Sigmoid Diverticulosis

Clarification: To free confusion; to make understandable

Last year I experienced extreme discomfort on my upper right leg on several occasions because I thought I had a problem with my lymph nodes. In May, I woke up morning, rolled out of bed and attempted to walk to the bathroom when I collapsed. I could not put pressure on my right leg. Long story short, Brooke and Matthew (Brooke's BF at the time) brought a wheelchair (how embarrassing) and drove me to the North Shore University Hospital in Forest Hills. After 6-8 hours of hospital time (mind you, Brooke and I sang and laughed 1/2 the time) they performed a CAT Scan, drew blood and examined the upper right leg.....Go figure, it was a swollen lymph node that was causing all the problems. They prescribed leviquin and said I should consider a biopsy to make sure it's not early signs of lymphoma. So, not only have I never been to the emergency room, I've never had a CAT scan, and I've never heard "cancer" in a sentence in relation to me. I took the antibiotics and miraculously the swelling went down. After all was said and done, the surgeon I was recommended for the biopsy said I have nothing to worry about. OY VEY! Happiness is when you find out you're actually okay....Until....

A few months down the road, the discomfort returned. I was nervous, uneasy & scared, went to the doctor (long story but my doctor was unavailable so I went to another) where he decided to test my blood for everything (HIV, Chlamydia, etc) to see if that could be causing the discomfort. Well, happily (or unhappily) I was told all the results were fine however I had walking pneumonia. He put me on a very strong antibiotic and then did a physical examination. He found what appeared to be a lump on my right testicle and immediately sent me to a radiologist for a sonogram. Again, another first. The ultrasound experience was like no other. I had no idea what to expect, but since this type equipment is used examine the fetuses of pregnant women...and other things such as my testicles...I have to laugh...sorry, you know my humor. But seriously, I felt an extreme amount of stress, thoughts running through my mind as I lay on the examination table...crazy, huh? After discovering my testicles were fine (I know, laugh as you will) and I finished the antibiotics I STILL had discomfort in my leg. The doctor sent me back to the radiologist to have a chest extra and another CAT scan to determine the problem. And that's when I discovered hernia as the culprit.

"Clarification" that it was indeed hernia was comforting because it's not a life threatening disease, but also distracting because in the report it states that I have a "nonobstructive right renal calculus & sigmoid diverticulosis without evidence of diverticulosis" So, I have a kidney stone and there are pockets or projections extending out from the colon. Well, that's more information than I needed, but something to deal with. Once I have more of a grasp on it I will definitely take a proactive approach in bettering my situation. Until then, I will continue to smile, I will continue to laugh, I will continue to sing and wholeheartedly, I will continue to stay strong.