Did you know that in the UK over 50% of people aged 50 and over have diverticular disease? In fact, it’s even more prevalent in the elderly with over 70% of those over the age of 80 suffering with the condition. So why is it that this condition is so common and yet there are a huge number of people who have never even heard of it?
Well, to begin with, in the overwhelming majority of cases, diverticular disease is asymptomatic meaning that it shows no symptoms at all. However, this means that an unlucky minority who suffer from complications of the condition such as frequent pain, episodes of diverticulitis and even the occurrence of perforations and abscesses may struggle to get adequate sympathy from their family and friends and even from their own doctor.
The standard advice in the UK upon diagnosing diverticular disease from a colonoscopy is to eat a diet high in fibre and stay hydrated. While not bad advice for many people, it certainly doesn’t suit everyone. There isn’t a ‘one size fits all solution’ unfortunately since the understanding of the condition even by the medical community is still somewhat limited. Sadly, this can make some sufferers feel alone which is partly why I felt the need to create this blog. But even more valuable than articles and blog posts is the advice and support of others who know exactly what you’re going through.
Remember that you are absolutely not alone while suffering with diverticular disease or diverticulitis and joining an online support group could provide you with the reassurance that you need when you’re feeling unwell or frightened.
If you’re a UK resident or you are a British expat living abroad, consider joining this group of over 4,500 members and a knowledgeable and supportive admin team. You can join by simply clicking the button below which will take you to the Diverticular Disease and Diverticulitis UK Support Group on Facebook. From there, you need to request to join the group and answer the entry questions which are in place to protect the group from spammers and bots.
My gallbladder story is quite short really and
uncomplicated in comparison to others. I’d never really experienced any
problems with my gallbladder. Although, looking back, there was a time I had a
sharp and horrendous pain in my upper-right abdomen in 2012 one day while at
work. The pain was severe and my boss called an ambulance which came right away
and injected me with a load of pain killers and muscle relaxants. I went home
and slept it off and the pain was gone within a few hours so I never even went
to a doctor about it. Maybe, that was an attack, maybe not.
Fast-forward to the beginning of February 2019. I was still being investigated after a complicated case of diverticulitis that resulted in the perforation of my bowel and a battle with sepsis. My constant lower-abdominal discomfort caused my gastroenterologist to send me for a full abdominal ultrasound. He wanted to rule out abscesses, cysts and adhesions so requested a scan of the whole abdomen.
Ultrasounds are no big deal. Totally painless and easy to do.
At the ultrasound, the doctor started snapping
pictures of my organs and measuring dimensions, then, the moment he got a clear
image of my gallbladder, he asked ‘Are you on the waiting list to get this
removed?’, ‘No’ I replied, ‘Why do you ask?’ and he told me that there were a
few small stones in there, but more importantly a polyp. I told him I had no
idea and hadn’t had any symptoms of things not working well. Anyway, at the end
of the ultrasound, he gave me all the printed photographs and a written report
detailing what he had found and told me to go back to my gastroenterologist as
soon as possible.
The gastroenterologist told me that it would need to be removed and set up a meeting with a surgeon for a few days later. He looked at my results, agreed that it needed to be removed because of the potential for the polyp because of its size to be a risk. He penciled me in for two weeks later to get it removed. In the mean time, he told me to eat a low fat diet and gave me a list of foods to avoid. (I’ll post about this soon, I promise)
Before I knew it, it was removal day. At 7:30am
I hopped onto the trolley and was taken down to surgery. I watched the staff
running around doing last-minute checks and preparation. It was fun chatting to
the hospital porter who spoke pretty good English and was so smiley. I wasn’t
particularly nervous or scared, I deal with hospital and needles etc pretty
well and I’m not someone to get themselves into a state about a surgery. I’m
sure I was mid-sentence joking with the surgeon and porter as I drifted off
into a deep sleep and the surgery
began.
In what seems like no time at all, I wake up in
a different room with an IV in the opposite arm and a drain coming out of a
hole in my upper-right abdomen. I look to my right and the porter is stood
there smiling. I smile back and say ‘I need to sit up’, He immediately props
the trolley up and hands me a little sick bowl….no, I say, I feel like I can’t
breathe. So, he calls over a nurse who measures my oxygen levels and rushes off
and comes back with a mask. I’m hooked up to oxygen and starting to catch my
breath. Five or ten minutes later, the porter takes me back to the ward where
my boyfriend was waiting to see me. He seemed worried, I asked him what the
problem was and it was only then, that he told me that the surgery was expected
to last maybe an hour and a half, but that I had been there for over four hours
due to it being a tricky surgery. I hadn’t even noticed what the time was.
I expected to be in major pain the rest of the day, but other than a horrible discomfort in my back and shoulders, I had no pain at all. I refused dinner when the nurse brought it. I wasn’t hungry at all and the noodle soup did NOT look appetizing at all. I was alone now because my boyfriend had left for work. I forgot I had the drain and as I got up out of bed and went to the bathroom, I must have moved the drain a little and it was a bit sore. After the effort of that, I went back to bed and was in a little pain. The nurse came to check on me and when I told her it was sore, she injected something into my IV and the pain subsided and I drifted off again.
