Last week, I reported that I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis after almost a month of pain…and other symptoms that you really don’t want me to post here. Some of you wrote in that it’s a good thing I wasn’t diagnosed with diverticulosis. Unfortunately, I was. I didn’t post that last week because I was in a rush.

I took a turn for the worse on Friday so the doc called me in prescriptions for two different antibiotics. I’m feeling better but not anywhere near 100%. I’m still in pain though just sporadically throughout the day and I have periodic flu-like symptoms with a general “blah” feeling and little energy. I have dark, puffy circles under my eyes even though I have my appetite back (but I still get nauseated after I eat). I lost 14 lbs. during the time I was waiting for a diagnosis. While dieting isn’t fun and you celebrate each pound lost, when your weight is in a free-fall and you can’t stop it, it’s terrifying. I almost cried when two different neighbors asked, “Wow, have you lost weight?!”

Basically, to avoid another infection, I have to really watch what I eat now. For example, yesterday I had a sandwich from the local sandwich shop and the bread had something on the top that resembled crushed nuts. Richard watched with amusement as I scraped those off, trying to figure out exactly what they were. I then had to pull the sandwich apart and make sure there weren’t any tomatoes in it (the doc warned me about tomato seeds). I’ll sure miss raspberries…and we’re going to have a bumper crop this year judging from all the blossoms on our raspberry bushes in the backyard. I just about cried when I realized peanut M&Ms are out…for the rest of my life. I’ll miss corn, but not that much. I used to love to munch on a bag of pistachio nuts. Never really liked sunflower or sesame seeds so that’s okay. One woman wrote in and warned me about celery. That was helpful. Another person wrote in and said he’s an older fellow and, if he had to do it all over again, he’d have opted for surgery in his 40’s rather than have all the attacks he did. I’m hoping that being diligent about what I put in my mouth will prevent any future attacks.

I am a bit confused as to why I’m still having pain when the infection appears to have cleared up. I wonder if other people with this have pain several times a day on a daily basis. Is this something I have to deal with forever? I’ve called the doctor’s office so many times that I can almost see the nurses rolling their eyes when I call now. I hate to impose when they’re so busy dealing with really sick people and children and, honestly, I’ve learned more from readers and from people posting things online about it than the doctor’s office hurriedly explains to me. For example, Metamucil is my new best friend. I had horrible morning abdominal pain before I started taking that each night. I guess that’s probably more information than you wanted but, hopefully, while grossing some of you out, perhaps I can help another person in my predicament.

This Week’s Maxism:

When people die, do they have X’s on their eyes?

(Think about it…)

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