James’ Medical Journey

Hi, my name is James

My wife and I are looking for your help, no matter how big or small the contribution anything is greatly appreciated. This journey all started two months ago. I was hospitalized four days for a severe diverticulitis flareup and since then things have only gotten worse. I was symptom free for a few days after my initial release from the hospital. Only then to have symptoms return for force. This trend has continued for the entire duration of this two month period. Every time I finish a round of antibiotics and the medicine gets things under control, within days the flare up returns. During this two month period I also contracted severe oral thrush as well as a really bad case of CDiff. The last visit I had to make to the ER they did another CT scan only to find that the combination of factors over the last two months, have done irreversible damage to my colon. If I may quote the doctor, “the section of my colon that contains the diverticula is now visibly irregular and severely compromised that section of colon will never get better, it will only progressively get worse.” All of this has left me in a sort of limbo situation. Doctors are unwilling to operate unless one of two factors are met. 1 being that I’m able to take medication to get the flareup under control and then remain flareup free for 60 to 90 days which clearly hasn’t happened nor will it at this point. 2 being the flareup is so bad I’m hospitalized and the diverticulitis isn’t responding to medication and they have to do emergency surgery because it’s the only option or I would die. Unfortunately, the way things have been those criteria will not be met. Right now by the doctors own admission the antibiotics are basically acting as a Band-Aid every time I’m off of the medication “Band-Aid” things immediately start to flare up again. I’ve reached out to multiple gastroenterologists and general surgeons to try to formulate a plan of attack but to be honest right now it seems things are kinda at a standstill. We have the prognosis, and know the solution is surgery to remove that section of colon. Just getting the flareups under control to get to that point hasn’t happened, nor is any doctor so far willing to operate unless it’s life-threatening. Between the severity of the flareups, oral thrush, and the extreme contagiousness of the CDiff. I’ve pretty much been out of work or on at home quarantine the entire two month duration. Things have become so incredibly difficult not only physically, but mentally and financially as well. It has gotten to the point where I don’t know where else to turn or what else to do. I haven’t been at my company long enough to file FMLA and I’m currently multiple bills behind on just about everything. It’s to the point now where just keeping food in the house is difficult. With no clear cut end in sight moving forward I don’t know what we’ll do to keep ourselves a float. In conclusion, I want to thank everyone that comes across this and takes the time out of there day to read it. Anyone that feels compelled to donate just know how truly grateful we are for the help, and know we can’t thank you enough!