Diverticulitis

[bowler]

how long can a flare of diverticulitis last, ? I have had mine for 2 weeks, and it's still not much better.

My Dr gave me a course of Co-amoxiclav which gave me diarrhea

[Buvin]

Sorry to hear that, I'm lucky mine usually lasts a day. I've had antibiotics in the past. Now I control it better by having a satchel of fibre gel every evening which keeps everything clear. I don't have as many flare ups now.

[bowler in reply to Buvin]

Thank you for your reply, Can I take fibre gel if my symptoms are loose bowel movements

[Buvin in reply to bowler]

You would be better asking your GP

[Gardeningbuff]

Hi . My nephew has has a bad episode that has not really gone for 4 months. He is seeing a surgeon about bowel resection. It seems to run in our family as I had a resection after only 1 bad episode where I had to be treated in hospital. Don’t ignore this. Go back to doc if you still have symptoms.

[bowler in reply to Gardeningbuff]

Thank you for your reply, I have been in touch with my Dr. and they are doing some poo test's, I suppose they go through the easy motions first [ excuse the pun ] if they come through negative I will ask if I can have a colonoscopy, I haven't had one since I was diagnosed in my late 50s, I'm now 77 , perhaps my age is against me. ?

[Gardeningbuff]

I think the poo testing is a great idea. I remember my surgeon saying I should have had them years ago. I was misdiagnosed for years . I’m 66, had my bowel resection at 63 after years of having episodes of pain, my doc kept saying was IBS, but was probably diverticulitis. Hence the bowel resection after a massive infection that ruptured my bowel. I am in Australia. They deal with diverticulitis very quickly here once it’s diagnosed properly . Where are you ?

[bowler in reply to Gardeningbuff]

I was diagnosed with diverticular disease in my late 50s, but I have been very lucky and didn't have many episodes of diverticulitis over those years, , it's just this recent flare that has been painful , and I had to have some antibiotics, We do have a 2 yearly poo test that comes in the post from the NHS , it's very easy to do and we post it back, but when we reach 74 it stops, which i think is daft. I am a Londoner , but moved to a small village in Suffolk 40 yrs ago, I have a brother and other family in Perth.

[Gardeningbuff in reply to bowler]

Yes we have that test too. Yes it’s daft when they stop them. Not sure if they do that here. It sounds like your flare ups have been intermittent and manageable . But if you are still in pain or there is more infection you may need more antibiotics. They are heavy duty ones and do have side effects. But good to follow up and keep on top of it. It can get nasty.

[goonybird100]

Hi Bowler

exactly the same symptoms as myself, including some bloody poo and mine has also lasted two weeks so far, Dr put me on Co-Amoxiclave also.