Endometriosis on bowel or diverticulitis?

[Rockflower]

What sort of symptoms do you get with these , especially if you’ve had both - do the symptoms overlap at all? Thanks 😊

[Krn210]

Hi there! I have had Diverticulitis on a few occasions. The first time I had it the pain felt like labor contractions. The second time the pain would come intense and it felt like if I could use the bathroom or pass gas I would feel better. The third time the pain came and wrapped around both hips. I couldn’t sleep. It hurt to sit and lay. All 3 times I had no appetite. An overall sick feeling and a fever. Bowel changes all 3 times. Not going much if at all. Hope that helps.

[Rockflower in reply to Krn210]

Thanks for the reply and sharing your experiences. It does sound quite horrible!! I’ve been having the severe pain on my left side, going up my left flank and under my rib - my case is complicated as was diagnosed with stage 4 endo 10years ago - had 5 surgeries to remove (some off my bowel) but now I’m post hysterectomy .I’m just not sure if I do have diverticulitis as not had a fever - just had this severe pain for weeks now , nausea some loss of appetite and awful diarrhoea . I’ve got a week of antibiotics so will see if this makes a difference or not. I do wonder though if there’s endo at play again 😔

[Rocket14]

Hiya, I have endometriosis and acute diverticulitis. Both conditions when they flare up causes a lot of pain, which feels hot stabbing and throbbing pain from front of body to back. I can't sit and pain comes and goes like labour.

My diet is very difficult to manage. I have recently had a Laparoscopy where they separated organs, moved them back to correct position where possible, released my intestines which were stuck and found a tumour in my bladder, which has now been removed. Colonoscopy also carried out, let's not mention for 4 litres of bowel prep I had to take.

The pain between both conditions are similar and its hard to tell the difference sometimes. I currently on antibiotics for bowel and bladder following my surgeries as GP cannot decide what my flare up is being caused by. Either the surgeries, endometriosis or diverticulitis so it's hard at times.

I try to be positive knowing things should improve soon, hoping my biopsy results are OK, due third week in August and hysterectomy is also being considered but will be complicated due to diverticulitis and the pockets I have on bowel.

All I can advise you is listen to your body, watch your diet and rest when needed. Laying down, taking tramadol and having hot water bottle on my abdomen is the only thing that helps me some days.

Take care.

[Rockflower in reply to Rocket14]

Thank you for the post - it’s sounds like you’re having a rotten time. I can relate to the hot, stabbing pain. I just feel like my insides are on fire when the pains at its worst. I am post hysterectomy myself - I’ve had several surgeries to remove stage 4 endometriosis- some shaved off my bowel etc, and I know each surgery I’ve had a lot of adhesions so worry this is also a factor causing my current pain.I have antibiotics and being treated for suspected diverticulitis- but nothing has shown bowel wise on MRI so I don’t really know what to think at the moment.

I’ve been using a hot water bottle quite a bit (used to with the endo pains) and I’m taking oramorph and paracetamol to help keep ontop of the pain.

I’m sorry you’re suffering and hope your flare up settles and gives you a break soon x

[Emmaja_ne]

Hi my GP thinks I possibly have bowel endo. I’ve done some stool samples to rule out some other things and I’m currently waiting for appointments for colorectal team and gynaecology. My symptoms include; rectal bleeding (worse during my period, I do have a fissure too) pain to the point of almost fainting trying to open my bowels during my period, rectal stabbing pain, stabbing pains with wind, difficulty sitting down when I’m on my period . All of the symptoms I have are usually around ovulation and when I’m on my period. I’ve started the contraceptive pill to try and see if that works this month 🤞

[Rockflower in reply to Emmaja_ne]

Hey. Thanks for the post. - I’m also waiting on stool samples (can you let me know how long yours take if you don’t mind) - I have really bad diarrhoea and abdominal/pelvic pain on my left side so they’ve given me antibiotics to treat as diverticulitis for now.I am post hysterectomy- so no periods but used to always suffer bowel issues more with my period - no bleeding like yourself though. Wind pain has always been excruciating- and sometimes the pain going to the loo would/will almost make me pass out too.

