I AM HOME AND STILL ALIVE - I THINK

First I want to thank Lisa for letting everyone know what has been going on this past week. Also thanks to Crystal for letting my friends from the men's board know why I was not around. Tuesday night I ended up being admitted to the Bariatic Center at St Vincent's hospital in Indianapolis. I went in Tuesday and got out last night. I was having horrible pain on the left side of my stomach. Of course having had WLS I was concerned that something had gone astray with my surgery. I have had diarrhea now for almost 4 weeks. In the hospital they did a cat-scan of my stomach and found nothing unusual there. Then Thursday morning they did a colonoscopy. That was a real experience but since they put me out, did not know what they were doing. I told Dr Cacucci, after seeing the tool they use (6 ft long) that she better put me to sleep if she is going to shove that thing up my butt. Well the result was they found that I have Diverticulitis. For those like me that never heard of it here is what I found out. What are diverticulosis and diverticulitis? Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Pouches (plural) are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis. When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease. They are treating with antibiotics and a high fiber diet. Plus have to stay off anything with seeds in them. Seems that seeds will plug up with week spots in the colon and then you get symptoms. Then to add some drama, yesterday morning at about 4:00 AM I developed severe chest pains and that kicked in total crises. Blood work did not confirm a heart attack and they released me last night with the promise that I would get into my cardiologist office Monday. You can see it has been a fun week. Seems like I can not get ahead of medical problems these days. Thanks you all for being there for Ann and I. Now back to bed like a good little guy. Dan

Dan, You sure have had more than your share of problems lately. I do hope the drugs start kicking in and you feel better soon. I hope too that whatever the deal was with your chest pains is a one time thing and you can get on with life. One thing about it, either of those problems could have occured if you hadn't had WLS...and with most likely more serious outcomes...especially the latter. Take care of yourself and let us know how you're progressing (or Ann...you do it if Dan's too tired, k?..thanks!). Sherri

Dan I hope you start feeling better and hope things get better for you. I wish I would have known that you were still up at the hospital Thursday and I would have come up to see you. I was there for my 9 month check up. Get better and you and Ann are in my thoughts and prayers. Kylie

Hello Dan, I am glad you are home but I hope you are taking care and keep getting that rest. I am so happy to have met you and Ann. I still have both of you in my prayers. Many Blessings, Gail

Gosh Dan could you save a little fun for the rest of us? Hope you are on the upswing now. Crystal

Dan I am glad you are back home. Hey I wonder if the diverticulosis has something to do with WLS, I was really sick , high fever and had 20 runnig BM's in one day in Aug was off work for a week and they said I had diverticulosis, infection in intestine area, I thought it was from taking a Stacker 3 which had 250 grams of caffeen in it. or if something from my hysrorectomy had caused it, we all know how many problems that has caused. So, will this put a damper on your trip to KY. Get to felling better. I am so glad that Ann had let us know what was up. Take care my dear friend. Lisa B

OH that is very painful ed had it one time ages ago...you take it easy and get back to being well...and get to the heart dr too, have you ever had problems there before? bed sounds like the place to be actually..... glad you are home

Yep.. know what you mean.. mom had it bigtime.. no seeds and had to get rid of the celery too.. to stringy.. little things get caught and sorta like mold and fester in the little pockets... gets like an infection.. now I am kinda wondering if THAT could have been my pain.. and where I am storeing the corn I dont see anymore after I eat... gross but true. Linda

Dan, i cant believe i didnt see you.....i was there from thursday till saturday with another bleeding ulcer. Walked the halls both friday and saturday after they figured out i could stand without passing out. good luck with the Diverticulitis...my wife has it as well.

Dan, I'm glad you are home and hope you get to feeling better very soon. Good luck with the cardiologist. Cindy