Kelly Blanscet Kelly Spills Guts

It’s complicated diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is very prevalent in the U.S.. 50% of the population have a lesser form, Diverticulosis. Lack of fiber in the American diet. No telling who it will strike. I was first diagnosed on my 40th birthday at a new job (what a first impression!). Hospitalized for it 3 days my first time. Little pockets along my colon get infected. I get doubled over in pain. Imagine the worst period cramps you’ve ever had, and multiply that. I take antibiotics and go on a clear liquid diet to clear it up. Been dealing with it that way for the past 14 years. 


Then this last bout, which started in August, would never clear up. Went to 2 different health care places with incorrect diagnoses. Finally went to St. David’s ER, and they discovered that my diverticulitis has become “complicated.” Meaning that I’ve developed infected abscesses on my colon, which are leaking into my gut. Late August/Early September I was hospitalized for 8 days. They placed a draining tube into the abscess to keep draining the gunk into a bulb placed off my buttock. They sent me home to continue the antibiotics and drainage. It went well and after about a week and a half, I was going without pain and without any pain meds. So my doctor took out the drainage bulb. YAY! Freedom. 


Then 2.5 days later, the pain returns. After some stubborn wishful thinking, I came back to the ER to learn that the abscess is back. Same place, same size. So the draining bulb is back in, and I’m going through the same rigamarole, but at the end of it, I’ll need more extensive surgery. Resection of the colon: take the infected piece of colon out, and reconnect the healthier colon tissues. 


Weird thing is, that my Dad had this exact surgical procedure. But diverticulitis is not hereditary. Go figure. 


So that’s what’s going on. Not life threatening unless I neglected it and gunk continued to spill into my body. Will most certainly destroy me financially, though. Even with health insurance, however shitty it is, this is disastrous. Self-employment while going through hospitalization and surgery is a worse case scenario you never expect to happen. I AM my business. And if I'm sick, there is NO BUSINESS. I can't keep up with my financial obligations and I'm too sick to work. And before you ask me about savings, let me pre-emptively laugh heartily, "In this economy?" Then put on my Alfred E. Newman face of "What me worry?"


Bob bless the U.S.A.'s healthcare system. Please, more than anything, everyone PLEASE VOTE during this next election. 


Thanks for your concern. Please take some time to appreciate your health and praise your bowels, because they are wonderful, hard-working, doing the dirty job, key parts of your incredible system! Kiss a colon today.