magohn

What a week. Last Sunday I was rushed to the Emergency room with heavy blood loss from the 'nether regions'. After I was admitted to the hospital I was given a CT scan and a colonoscopy and diagnosed with Diverticulitis (https://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddise...iverticulosis/). Basically bleeding from the gut. After two days it was deemed it was safe to go home and "carry on a usual". Of course, as I had been on a clear liquid diet for two days I immediately hit the sandwich bar - I was ravished. I then went and picked up a 75g aquarium (heavy - I was stupid) as I felt fine. That night the blood loss returned and again I was rushed to the Emergency room. This time, after being admitted, I was given 2 pts of blood as I was very close to passing out through blood loss.

Another two days in intensive care, I was released today with the understanding that my body cant take many more losses and the next step is removal of part of the colon that has the weakness thats causing the blood loss.

So here I am sat at home (finally!) and on a clear liquid diet until Wednesday when I switch to a more normal 'low-impact' diet. The kicker is that Im on strict no exertion (including cycling) orders until further notice. I have to stay as sedentary as possible which isnt hard when surviving on beef broth and Jello alone. I will have to live vicariously thru you guys!

A good thing (I guess) that came from the experience is that from sunday to sunday I have lost 9.8lb. Im trying to find a silver lining here - and the nurse told me that I had "the blood pressure of an athlete" - maybe the last two years of biking were worth it after all

LiamSkymom

Oh my goodness, that is pretty scary. Definitely not the best way to lose some pounds. Follow their diet, rest for a while, and soon they will let you ride again. I know quite a few people that have had this problem (although not quite so severe) and they are all doing fine as long as they stay careful with what they eat.

goldfinch

Oh man, and I was awaiting the next mountain biking report! Take care!

Shellyrides

You take care of your self!

psalm

Take care of yourself, and don't take this warning sign lightly. I was in the same boat as you around July 2008. I didn't take care of myself, went around as usual and in September that same year my colon burst. Emergency surgery, 5 days in the ICU, 3 days in recovery and I left the hospital 40 pounds lighter, with 12 inches less of my sigmoid colon, and a colostomy that I wore for 5 months before I was put back together again. I almost died on that operating table. It was so close that the nurses told my wife it might be a good idea to start funeral arrangements.

Please take care of yourself.

magohn

Thanks for all the well wishes folks.

Im taking this scenario very seriously as are the GI doctors. To bleed once is the 'usual scenario' but to bleed twice is uncommon. The removal of part of the colon is on the agenda if it starts up again. I guess the good news is that my colon is 'pristine' except for the bleed area that is healing. Always good to hear when approaching your 50's.

The next few days agenda is to hang around the house, watch movies and drink tea and broth. I want to give my health its best possible chance.

Shellyrides

Good! Colon health is nothing to ignore. I lost my Grandmother at the first of this year to it. She did not think it was that bad.....

Black wallnut 

Hope you heal soon magohn!

Acquaspin

Catchy title and definitively an unexpected story. Speedy recovery!!