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Total Colectomy a few yrs back- getting conflicting information


Mon, November 29, 2010 4:49 PM

Hi, Im new here and refered by a friend as I have some questions that someone w/ experience might be able to help with.

My finace had his entire large intestine removed about (4 to 7 yrs ago) and over the past yr has experience boughts of unexplained pains in his abdomin that have landed us int eh ER several times - many times w/o any diagnosis.  A previous onset of pain revealed pouch-itis in the J-pouch created during his suregery from yrs ago - that was since cared for and has not returned that we know of.

Monday before Thanksgiving Day - similar to colitis pains have started and persisted for the past week in his lower left abdimon where some perminent surgical clips were inserted upon his surgery (he is being looked at by a GI specialist tomorrow) however, we received conflicting information upon entering an emergency room a few nights ago.  The ER dr. told us it could be Diverticulitis though my finace was told upon his total colectomy a few yrs ago, that Colitis & Diverticulitis would not plague him after removing the large intestine becasue removing the large intestine is a cure for both.

We were back in the ER two days after our first visit and a different ER dr. confirmed what my fiance was told upon his surgery - very slim if any chance of being plagued by either since the large intestine was removed.  So I am curious if the first ER dr. was simply assuming based on her internal knowledge from hearing people talk over the years, but really didnt know herself.

I thought I might ask here to see if anyone has insight to this question in particular.  Once the large intestine is removed is it known as a successful cure? Are there a lot of cases of the small intestine being attacked by Colitis & Diverticulitis or is that rare?

FPO hollyamy
Joined Nov 29, 2010

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