I woke up the next morning feeling quite chipper. I still had some discomfort in my back and chest from the gas, but was keen to get up and about. I got up had a wash, brushed my teeth and did my hair. Then I got changed. When the nurse offered pain relief via the IV, I declined since I didn’t have any pain except for the gas pains. I got up and walked around the ward and the catering team brought me a chamomile tea which I sipped at.
My surgeon came in to speak to me and told me not to lift heavy things or to strain when going to the bathroom due to the risk of getting a hernia. I was a little worried since I had pushed a bit going to the toilet in the morning, but it was okay, the stitches had held. He removed the drain and replaced my dressings. Before telling me to take almost 3 weeks off work and discharging me from the hospital. He told me to clean my wounds and replace the dressings each day. He also advised me to take a paracetamol if I was uncomfortable, but to contact him if I had severe pain, or jaundice.
I didn’t even need the paracetamol. Recovery wasn’t too difficult, but I stuck to the post-op gallbladder diet that he gave me. (I promise I’ll write about this, too) The one thing I had a problem with, was laying down. The stitches were tight and I couldn’t lay down or get up, so for the first week, I slept sitting up on the couch. It wasn’t a problem.
Sleeping on the couch wasn’t so bad!
I used glycerine suppositories everyday to keep me going to the bathroom without effort. As the days passed, I found doing things even easier and as time passed I found myself able to tolerate more foods. The surgeon checked up on me regularly via telephone and asked me to send him pictures of the healing incisions on Viber. They were all doing great accept for my belly button which was weeping and a little sore and hot to the touch. Although, the surgical incision in my belly button did become a little infected and I had to pack it and take antibiotics, but within a week, it was much better and I could go to have the stitches removed. I had to be careful to stay near a toilet after trying a new food though because a few times in those first couple of months, I experienced dumping syndrome and had to make a bee line for the bathroom.
Post-op, life isn’t much different for me. I sometimes still get dumping syndrome, particularly if I eat something too fatty. Otherwise, I don’t have any real symptoms…just like before my op. However, it’s nice to know that the polyp was removed and won’t be causing any trouble in the future.
So, if you’re having your gallbladder removed. Don’t worry. It isn’t as bad as you might think. If you are suffering with a lot of anxiety, tell your doctor. There are things they can do to help you relax and to reassure you about the surgery. Of course, everyone’s gallbladder story is a little different. But, this is mine and from my experience, I feel it wasn’t a bad or scary experience. But, it is so important to take time out to recover.
My advice is to not push yourself or overdo it during your recovery – you may regret it. Also, don’t expect to feel back to normal immediately. The human body is amazing, but it certainly needs to be given the time to heal after surgery.
So, you’re going for a colonoscopy…don’t worry. It’s not as bad as you might think! A lot of people say that the preparation is worse than the procedure, so let’s look at how we can make it as smooth a ride as possible.
Two days before the colonoscopy
Reduce the amount of fibre in your diet and adopt a low residue/low fibre diet. Cut out fruit and vegetables and eat plain foods such as chicken without a sauce, white rice, white bread, and clear soups. This makes the preparation much easier on your body. Also eat lightly, try not to eat too much, have small portions and drink lots of water. You may feel quite hungry, but, this will certainly reduce the amount of toilet trips when you take your preparation agent.
Preparation day – On the day before the colonoscopy
I prefer to book a morning appointment for my colonoscopy and not eat anything on the day before my colonoscopy. However, if you have booked a later afternoon or evening appointment, your doctor should give you a schedule for when to take your preparation agent and stop eating and stick to a clear liquid diet.
NOTE: You MUST tell the colonoscopy team or your doctor before doing the preparation if you are diabetic.
When I had my colonoscopy, my doctor gave me Citrafleet to use. It was in two sachets each of which were to be mixed in one glass of water. The Citrafleet tasted like lemon and was definitely fine to drink without too much trouble.
The preparation agent my doctor prescribed for me.
Some doctors give their patients different preparation agents, these can come in large bottles, sachets and some are difficult to drink. Tips for making these drinks more palatable include: keeping it cool, using a straw, adding a flavour or chasing it with a clear drink you enjoy.
REMEMBER: Avoid eating or drinking anything that is red, pink or purple in colour. This can stain the lining of the bowel and can affect the results of the colonoscopy.
Prep day kit!
prep agent
drinks – I had green tea, water, iced tea, Sprite
Vaseline
baby wipes
A show or set of movies that you know well and love to watch.
Someone to hang out with
hobby (crochet, reading, etc)
paint your nails, do a face mask, do your hair, etc.
The urge to go can be sudden and come from nowhere…be ready to spring up and run to the bathroom! Be careful of cables, yarn, being in a position or chair you find it difficult to get out of. Make sure your route to the bathroom remains clear. And that other family members or friends if possible can use a different bathroom if you’ve got your stuff set up in the most convenient one.
Ouch it burns!
