Is Diverticulitis Surgery Necessary?

Surgery is a frightening thing for most people. Even though we live in a medically advanced society, things can still go wrong during surgery, which is why people will generally opt for alternatives when possible. Having unnecessary surgery means you are taking on unnecessary risk, which is just never a good idea. When you are diagnosed with diverticulitis, many people think that surgery is necessary, but is it really? Well, when it comes to diverticulitis surgery, the truth is, it all depends.

Under What Circumstances Is Surgery Required?

Generally, if your diverticulitis can be appropriately managed using diet and generally increasing your health, then you can often avoid surgery completely. It is an important part of managing the disease to keep your doctor updated on the number of attacks and their severity. Failing to do so could cause you more problems down the road, and you could certainly be going through more pain than is necessary.

So when should you get surgery? As a general rule, when you are keeping your doctor updated, he or she will generally know when surgery may present itself as an option for you. For most people, diverticulitis surgery can be avoided, but for others, their doctor may recommend it as part of their treatment plan. This is usually only in extreme cases when all other options have been exhausted.

What Does Diverticulitis Surgery Entail?

Surgery is a scary experience for anybody, but knowing what to expect and how they perform the surgery can greatly put your mind at ease. What a surgeon will do is open up your abdominal wall and locate the affected area of your colon. The name of the surgery is called a colon resection. The affected part of the colon is then removed, and the remaining ends are sewn together using sterile equipment. It is not a difficult or extremely risky surgery, but complications can occur.

What Are the Potential Complications?



When you get diverticulitis surgery, there are some potential complications that can arise from the surgery. The main concern with any surgery is the risk of infection, which is increased in a surgery on the colon. Special care must be taken to follow the instructions given to you for post-operation directions. Follow these carefully to avoid any potential infection. In addition, most people experience some level of discomfort when they are recovering from the surgery. Abdominal pain, cramping, and sharp pains are normal, but you should seek medical intention if it persists for longer than normal.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

Recovering from surgery is a time where you should rest and relax so your body has time and energy to heal. The amount of time it takes to recover from diverticulitis surgery varies from person to person; however, you can expect a general recovery time of around six to eight weeks on average. You might be lucky and fully recover faster, or your body may take a little longer than average. Just be sure to take it easy and enjoy life as much as you can.

Related Articles

↑ Back to Top
, ,