Surgery

Late summer, I had a good part of my sigmoid colon removed due to a combo of UC and diverticula disease. I had dealt with UC for several years and had been on every med in the book and most often a combo of them to include HUMIRA. I cannot count the number of enemas.

Point is, I wish I had opted for the surgery earlier, much earlier. I was out of the hospital in 4 days; surgeon said eat whatever I wanted to eat. Gastro doc said same thing.

New life. Skilled surgeon and a thinking gastro doc. So much depends on the quality of the physicians.

Good luck to all who are considering surgery.

I second that! I wish I didn't waste so much precious time trying all those nasty drugs that didn't work and putting off the inevitable. And you are absolutely correct about the quality of the surgeon performing these surgeries. You have to get the best.

great news:)

Yes, just around 8 inches worth that was affected/infected but also had diverticula disease. Drugs for the UC aggravated the diverticula and vice versa. My UC has been concentrated in my sigmoid colon. I think someone on this forum some time back called it diverticula colitus though I was definitely diagnosed with UC vis-a-vis biopsies and visuals via the tube. My gastro doc also has a Ph.D and understands research as well as medicine. He did tell me that my case was unusual and somewhat rare but after he had done all he could do, he recommended surgery and a good surgeon. No regrets on my part. If the UC comes roaring back, I will opt for surgery sooner rather than later. Drugs are destructive to other organs esp the liver, kidneys and of course prednisone damages bone. Drugs work for some folks, but never did for me which, I understand, is not unusual in older people.