Colon Resection

[livingwith]

After only one serious attack - an abscess treated in hospital and drainage tube for 2 weeks. I am wondering if surgery (to remove diseased section of colon) is necessary? Should I wait and see if I can avoid another attack through diet before agreeing to surgery? I am 48 yrs. old and female. Has anyone else been through this and NOT had the surgery, and is managing well?
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[sailorgirl]

I,too had only one attack and an abcess (they never mentioned anything about a tube?) but I did have a pic line put in my arm and ,left the hospital after a week on IV antibiotics, and continued administering the antibiotics for 5 more weeks at home.Not fun.Anyway ,I am really on the fence about having this surgery.I was told by the surgeon at my local hospital here that I HAD to have this done and his reasons were pretty serious.However ,after a 2nd opinion in NY at MSKCC , the hospital I recently had ovarian cancer surgery (March) the surgeon (an expert-colo rectal oncologist ) said the jury is still out on whether or not everone who has a severe attack ,with an abcess,fistula and micro perforation MUST have colon resection surgery. My cancer surgery was tough and two days after returning home ,I had a very serious major complication (paralytic illius) , and needed to be rushed back into NY. I am going back to see the surgeon again at Sloan this Tuesday to discuss all the test results and hopefully make the final decision.I am praying I don;t have to do it but it seems like a big risk not to.I do not want to run the risk of having another "attack" ,get rushed into an unscheduled surgery (without the proper prep) with any surgeon on staff at the time .I have worked so hard at getting myself feeling better again since the cancer surgery and dread the thought of starting another long and difficult recovery. Have you mad your decision?