? IBS ? Diverticulitis ?

[Cuddlybarb]

Is there anyway to tell whether the symptoms you are experiencing are due to IBS or diverticulitis? I really don't want any invasive tests at the moment as I am getting over another health condition. 

Many thanks in advance..

[patientj]

I would say that if you are at all concerned you should speak to your doctor who'll be able to take into account other symptoms and conditions. I suspect that your doctor will probably take blood tests to rule out other more-serious conditions but their diagnosis will partly be led by things like your gender and age.

I suspect that if you have diverticulitis you will also have a slightly higher temperature than normal. However, you may also be thinking about diverticular disease, which won't be associated with a temperature but does share several symptoms with IBS. But, as I said, don't rely on a diagnosis by non-medical experts like me on here. Speak to you doctor and if you have any concerns about the tests required raise them with him or her.

[Hidden]

Hi Barbara , the only way to rule out things is to have the tests. I was petrified at having the intrusive procedures as you put it, but I did it yesterday, and nothing to worry about, have a chat with your GP, and explain your concerns, and as you are experiencing getting over another health condition, if poss, wait till this passes, and hopefully you will feel well enough to have tests done. I wish you well, take care.x

[Hidden]

To get a diagnosis younwill have to have tests and they're not that bad - surely it's better to knowcas soon as possible

Go and see your doctor

[Eternity78]

ask for a (Calprotectin stool test ) it is a strong  inflammatory  marker, which means if results are elevated  over the border you can  have an inflammation in the bowel / colon , but the type of inflammation is not indicated, so doctors use Colonoscopy  to pinpoint exactly  what type  of  inflammation  you have .Since you don't want to  undergo this invasive procedure , you might want to discuss  with your doctor if you can perform  more specialised blood test targeted exactly  to check for Crohn's / Ulcerative colitis / diverticulitis  antibodies that are released  in  the  blood when any of these inflammatory  bowel  diseases hit the gut .

There are special /different  antibodies for each of these inflammatory diseases, thus giving you a more accurate and specific  result. 

Some cases can result  in  False negative  of a False positive result, That is why they are usually  backed up  with  ( Calprotectin stool  test) or a colonoscopy  to reach a more solid accurate  diagnosis. 

Bottom line : ask for the Calprotectin stool  test  plus the advanced antibodies inflammatory markers Blood test to be reassured temporarily until you have  the chance  to do a colonoscopy which will give you a final definit result. 

Hope this helps and good luck ,,

[Huston]

A GI consultant recently gave me a diagnosis of IBSC  and diverticulosis  A colonoscopy had revealed many diverticular throughout my gut  .This he put down to years of  straining as the result  of IBSC .He further said that recent research indicated that  a possible cause  of diverticular disease ,for some people ,could well be ongoing IBS particularly IBSC . I therefore believe that these are related conditions  in my case .Several years ago  I had  a  colonoscopy that  failed to get the camera very far into the colon .I then had a barium X-ray  procedure  instead (non invasive )my most recent  colonoscopy  was a virtual one  carried out in an MRI  scanner again non invasive . All  these procedures  were not a problem and all  revealed  the diverticular  and no other problems were present .

[sickandsore]

Hi there

Please don't worry re the tests, A CT scan can pick up diverticulitis. I've had CT, MRI which was actually ok as you lie on your tummy so don't feel as claustrophobic in there! and a colonoscopy which I have to say the prep the day before was worse as lived on the loo!, I had a light sedative before the procedure which was helpful, I wasn't in pain or sick at all just a little tired the day after.

My mum had diverticular disease and she suffered terribly because it wasn't picked up before she started developing infections and abcess's which meant she had several major operations leading to adhesions in her bowel, colostomies and sadly recently lost her life due to obstruction! she would not have had to go through all that had she been diagnosed earlier.

Please just get yourself checked out, I'm sure no consultant would put you through any tests that they felt you could not cope with.

[Buffafly]

I sympathise as I was in exactly the same position, refused tests and a week later was in hospital for a week with diverticulitis, not that agreeing to the tests would have helped.

If you develop a fever you must get medical help immediately, but I wouldn't wait, see your GP now. A simple blood test shows inflammation. I had one but my GP didn't prescribe antibiotics, so don't play down your symptoms (which is what I did....)

[shahjah]

I've recently been diagnosed with diverticulitis. Colonoscopy was carried out under sedation - but not sleep inducing - just pain relieving. No pain but could feel the scope moving about in my tummy (weird !!). Worse thing was medication to clear bowel completely the day before - 2 litres of the stuff ... get yourself checked out xxx