Colonoscopy

[1ChLoE]

Hi I had a colonoscopy last week following diverticulitis in October. I see my consultant end of March. My results say I have a fixed loop of sigmoid colon, due to clonic diverticulosis. Anyone know what this means please? The good news is they found nothing suspicious. Thanks for any help.

[Coachmanbythesea]

Hi! Your diagnosis is the same as mine. I’ve lived with diverticulosis for 5 years and I’ll start by saying that it’s taken me a long time to figure out what diet & lifestyle choices work for me. Diverticulosis is where a portion of the bowel changes from being a smooth tube to developing small pockets and irregular in shape. Mine is like yours- Sigmoid Colon or the last piece of the bowel before it exits the body.

I was very lucky to have a GP who suggested I did my own research and work out through trial and error what worked for me. There is no single method that works for everyone, each person’s experience is different! Google really is your friend with forums just like this one. There are hundreds of research papers available on many sites.

My ‘type’ of diverticulosis makes things happen very fast in my guts, other people have slow guts. The most important thing to remember though is that the brain and the gut are directly linked! I can’t emphasise this enough! If your stress levels are going bonkers your guts will too; if you’re calm your guts will be the same.

Good luck on your journey, learn from all the great people on this and other forums because we’re all the same!

[1ChLoE in reply to Coachmanbythesea]

Hi Coachmanbythesea

Thank you for your detailed reply. I haven’t figured out what works for me yet. There are certain foods I can no longer tolerate, which I now avoid. I will do some more research thank you.

I have had 2 episodes of diverticulitis since 2019, each time ending in a weeks hospital stay. It is more the fixed loop of colon I’m trying to understand.

[Coachmanbythesea in reply to 1ChLoE]

As yet I haven’t experienced the ‘itis’ part but I’m sure I’ve got that coming at some point! Be careful not to overthink the whole IBS thing; it’s a term used to describe any and all disorders affecting the gut when a definite diagnosis is not present. I’m sure I’ve just opened a huge can of worms but don’t overwhelm yourself with loads of stuff! I guess the most important bit is to listen to your own body and don’t delay in asking for help.

[1ChLoE in reply to Coachmanbythesea]

The ‘itis ‘part isn’t very nice at all.

[Minty00 in reply to Coachmanbythesea]

Hi i had diverticulitis back 2017/18 i had no idea what was going on it started with bloating . My abdomen blew up like a balloon then i was having difficulty going to the loo just overflow and pellets then my entire colon became inflamed and severe pain in the sigmoid each time i ate my gp referred me for a colonoscopy i opted for a CT version however by the time i had the procedure it calmed down and had stopped without any medical intervention . The scans showed exstensive diverticular disease esp in sigmoid however even after and to this day im still full of gas that seems to hang around

Ive made huge amounts of diet changes limiting certain foods or eliminating them .

It can take years to get right i suppose getting the fibre balance helps both types of fibre are important and limit fermented foods that cause gas

We all know not everyone is the same as our microbiome is inique to ourselves

[1ChLoE in reply to Minty00]

Hi Minty

Thanks for your response. I went to A&E both times with my diverticulitis. This last time I had a CT scan with contrast. It’s showed my sigmoid colon was very enlarged. I was fasted and given intravenous antibiotics. They were unsure if it was colitis or diverticulitis again. I still have bloating, some days worse than others . I agree that not everyone is the same.

[Minty00 in reply to 1ChLoE]

Yes the bloating is a real problem and is present most of the time ive tried so many different approaches to it , even years later when ive had ultrasound scans for other things the assistants have said iam full of bowel gas it just does not seem to disappear

[1ChLoE in reply to Minty00]

My consultant prescribed Pancreatin, to help with the bloating, but it didn’t seem to do much. I’m now trying a probiotic. Only been taking it for a short time. I find camomile tea helps a little.

[Minty00 in reply to 1ChLoE]

aha ive just started with camomile tea 3 days ago and yes it appears to help, i also take simeticone(Windeze) but these are not cheap. Ive tried probiotics aswell but didnt agree with me . Infact theres not much I have not tried . I wish u all the best

[Harley1020 in reply to 1ChLoE]

Hello, can you please advise if you had bile vomiting with your diverticulitis and require a saline drip with anti sickness tablets for your time in hospital? Thank you.

[1ChLoE in reply to Harley1020]

I did have some bile vomiting, with diarrhoea. I was put on a saline drip and medication for sickness and vomiting was via the drip. I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink. I was also given pain medication via the drip. Have you had a similar problem?

[Harley1020 in reply to 1ChLoE]

Hello, yes, my episodes start with emptying of bowels (going about 5 times) then I start vomiting bile. Unfortunately, it will not stop until I’m put on a saline drip plus anti sickness medication. Usually, I’m only in hospital for about 2 days.

Over a year, I can have 4-5 episodes which are similar to symptoms of chronic dehydration! My endoscopy has shown up diverticulitis pockets but not a lot of them.

I’ve been treated for BAM (Bile Acid Malabsorption) with medication, Colesevelam and Omeprazole, due to the vomiting bile.

My episodes started after I had my gall bladder out 14 years ago and consultants/doctors cannot understand why I have these episodes.

Hope this helps. Take care.

[1ChLoE in reply to Harley1020]

I was was diagnosed with diverticulitis twice. My main problem was severe left lower abdominal pain. I was also very dehydrated the second time I was admitted to hospital.

I have heard of people having problems following gallbladder removal. Hope you can get your problems resolved.

[Harley1020 in reply to 1ChLoE]

Thank you, I live in hope that I might finally be able to control my health issue and not go into hospital.

Even had to go into hospital, in Spain last year.

Hope your health problem gets better. It’s horrible when you have to go into hospital. Take care.

[1ChLoE in reply to Harley1020]

Thank you .I live in Spain, I have other health problems, and trying to find a way to manage them is challenging. Just keep trying to managed it all, and enjoy a good life. That’s what it’s about for me. I wish you good health in the future.

[Harley1020 in reply to 1ChLoE]

Thank you - your words are inspiring.

[Bracondale]

I think they meant chronic rather than clonic, which I don't think would fit in this context.

[1ChLoE]

Hi Bracondale. Sorry it’s

me spelling the word wrong 😑.

It should say colonic.

[MatthewU]

Take a look at Ferrocalm, it's a probiotic that has a unique action that only survives and multiplies when the gut is stressed, just as the rest of the gut flora starts to get all upset and die!

[1ChLoE in reply to MatthewU]

Thanks I’m already taking Ferrocalm. Not noticed any difference yet, but only been taking it for a month.