Diverticulitis

[Boxroad]

I have been in to see my GP this morning as I am still getting a lot of pain in the lower left, she examined me well and came to the conclusion I now have diverticulitis, she said if I get a flare up of diarrhoea to call the surgery and she will prescribe some antibiotics to clear up any infection in the colon. There don’t seem to be much help for it at this stage. Has anyone else got this issue?

[edwangy]

It sounds like you have diverticulosis which can cause cramps itself. If the diverticula get infected then you will need antibiotics to clear the infection, symptoms are usually severe pain and diarrhoea. Your doctor is just seeing if it clears up on its own

[Boxroad in reply to edwangy]

Do you have it?

[edwangy in reply to Boxroad]

Yes, I have moderate, to severe diverticulosis which have flared up in the past (diverticulitis) and have taken antibiotics which helped. Unfortunatley now, I'm in contstant pain (no infection) and my consultant says that it is the diverticula causing the pain. He's prescribed pregablin which I've just started so don't know yet if it will help. I don't know wether he's correct though as I was diagnosed with this a decade ago but now I have thses symptoms of pain which I've never had before. I also have IBS C. I think I may have SIBO due to antibiotics over time but try and tell a consultant that, most of them don't even know what it is!

[Boxroad in reply to edwangy]

I looked it up today on the nhs web site and phoned up my surgery because I was put on aspirin in January due to heart issue and the web site says not to take aspirin if you have diverticulitis. I also suffer from needing the toilet as soon as I eat, do you have that issue?

[edwangy in reply to Boxroad]

I'm in pain most of the time but haven't had a diverticulitis attack for a while. Diverticular, if severe can become oversensitive if they are severe. Most people over 50 have diverticulosis but don't get symptoms, and as you get older more chance of symptoms. I get severe gas after I've eaten most of the time especially after my evening meal and it's very painful, I sometimes feel like going the loo but can't, can only go in the morning. Stay clear of asprin, codeine, ibuprofen and nsaids, they can irritate your colon. Eat a bland diet until your symptoms subside, if they don't or get worse ring your GP, you may need antibiotics.

[Boxroad in reply to edwangy]

Thank you

[winfong]

My experience with diverticulitis is that you'll know it right away. I've had abdominal pain strong enough that I had to call an ambulance