Hope you get your appts through soon! X

[Emmaja_ne in reply to Rockflower]

I phoned my GP about a week/ 10 days after I sent them in. My calprotection was 26 so really quite low considering. I also suffer with the left hand side at times. I have just started a gluten free diet the last 3 days and I actually do feel less bloated but not sure if it’s related to starting the pill as well. Hope you get some answers soon. Have you tried going gluten free?

[Rockflower in reply to Emmaja_ne]

Thanks for the reply - I have an appt next Friday which would be 9/10 days after they were sent off so hopefully I will have results by then also to discuss.I guess that’s a bit annoying that Inflammation showed low when you have so much pain??? (I suspect this might be the case for me too - as tests never seem to show much despite lots of symptoms!! - and especially if it’s more likely it’s endometriosis causing the issues!)

A good while back I tried the endometriosis diet for quite a few months - so gluten free and limited dairy/ no red meat etc… it really didnt make any difference for me. I did notice a tiny bit less bloating, but no symptom or pain relief.

I also did a celiac home test recently and that came back negative - so think that’s rules that one out.

I did do a fecal occult blood test at home also (to show if there’s blood traces in poop basically) and they did come back positive! But GP didn’t seem to concerned, as would fit with diverticulitis - although going to talk to this other Gp about this again next week once results are all back.

Hopefully the gluten free will help you and maybe offer some symptom and pain relief? X

[bighug]

Hi Hope you're having a good day.

I too have had hysterectomy and ovaries removed due to stage 4 endo.

You are definitely not alone with this, Its been a few years now, and unfortunately I've started with the sharp pelvic pains again, I keep saying in my head it can't be endo, but I'm just not sure. I haven't even mentioned it to my husband! I feel so low and struggling to know what to do. Like you I've had lots of pelvic surgeries over the years and don't really want to have any more because this might be why were getting the pain.

Have you had anymore feedback from you GP of what it might be?

Big Hug x

[Rockflower in reply to bighug]

Hi - I’m really sorry to hear your suffering again after going through similar with the endometriosis and hysterectomy. Unfortunately whilst a lot of ladies may get good relief and not go on to suffer more endo symptoms or pain, there’s still people who sadly do. See it quite often on support groups I’m on. I’m lucky that my specialist said from the start to go back to him if I had anymore pain or symptoms after my surgery and for about 3 years I’ve only had minor issues and short sparodic bouts of bad pain to be fair. I have ended up seeing him privately last month and I have a 6x4cm cystic area that’s stuck to my colon/rectum and top of the vagina which may be responsible for some of the pain and issues I’ve been having (or may not)

I’ve had antibiotics but these haven’t resolved the pain or issues I’ve been having with diahorrea. I unfortunately ended up in A&E last week then admitted to the gynaecology assessment ward for 4 days. It’s confusing as I have the awful pelvic pain but now it’s the acute upper abdo pain on my left side too that they are investigating. They did a few bloods (all fine) and I’m having an urgent MRI tomorrow which was ordered whilst I was in hospital. So hopefully this might shed light.

I don’t know if it’s this cyst being stuck to the bowel that’s an issue or there’s something else?

My endo specialist will do surgery to remove the cystic area and have another look around - but obviously I want to rule out other possibilities before putting myself through this.

Honestly - please don’t suffer and seek help again. Luckily I’ve not been met with the ‘it can’t be endometriosis- you’ve had a hysterectomy’ attitude as this really isn’t true at all xx

[bighug]

Hi, thank you for replying, it really isn’t fair we have to struggle like this, I guess we just get on with it (most of the time) and suffer in silence!I will speak to my GP and take it from there.

I hope all goes well with your MRI.

Keep me updated on how things go.

Take care, big hug xx