in which the infected part of the colon is removed, may be required if you have complications, including:
An infected pouch (diverticulum) that has ruptured into the abdominal cavity, especially if a pocket of infection (abscess) has formed. In some cases, an abscess can be drained without surgery.
An infection that has spread into the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
A blocked colon (bowel obstruction).
Infection that has spread through the blood to other parts of the body (sepsis).
Severe bleeding that does not stop with treatment given through an angiogram or colonoscopy.
About 15% to 20% of initial attacks of diverticulitis require surgery because of perforation or bowel obstruction or because medical treatment does not stop the infection. The survival rate is 99% for nonurgent (elective) surgery for diverticulitis and 70% for emergency surgery when a perforation into the abdominal cavity has occurred.3
Surgical treatment involves removing the diseased part of the large intestine (partial colectomy) and reconnecting the remaining parts. Depending on the severity and nature of the symptoms, more than one surgery may be needed to correct the problem."
All the worst case scenario shit in there happened. I had the absses, the fistula, the peritonitis, blah blah. I didn't know it at the time, though, but I'd been having attacks for the past two years, waking up in agony and vomiting bile and writhing on the floor for a few hours, unsure of what was wrong. Normal people go to the doctor when that happens. I just went about my day and got obliterated that evening. Priorities, priorities. So they reconnected the remaining parts, yep yep, my tiny intestine is really my big now. Surprise! The youngest person i've ever heard of getting the merry disease of divirtivulitus. Hurray for treating myself poorly.
And that, little puppets, is where my large intestine went.
"Diverticulitis is a sometimes painful condition that develops when pouches (diverticula) that form in the wall of the colon, part of the large intestine become inflamed or infected. Most of the time, diverticulitis can be treated with dietary changes and-if there is an infection-with antibiotics. About one-quarter of people with diverticulitis have complications, such as an abscess, fistula, or obstruction of the colon, that require surgery...pressure may cause pouches (diverticula) to form in weak spots along the colon. Diverticulitis occurs when these pouches become inflamed or infected.
"Symptoms of diverticulitis depend on the degree of inflammation or infection. Most commonly, diverticulitis causes pain in the lower left part of the abdomen. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and chills and fever or other signs of infection. Diverticulitis develops when bacteria become trapped in pouches (diverticula ) that have formed along the wall of the large intestine, leading to an infection. The bacteria grow and cause inflammation and pressure that may lead to a small perforation or tear in the wall of the intestine. Peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdominal wall, may develop if infection spills into the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. Diverticulitis develops when bacteria become trapped in pouches (diverticula) that have formed along the wall of the large intestine, leading to an infection. The bacteria grow and cause inflammation and pressure that may lead to a small perforation or tear in the wall of the intestine. Peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdominal wall, may develop if infection spills into the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity.
"Surgery for diverticulitis involves removing the diseased part of the colon. You may decide to have surgery for diverticulitis if you have:
A partially blocked colon or a narrow spot in the colon (stricture).
Repeated attacks of diverticulitis. Surgery to remove the diseased part of the colon often is recommended if you have two or more severe attacks.
A high risk of complications (such as people younger than age 40 who have had an attack of diverticulitis).
Repeated problems with bleeding from the colon.
An abnormal opening (fistula) that has formed between the colon and an adjacent organ, most commonly the bladder, uterus, or vagina.
A risk of cancer.
Surgery for diverticulitis, in which the infected part of the colon is removed, may be required if you have complications, including:
An infected pouch (diverticulum) that has ruptured into the abdominal cavity, especially if a pocket of infection (abscess) has formed. In some cases, an abscess can be drained without surgery.
An infection that has spread into the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
A blocked colon (bowel obstruction).
Infection that has spread through the blood to other parts of the body (sepsis).
Severe bleeding that does not stop with treatment given through an angiogram or colonoscopy.
About 15% to 20% of initial attacks of diverticulitis require surgery because of perforation or bowel obstruction or because medical treatment does not stop the infection. The survival rate is 99% for nonurgent (elective) surgery for diverticulitis and 70% for emergency surgery when a perforation into the abdominal cavity has occurred.3
Surgical treatment involves removing the diseased part of the large intestine (partial colectomy) and reconnecting the remaining parts. Depending on the severity and nature of the symptoms, more than one surgery may be needed to correct the problem."
All the worst case scenario shit in there happened. I had the absses, the fistula, the peritonitis, blah blah. I didn't know it at the time, though, but I'd been having attacks for the past two years, waking up in agony and vomiting bile and writhing on the floor for a few hours, unsure of what was wrong. Normal people go to the doctor when that happens. I just went about my day and got obliterated that evening. Priorities, priorities. So they reconnected the remaining parts, yep yep, my tiny intestine is really my big now. Surprise! The youngest person i've ever heard of getting the merry disease of divirtivulitus. Hurray for treating myself poorly.
And that, little puppets, is where my large intestine went.