Diverticulitis flare up/infection

[Nobby21]

Does a flare up mean infection, or just pain?

Does pain mean there is infection?

[Minty00]

oooooh this is a tricky one for me a flare up is where my dvertituli are irritated by something ive consumed an infection for me is just that an infection of which ive had just the one six years ago but i guess each to there own

[Nobby21 in reply to Minty00]

Thank you.

[Boofers]

For me, a flare up means pain, which means an infection. Ordinarily, if I'm uncomfortable it means I have constipation, which I give a few days and treat accordingly (lots of water, maybe a pessary or laxative). This time it took nearly 5 days of increasingly intense pain and no bowel movement for me to realise it was an infection. I didn't want to jump to conclusions because I hate taking antibiotics, however now I've taken them it's a lot better. As far as I know, diverticula don't really 'do' anything, normally - as in there's no reason for you to be aware of them, so if you're in actual pain it means an infection. This is just how I understand it and everyone is different, so this may not be other people's experiences

[Nobby21 in reply to Boofers]

Thank you.

[Hidden]

If the pain and tenderness correspond to where your diverticulosis has been diagnosed, then infection is likely. Left side diverticulosis tends to be more common than right sided , but a urinary infection, or rarely, appendicitis, if the pain and tenderness is in the lower right Iliac fossa , need to be excluded. General malaise and temperature is often associated with acute diverticulitis. Go and see your doctor asap, I would suggest.

[arvine in reply to Hidden]

Ive had couple flare ups of diverticulitis through the years, always oresented lower left abdomen, this time had heavy prssure like bowling ball hanging in mid pelvic area, initially pain up through vagina to lower mud pelvic area, bloating and felt constipated, clinic visit said diverticulitis without any testing, think because I told them my history and had diverticulosis for yrs based on cloniscopy findings, gave me the usual 2 antibiotics metronozidole and ciprofloxin, took for 3 days had nausea and no relief from lower pressure so stopped taking, GP suggested go to ER, get all tests, catscan etc, all day in ER resulted in same diagnosis, without finalized catscan results, given different script only to takevif symptons worsened, and continue onlightvand fluid diet, nextvl day still pressute heavy feeling and strange mud like bowel movements, pelvic ct scan dine with contrast dye, this continued for next couple days, then bowel movements became more typical of diverticulitis andvl IBS(which havebhad for many years) after almost 2?weeks of this finally settling a little, still feeling lower heaviness from time to timevl after eating, light food, I am skeptical about diagnosis as symptons presented so different, and ct scan report not finalized, hoping when see GO this tueday will have final report, has anyone out there had these types of symptons when having a flare

[Hidden in reply to arvine]

Sorry to hear about all this. Abdominal symptoms can be very non-specific so it’s difficult at times to establish a diagnosis without the benefit of the results of non-invasive, or invasive investigations, nor is always helpful to try and corroborate symptoms with others, because diseases can have differing presenting symptoms in different individuals. Comparisons are odious as the saying go, so all that it’s likely to do is generate unnecessary anxiety. Hopefully your medical advisors will provide you with a specific cause of your symptoms.

I would suggest, though, that you start a reputable probiotic as soon as you can because those antibiotics you have received are particularly damaging to you gut microbiome- you can purchase Alflorex at Boots or from Amazon.

I hope matters resolve soon. Good luck.

[arvine in reply to Hidden]

Thank you , yes although only took for 3 days feel they made me feel worse, I have been tsking probiotic for few days now

[Nobby21 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.