Back in October, I had an attack of diverticulitis that put me in the hospital for four days. A CAT scan revealed a perforation of the sigmoid colon, so I was put on an IV, kept off food, and fed a stream of antibiotics to kill the infection. The surgeon on call indicated that I would certainly need surgery a few months later to remove a length of the sigmoid colon, although he admitted that surgeons usually recommend surgery in the same way that Midas recommends new brakes. He said that there was really no cancer risk.

When I consulted my regular gastro guy a few weeks later, he seemed skeptical about the need for surgery. He said he understood the surgeon's point of view--that removal of the troubled area (though it is now healed, as indicated by my symptom-free life since the attack) might be a pre-emptive strike (hope I have not crossed the no-political threshold there); on the other hand, it's major abdominal surgery, and there are always risks. When I asked him the fateful question, "So doc, what if it were YOUR colon?" he answered, honestly I thought, that he truly did not know what he would do, though there is a temptation to leave well enough alone. Since this attack, I have modified my diet to restrict foods that might pose a threat--nuts, popcorn, heavily greasy fare.

My question is for anyone who has had a similar experience, or knows anyone who has: What wisdom can you offer me? Do you recommend the knife, or not? Thanks.

Joe B.