@TheSunIsStillShining don’t worry too much about surgery, honestly, it can be the very best thing! I remember the first time I felt my ileostomy bag filling up and realising that I needed the bathroom but I didn’t have to get there in 15seconds (for the first time in years). It was the most amazing and liberating feeling. So honestly, don’t make surgery the fear.
I was diagnosed in the U.K. yes, and it took about a week from going to the GP to diagnosis in the hospital, but I presented with pretty severe symptoms pretty rapidly so diagnosis was easy! I know lots of people aren’t so lucky. I hadn’t heard of mutaflor, no but a quick google tells me it’s a probiotic which seem to work wonderfully for some people and do absolutely nothing for me!! Good luck with whatever treatments you end up on and hope your symptoms remain manageable.
Apologies for the slight derail into guts everyone else 