Diverticulitis Support Group

I just finished my second bout of diver and the levequin and flagyl. I am much better. I think I would get a second opnion from a gastro specialist. I dont think this sounds normal to be in that much pain if you are improving. best wishes

hello drkackie - typically (although many of us on this site are anything but typical)once you've been on cipro/flagyl/leviquin,etc., for about 10 days, the pain and symptoms disappear. i would definitely consult with a gastro specialist although their first instinct is usually surgery (after the second bout of divertic).
b/c i had complications with divert. and had 4 bouts in a year, i did opt for the surgery but if you read the posts thoroughly here you will see many from 4strikes who advocates compellingly for mesalizine. it's worked for him for a couple of years. but, keep reading and asking questions - you'll get lots of support here and lots of excellent info.
best of luck in it all!
sally

Thank both for your comments. I'm sure you are right about the gastro specialist.

vinalhaven, how do you feel about your surgery. I have read some of 4strikes postings and followed his links to the articles he cites. I am not very scientifically inclined, but I do have a Ph.D. with a strong statistical background. While the results are statistically significant against having surgery, I also looked at the percentage of patients with reoccurance associated with the significance. I'm not sure the risk is that bad, if it means getting rid of the pain.

I need to hear from people who have made the choice either way.

How long ago did you have your surgery? What is the difference in the way you feel now and the way you did before. Is the diet issue more restrictive before or after the surgery? I don't know what else to ask because I haven't been there. I would love to hear the other issues you think are important.

hello again - i just had the surgery in very early dec. '08. i have felt absolutely fine since about jan. 6th or so. i had to have the surgery b/c i was having kidney failure with every attack (no one could figure out why). if this is an immune disorder, i suppose there is a very good chance that i'll get it again. but my surgeon said that my chances of coming down with again are 4%. 4 strikes' stats are higher - he has read that reoccurance is @ 20%. i also was sick of the uncertainty of it all - worrying about going to the er on vacation, and also the antibiotics were almost worse than the attacks. i eat everything and still feel fine - i am a little hesitant about popcorn - but for no real reason - just bad memories, i think. if i do come down with another attack, i will try to find a doc to prescribe mesalazine. i will not have the surgery again. once was fine, but i won't go through it again.
hope this info adds to your collective advice and helps you decide what you'll do.
s.

Currently I am taking Cipro and Flagyl because I had severe abdominal pain and went to the ER. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis. i think I have been having this current bout since I was in the hospital for my knee replacement. I speculate the constipation brought on by the pain medications set this off. I had a bout of severe pain the week after I was discharged. I would cut down on food, go on a liquid diet for a couple of days. After it seemed to clear up the pain level resumed.
I am really disappointed as I had my sigmoid colon removed 2 years ago due to a perforated colon.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do if I continue to have attacks. I guess I'm prone to them. This time the Dr. said it was a mild to moderate attack and no sign of perforation. They gave me IV Cipro and Flagyl and let me go home. I had two hospitalizations prior to my surgery. Both times it was for 3 days and I was given nothing by mouth. I think the idea is to rest the colon. The medications are as bad as the episodes.

I went back on the low fiber diet which they said I would need to do for about 3 weeks and gradually reintroduce fiber until I was getting 25 to 25 grams a day. I had to go buy white bread as everything I have is Whole Wheat.

I hope by now you are feeling better.

Hi, Drkackie. My story was similar...after going to 3 different doctors getting the same answer "10 more days of cipro/flagyl", I found a terrific surgeon who admitted me the same day and started IV Zosyn and total bowel rest (nothing by mouth - fed through IV). After 7 days, he discharged me on a soft/bland diet and had surgery 6 weeks later. He said the infection continued to "smolder" and would never get any better. The goal was to get the inflammation down enough to do surgery...trying to do surgery on inflamed tissue is not "pleasant", as he put it. THat was March of 08 and today I am good as new with no lingering effects. THey removed 18 inches of sigmoid/descending colon, and withing 2 weeks of surgery, I was back at work (desk job) with no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. Good luck.

I always have moe pain if my bowels do not move regular and are soft so I take stool softners 2 times a day. I am on cipro and flagyl right now for my 3rd bout of the divirticulitis. If you are in that much pain I would speak with a doctor again cause I have been advised if the pain is severe and or worsens then I should seek medical attention asap. that is something you might want to consider

I wish you well