What is Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, in particular the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches (diverticul...
Join Now
|
What are YOUR diverticulitis symptoms?
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
hello, Missy here, had my first attack in July (ER, cipro/flagyl X10d).
I am having SYMPTOMS again! I've had little "frequent morning bathroom trips" if I ate something the night before. I'll go to my doc today. I know he'll put me (I'll ASK) back on Cipro/Flagyl for 10 days. I wonder how many attacks (mine is sigmoid area) I can have before other steps are taken? Doc is a board-certified GP, wonder if he'll refer me to a specialisit? 1)for about 4 days, felt really bad--meaning, very tired, rapid heartrate (for me--100bpm and over) 2)waking at night with rapid hearrate 3)not going to bathroom as much 4)awful, terrible feeling of lightheadedness, faintness, feeling of doom--like I had with my first attack when I had daughter call 911. 5)Pain has JUST started this a.m., however. Last time, my husband said I remarked I "felt bad" about five days before my first pain (attack) and I remember the same out-of-breath feeling, nausea, lightheadedness. 6) Gross, but LOTS of burping. Even when just drinking plain old water. Does anyone else have symptoms like this? I am guessing the feeling bad is from infection and inflammation, and now it's bad enough I have pain. I wonder how doc will diagnose me--don't I need a WBC? Last time, I was diagnosed in ER in another state with CT Scan and white counts. The diverticuli showed up with "abnormal thickening" of sigmoid colon. Feeling bad--crummy, tired, weak, nauseous, lightheaded. I can't wait for the Cipro/Flagyl, even tho I remember them making me feel very bad for about 5 days--however, it feels like I do now, so maybe it's the disease itself. Thanks for reading. Doc is open 7 days a week, which is nice, so I'm off to there. Wonder what happens next--wondering what set off this attack. I did eat almost 1/2 c of pomegranate seeds on Thursday, but I really started feeling not so great before then I think. I wasnt thinking I guess! Thanks for sharing YOUR symptoms. I am sure we are all different. Missy Posted on 10/19/09, 12:10 pm |
| 4 Replies | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts Ignore |
I never had any symptoms like the ones you are describing. My first attack for me was on a Tuesday night. I had just finished a spin class and was going to walk my dog and my side was hurting so it was a short walk.
In the am, I could barely walk and went to my doctor who ran a blood test and sent me straight to the hospital because I had a massive internal infection. I was in my 30's and no one even diagnosed me with divi until my 2nd attack and a colonscopy. So I went from fine to side hurting badly on lower left side, like a very strong menstral cramp. Later, I would learn that if my food did not digest, that an attack was coming. For example I would eat something for breakfast and my dinner I was still not hungry becasuse food felt like it was still sitting and had not moved thru me. I do not know what a WBC is? But I thought you needed a colonscopy for a true diagnosis although I have read differently on this board, perhaps it was the case back 10 years ago when I was diagnosed. Good luck! 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
My first attack was in November 2007. I was awakened at 3:00 AM by horrible pain in my lower center abdomen. Lasted about 3 hours and then subsided. I really didn't know what it was, never saw a doctor.
Next attack in February 2008. Again awakened early morning in pain which would not subside and had to call 911. Spent 4 days in hospital. Had a microperforation and almost had to have a colon resection. Antibiotics and morphine given. Surgeon told me I should have surgery in future. After release, antibiotics for next 10 days and light diet. Colonoscopy in May 2008 showed sever diverticultis. Surgery recommended. Next attack in June 2008. Spent 5 hours in ER. Antibiotics and morphine given. After release, antibiotics for next 10 days and light diet. Next attack in October 2008. Spent 5 hours in ER. Antibiotics and morphine given. After release, antibiotics for next 5 days and light diet. October 2009 - Currently having a mild attack for the past 5 days. Eating all soft foods such as broth, rice, bananas, toast, puddings and jello. Feel a little better today. In general my attacks involve moderate to intense lower abdominal pain, bloating, frequent small bowel movements sometimes with pain and mucous, and nausea. I have discovered for me it is important to chew everything really well. I stay away from seeds although it has not been proven they are responsible. I eat small amounts instead of larger meals as I always feel full really fast and it is uncomfortable. I rarely eat red meat as it seems to bother me. I mainly eat chicken and fish. I have increased my vegetables and fruits for fiber, but do not take any supplements. I tried taking probiotics in several different forms, but they do not agree with me at all. I do not want the surgery, but unless I can find an answer, I will need to have it done. My problem is no health insurance. I lost my insurance and no insurer will cover me with diverticulitis. I am in the process of trying to get high risk health insurance. If I am accepted, I will need to wait 3 months before I can use it. I can only hope my body will cooperate. I could see this surgery ending up in the $100,000 range.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Beth1952, I'm so sorry about all you have been through. It breaks my heart. My first time was in Sept. I went three weeks with intense pain, only it wasn't constant. I thought it was my ovary and so I thought I had a cyst. I finally went to doc and he sent me right to emergency. I later found out my mom had it once and my brother four times. My brother's dr gives him a back-up of meds and each time he feels it coming on he takes it. My problem is I was more sick on the meds than the diverticulitis. I couldn't keep anything down and they had to keep changing the nausea med's. It was horrible. I was sick the entire time I was on them. My only symptoms were bad pain and lots of painful gas and very weak and tired with little energy. I'm scared for it to come on again as I hear that is more common.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
My first and worst attack, I remember feeling very well just before I developed a pain in my lower left side (belt line). I was working on a car so I thought I might have pulled something. I went to bed early thinking it would be better in the AM. It grew worse in the night and I started with the colon spasms. I image that my colon is trying to shake out what ever is bothering it - like a chicken bone or something.
This disease is so complex and has so many outcomes and symptoms. Someday we will be grouped into finer classifications. John
|
|
|
|
||
| Add Your Reply |
