What happened to Manganiello\'s large intestine?

During emergency surgery, doctors found that his entire large intestine had severely deteriorated and was close to rupturing. They removed it and diverted his small intestine through an opening in his abdomen.

Why can a ruptured intestine be life-threatening?

A perforation can allow bacteria and intestinal contents to escape into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis and a serious infection. If the infection spreads into the bloodstream, it can lead to sepsis and organ dysfunction.

What are possible warning signs of a serious intestinal problem?

Severe or worsening abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, fever, vomiting, changes in bowel movements and rectal bleeding can be warning signs. Sudden or severe symptoms require urgent medical assessment.

Can symptoms alone diagnose inflammatory bowel disease?

No. Abdominal pain and bleeding can have many causes, including inflammatory bowel disease, infection or other conditions, so medical investigation is needed.

'I Am Going To Die Tonight': Joe Manganiello Reveals Illness Nearly Caused His Intestine to Rupture

Q: What symptoms did Joe Manganiello experience during his illness?

He described debilitating abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fevers, rashes, headaches, fatigue and significant weight loss over seven years.

Joe Manganiello has opened up about a terrifying health crisis that left him convinced he would not survive the night, revealing how an unexplained illness eventually caused his large intestine to become severely damaged and put him at risk of fatal sepsis.

The 49-year-old True Blood actor describes the ordeal in his upcoming memoir Bloodlines, saying he spent seven years battling an illness that caused debilitating abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fevers, rashes, headaches, fatigue and significant weight loss. He underwent numerous colonoscopies and was prescribed medicines commonly used to treat conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but said none worked.

'I Am Going To Die Tonight'

In an excerpt from the memoir, Manganiello recalled being about two weeks into a hospital stay when his condition suddenly deteriorated.

'I realised that I would most likely not live to see the sunrise again,' he wrote.

He described feeling a sudden swelling in his abdomen, which he believed was a sign that he was about to suffer severe internal bleeding.

'Grimacing in horrific pain,' Manganiello said he struggled to reach the bathroom while trying not to wake his then-wife, Sofia Vergara, who was sleeping nearby.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he said he was 'beyond gaunt,' and his skin appeared 'like thin newspaper'.

'This is it,' he thought. 'I don't have anything left. I won't last another day. I am going to die tonight.'

The following morning, doctors rushed him into emergency surgery after tests and MRI scans had not identified the cause of his worsening symptoms. During the operation, they discovered that his entire large intestine had 'turned to pus' and was close to rupturing.

'Had they not cut me open that morning, it would have ruptured, and I would have died immediately of sepsis,' Manganiello wrote.

Doctors removed his entire large intestine and created an opening in his abdomen to divert his small intestine. The 10-hour procedure saved his life but left him dependent on an ostomy bag, possibly permanently.

How Can a Ruptured Intestine Become Life-Threatening?

A bowel perforation occurs when a hole develops in the wall of the intestine. This can allow bacteria and intestinal contents to escape into the abdominal cavity, potentially causing peritonitis and a serious infection. The condition can require urgent treatment with antibiotics and surgery. The NHS notes that a perforation is among the serious complications that can occur with certain bowel conditions.

If the infection spreads through the bloodstream and triggers a dangerous response from the body, it can lead to sepsis. Sepsis can cause organ dysfunction and is a medical emergency.

Symptoms of a serious intestinal problem can include severe or worsening abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, fever, vomiting, changes in bowel movements, and rectal bleeding. Sudden or severe symptoms require urgent medical assessment.

Manganiello's account also demonstrates why persistent gastrointestinal symptoms can require repeated medical investigation. Abdominal pain or bleeding can have many causes, and symptoms alone cannot establish whether someone has inflammatory bowel disease, an infection, or another condition.