Diverticulitis: Life after surgery
It is an unfortunate reality that many people suffering from
diverticulitis or diverticulosis will require surgery to rectify
obstructions in the intestine. This surgery is often unplanned
due to the fact that it is usually conducted at short notice and
under emergency conditions. There are many horror stories that
describe sufferers of diverticulitis being rushed to hospital
with abdominal pains and waking up after having 18 inches of
their intestines removed. Sadly, medical professionals are yet
to find a cure for diverticulitis and therefore surgeons are
left to deal with symptoms when they are otherwise impossible to
treat. http://www.diverticulosis1.com If surgery is unavoidable
however, it is possible to reclaim a normal life depending on
the extent of the surgery and how much of the intestines were
removed.
Surgery to rectify and intestinal obstructions or blockages from
sufferers of diverticulitis can be divided into two categories,
small intestine surgery and large intestine surgery.
After small intestine surgery, the bowel is capable of
increasing its absorptive capacity to compensate for the loss of
the removed section of the intestine. Therefore, by allowing the
intestines to heal properly and adjust to the changes, a person
with diverticulitis can return to life as normal. This includes
a return to the regular diet that was consumed before surgery
was performed. In severe cases where a more significant amount
of the intestine is removed, the remaining intestine may be
unable to fully compensate for the loss of surface area. The
obvious alternative to an underperforming intestine is to
increase the caloric value of food that is consumed.
http://www.diverticulitis1.com This should balance the deficit
in food absorption and reduce the amount of weight that is lost
as a result of the surgery. In cases of severe diverticulitis,
food supplements may need to be delivered to the stomach via a
tube or alternatively, into the blood stream.
Following large intestine surgery, a special diet of high
caloric value is rarely needed. This is due to the fact that
much of the function of the large intestine is related to water
absorption. The initial diet following the operation will most
likely be dominated by liquids and slowly transition back to a
regular diet. In cases where the whole intestine is removed, an
ileostomy will be formed using the surrounding tissue. Due to
the function of the colon in absorbing water and salt, both will
need to be consumes in higher amounts.