I always thought that I am a healthy person. I eat varieties of food, from fruits and vegetables to clean meat. Although sometimes I don't get a decent amount of sleep, as much as possible, I make sure not to stay too late at night. I also jog every other morning and do yoga on weekends.
Compared to other adults, I am practically healthy. At least, that was what I thought. Long before I got hospitalised and was diagnosed with diverticular disease in Singapore. That was when I realised that maintaining a healthy weight, having enough sleep, and doing regular exercise is not enough. Regular checkup with my doctor and undergoing screening would have saved me from diverticular disease in Singapore.
My Diverticular Disease Symptoms in Singapore
As far as I can remember, I had an ordinary day at work. The first half of my shift was pretty normal; I even had a meaning with my team. However, late in the afternoon, I experienced abdominal pain I have never experienced before, specifically on the lower left side.
It was so excruciating that I was twisting my body to relieve the intense pain and could hardly breathe. I felt nauseous and vomited several times. When painkillers did not work, my colleagues called an ambulance that brought me to the nearest emergency hospital.
At the hospital, my doctor asked me for my symptoms. I relayed to him that I had been experiencing diarrhoea accompanied by fever and chills a week prior. There was also a tint of blood in my stool, and I felt bloated every time.
Besides the physical exams, my doctor conducted a digital rectal exam and colonoscopy to confirm his initial clinical impression.
And alas, I was confirmed to have diverticular disease in Singapore. If it progressed, it could lead to diverticulitis, which is a more chronic infection and inflammation.
Diverticular Disease
I found out that diverticular is the formation of the bulges of pockets and pouches along the lining of the intestines, specifically the lower part of the colon or large intestine.
Diverticular disease in Singapore rarely shows symptoms, especially in its early stages. It does not cause harm or pain too much and can only be detected through a scan or colonoscopy, like what my doctor did to me.
Apparently, when these diverticular or the pouches become inflamed, it leads to diverticular disease. If neglected, it can cause an infection that can cause diverticulitis.
Based on the symptoms I showed, I was already at the chronic stage of diverticulitis.
The Causes and Complications
According to my doctor, there are several factors that have increased my risk of developing a diverticular disease in Singapore, one of which is smoking. I was a certified smoker, although I am now halfway through my entire "quitting" process. I cut my normal cigarette sticks consumption per day by more than half, and I am still working on it.
Besides my 25 years of smoking, another contributing factor was my excess in taking ibuprofen drugs. I took this medication carelessly, resorting to it whenever I feel headache, back pain, and muscle pain.
I am also on my way to half-century-old, and age factor contributes to the development of diverticular disease in Singapore.
If neglected, my diverticular disease may give birth to other chronic complications such as an abscess. Abscess takes place when the pouches formed along the lining of my colon start collecting and accumulating pus. Abscess removal treatment in Singapore may be needed to resolve this other colorectal issue.
The worst complication is probably peritonitis, where the pouches finally rupture, spilling their contents into the abdominal cavity. This situation needs urgent medical attention.Because I did not want to worsen my case by waiting for peritonitis or seek abscess removal treatment in Singapore which can be avoided by early prevention, I decided to undergo immediate treatment.
My Diverticular Disease Treatment and Prevention in Singapore
I had a chronic case of diverticular disease. So, I decided to undergo surgery for diverticular disease treatment in Singapore. My doctor removed five-inch long of my colon, the most affected part. It was a minimally invasive treatment and only needed less than five incisions in my abdomen.
Mild or acute cases can be treated at home with the right drug prescription, change in diet, and exercise.
It has been three years since my surgery, and thankfully, I acted on it quickly. I now maintain a healthier lifestyle, a fibre-rich diet, and halfway quitting my cigarette smoking. It is indeed a long way for me.
For people who are reading this, you don't have to wait for symptoms to appear before consulting your doctor. Early prevention is always better than treatments like sebaceous cyst removal in Singapore. Thankfully, I found Dr QM Leong.
Dr QM Leong provides colorectal and gastrointestinal, and skin treatments, including abscess removal treatment and sebaceous cyst removal in Singapore. If you are suspecting a diverticular disease, consult Dr QM Leong. Book an appointment today.
