Author Dr. Gene L. Syn, a Colon & Rectal Surgeon, believes that humor can break through the embarrassment and taboo people have about discussing their nether-regions and digestive systems. “It is my hope this joke book and sound medical advice contained therein will relieve and save hundreds and thousands of lives by bringing this sensitive topic out of the closet, into conversation, and into the caring hands of colon and rectal surgeons,” says Dr. Syn.
Huh. Why would I post something so obscure? Because, my friends, I have a problem with my colon. It is the reason I was sick a few weeks ago and a big reason why I haven’t been blogging. Today, though, I’m in pain and can’t concentrate on my work and so I am here.
I have diverticulitis, an inflammation in my colon with the underlying chronic disease of diverticulosis. Basically, due to weakening of the walls of my intestine, I have little hernias or pouches (diverticulas) that become infected and/or inflamed. Some enormous percentage of the US population will have diverticulosis by the time they’re 70 years old and most of those people will never even know they have it. In some enormous percentage of that population, the disease is benign, symptom-free, and people only find out they have it because they have a test for something else. An enormous percentage of people who do have problems (diverticulitis) are men, over the age of 50, who never need to have surgery. Then there is the itsy-bitsy percentage of women, even fewer in their 30s, who sometimes do have to have surgery. I was in that population until a few weeks ago, when I discovered it was even worse than that, that I am in the itsiest-bitsiest population of anyone in that I have to have surgery TWICE!
http://www.miamiherald.com/283/v-print/story/427603.html
I figured you might need a little break from the surgery talk… Dave Barry is hysterical.
On Sept. 30th I get to meet with the surgeon who did my first surgery. Unless he has a compelling reason to schedule the surgery earlier – I’m going to try to have it done in early November. It involves a 3-8 day hospital stay (vague, I know, it was 7 last time), 4-6 weeks recovery at home, followed by a colonoscopy about 6 months later. I can feel the jealousy radiating from you!
I wish I could tell you that I was just plain miserable. Why? Because that would be easy. It would allow me to give you a quick answer, cry an ocean of tears, and not ever look at the big picture. The truth is – I don’t really know how to feel. I’m in pain. I have this scary event in my near future. I’m tired of feeling sick all the time. On the other hand, my job is amazingly wonderful. I have this fabulous kid. I have unbelievably great friends. My supervisor told me that once my paid-time-off runs out, if I feel up to it, they will send me some data entry work that I can do from home to make sure my paychecks don’t suffer. !!!!!! Again, I don’t really know how to feel. Saying things like, “I feel like crap!” take on a new connotation…
Love to all (especially those of you who have read through this entire thing,) and yes, I’m buying the book from the first part of the post. I’ll let you know how it all comes out. 
Oh Janna, I wish you all the best with your surgery and recovery and all that jazz. It’s a lot of extra pressure in your days, and I can’t imagine that’s easy.
My Mum just had several similar surgeries, and they went very well, thank goodness. But it’s still a literal and figurative pain in the butt, I know. No doubt about that one. Anyway, take good care of you over the next little while, OK?
See why I love both CK & YOU?!
Praying for you my friend that during the Surgery and Recovery that God will bring protection, healing and comfort and through it all that it help you feel much better. Also that God work everything out regarding the job stuff as well. Thanks for sharing and for being you and a wonderful friend.