Diverticulitis Crisis

Hi All,
This is a long post and I apologize in advance for rambling but a LOT has been going down!

I was first diagnosed with diverticulitis in my 20's (I guess my colon is precocious) after a very random out of the blue attack. I had no other issues until this past Thanksgiving (I am now a very young 41). I ended up in the ER the day after (after days of just feeling "off" and funky) and was given two weeks of Cipro and Flagyl. The very last day on Flagyl I broke out into the craziest most horrendous hives ever. I went to an Urgent Care who said it might be a delayed reaction to Flagyl and gave me four days of steroids (prednisone). Steroids of course weaken the immune system and exacerbate infection, so of course I ended up back in the hospital (spending xmas eve and xmas), for 6 days with a perforation and an abscess. They put a drain in my stomach, a picc line in my arm and I was on iv antibiotics, followed by in home IV antibiotics for three weeks. THEN after the picc was out and the drain was removed I was put on Augmentin for a month. Then just three weeks ago after a very stressful period, I had ANOTHER flare up and they kept me in the hospital because of my recent history. I already know I need to have colorectal surgery, but I can't have that until I am fully healed. Otherwise it's more invasive and I'd require a colostomy. So I'm on antibiotics AGAIN and taking it easy. I had been extremely constipated and started to feel tender but I just added a lot of water and probiotics to my diet. But Saturday (today is Monday) I had a spinach omelette thinking that would be mellow - I did the clear liquids, then the low fiber and thought getting my greens on would be ok. Huge mistake. The pain I have been in has been crazy. I got some colace and it finally started to work last night - but the passing of poop made the pain EVEN MORE HORRIBLE. This morning I went to urgent care because I needed to get pain medication - it was that bad and my doctor/hospital where I keep being treated is an hour away. I spoke to my doctor and he said just to watch my temperature. If I get a fever or the pain increases, then to go to the ER.

Other than this awful pain, I am fine. I have no fever, I have energy, I am not nauseated, no chills etc. I took a pain pill (and another stool softener) and I worked for a few hours and was fine. Then I came home and pooped and the pain kicked in again like someone had a voodoo doll of me and were sticking a pin in me.

So I am continuing with my antibiotics, my pain management and I've put myself on liquids.

On top of this totally sucking, and the fear of a flare up, here's another issue.

Thursday I am supposed to fly to Hawaii for two weeks. (I know, boo hoo). I have an amazing friend who has been so concerned about my health and stress levels she is TREATING ME to a TWO WEEK VACATION in Hawaii. I just want to sit on a beach and relax and swim in the ocean and read and go off the grid. I need it SO bad. But I also am so scared I will need to be hospitalized there, or feel horrible there, or have this pain. I don't know what to do.

I am so grateful for there opportunity to have a nice break, but will I even enjoy it? Is it dangerous to go? I don't plan on eating and drinking like an idiot (as I have in the past). . .I just don't know what to do. The trip is in three days.

What would you do?

Weezy, sorry to read about what you have going on. You are very lucky to still be here writing this post. When a person perforates like you did it can be fatal. My brother perforated & we nearly lost him. They had no choice but to operate immediately, otherwise he would have died. He did not wake up with a bag either. His was a full blown open surgery too. They did not close him up, they let him open so that he could heal from the inside out. Now they can do this surgery by lap which is easier on the patient.

It is great of your friend arranging this trip, but you have a very serious condition that could go south on you any time. Only you can decide what to do. However, with that being said are you willing to take the risk of going that far away & if you got in trouble end up in the hospital? I am one of these that is not receptive to having drs take care of me that know nothing about me. What if you needed emergency surgery? These are things I would take into deep consideration. I think the trip would be much more enjoyable not having to worry with this hanging over my head.

Good luck.