Like with any time we get diarrhea, it can burn. So, to solve this, be proactive. Before you go for the first time, apply Vaseline or Sudocrem thickly. This will act as somewhat of a barrier and will protect your skin. Then after going to the bathroom, avoid wiping multiple times with toilet paper. If you suspect it is messy, consider using a bidet or using water to clean your bottom. Alternatively, I would recommend using baby wipes for sensitive skin. These can help you clean up without too much repeated wiping and are gentle on the skin. (the more you wipe over the same area, the more likely it is to become sore). When you’re clean, apply a new thick layer of Vaseline or Sudocrem ready to protect you the next time. This helped me so much!
NOTE: We love the environment so please don’t flush your baby wipes away. Of course it would be better not to use them at all, but it’s better to dispose of them in a bin rather than flushing them down the toilet where they can block drains or enter our waterways.
How do I know whether I’m empty and ready for the procedure?
In theory, by the end of the preparation, your bowel movements should be totally liquid, pretty much see-through and possibly yellow in colour. If you are still passing loose stool with pieces in it or thick and not at all see-through, you should contact your doctor or a member of staff at the place where the colonoscopy is taking place. Some places will do an enema if the bowel requires a little cleaning, but others would rather reschedule the colonoscopy and prescribe a different preparation agent.
Good luck for the procedure!
If you have any more questions about preparing for a colonoscopy, please ask them in the comments below and I’ll try to answer them or even add additional information to the blog post. How did your colonoscopy prep go and do you have any helpful tips?
Maybe it’s just me, but after being in hospital a few times with diverticulitis and then from a gallbladder removal surgery, I like to make sure I always have a bag ready for the hospital. Usually, this bag lives under the bed, but sometimes it accompanies us in the back of the car on long journeys and trips. But, it makes me feel better knowing that everything I need is ready to grab and go should I end up in hospital. Below, I’ve included my list of things that I keep packed in my hospital bag.
My List
pyjamas/nightie
comfortable and easy to put on footwear (e.g. slippers/sliders/crocs/flip flops)
underwear
wet wipes
toothbrush/toothpaste
hairbrush and headbands/hair ties
lip balm
flannel/face wash cloth
travel soap/liquid soap/body wash
towel (not white)
pillow (not in a white pillow case)
chargers for any smartphones, tablets, e-readers
feminine hygiene/sanitary products
comfortable bra/bandeau bra
If course, if it is a planned visit, you can pack especially for your stay remembering to include any books/tablets/chargers/etc. medications.
If you don’t want to have a bag packed constantly, I’d recommend keeping a list of everything you’d like to have with you in the hospital so that if the worst happens, either you, a family member or a friend can see exactly what to pack for you – and do it relatively stress-free. You can keep the list stuck to the fridge or family notice board or even inside the bag or suitcase you would use to pack for the hospital so that it’s in there for when you need it.
What do you think of my hospital bag list? Is there anything else you always take with you? Let me know in the comments.
Keeping a
diary isn’t always easy, but…it can come in very handy, especially if you are
still learning to manage a health condition. If you are someone that already
keeps a daily diary or journal, it may be easy to add this information in to
your entries. However, if you’re not someone used to keeping a diary, then you
can find other ways to do it, for example, you can use the downloadable
attachment here, and complete that each day before filing it away, or you can
create your own version that applies more specifically for you. Not only will
this help you identify trigger foods or patterns in your symptoms but it could
also be a great tool to help your doctors monitor and manage your health.
NOTES:
Be honest! Write what you really ate and drank….snacks, junk and alcohol included…you need to see the whole picture, exactly as it is.
Take it to
doctor’s appointments with you even if you don’t need to use it. You never know
when the info could come in handy.
If you have
a bullet journal, you can get really creative with this. I’ve given you guys a
free downloadable and printable version of what I use. Now, unfortunately you
do need to print it to get the best use out of it. I would recommend filing
them each day in a binder to keep a continuous diary. How much additional
information you record is totally up to you. However women may benefit also by
tracking their menstrual cycle, too.
DD Tracker Printable
I’ve put together a little Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis Tracker. You can use this to monitor what you eat, how you feel and even keep tabs on your bowel movements. I hope this proves to be helpful. The file even has it’s very own instructions that show you exactly how to use it. Just click on the download button below for FREE and you can print it out right away. Support the creator and buy her a coffee by making a donation here: paypal.me/haylaki
Food Diary: The food sections allow space for you to write about what you ate and drank for the day.
Water Intake: You can cross out or tick the glass of water to show how much you drink each day.
Bowel Movements: The stool section provides boxes for you to keep a record of your bowel movements. There is space to write a time and or comment and a number that corresponds to the Bristol stool chart.
Symptoms/other notes: here you can mention any other feelings or symptoms you experience even if you feel they aren’t relevant. For example, headache, joint pain, nausea, delicate mood, etc. or even record that you took pain medication or anything that you don’t usually take. In addition, you could note anything else there you wish.
Medication: It’s always worth making a note of any medication you had to take, whether it seems related or not. But taking medication such as painkillers or antacids is a good way to keep a record of how often your symptoms bother you enough to reach for the medicine cupboard.
Tracker Previews
Preview of the DD Tracker Instuctions and examples
Let me know what you think and even share with me what you record in your diary to help you…do you do anything differently?
Tummy Trouble 