Diverticulitis Support Group

Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, in particular the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon. Diverticulitis results if one of these diverticula becomes inflamed. Diverticulitis most often affects middle-aged and elderly persons, though it can strike younger patients as...

1,017 Members
2,123 Posts
0 Online
Gastrointestinal System
/ Diverticulitis Support Group

21 and just diagnosed with diverticulitis

sweetmadison
sweetmadison

Hi everyone,


I am 21 years old and just recently got diagnosed with Diverticulitis. I had what I thought was "period cramps" 5 days up until my 2nd ER visit and hospitalization. My first ER visit did a CT scan on me and to my surprised said it was diverticulitis and sent me home barely walking(was in the worst pain of my life) with Cipro and Flagyl and said: "stop eating greasy foods". Little did they know I have been a vegetarian for 2 years and had been on KETO 2 months prior and was actually becoming the healthiest I have been in my life. On 4th of July 2018, I was home in agonizing pain, in and out of consciousness with a fever as I waited for the antibiotics to kick in. They did not work fast enough and I made my 2nd trip to a different ER. That is where they discovered not only was I having an attack but as well had a small perforation to the colon and an abscess on the outside a side a size of a lime. I received a drain to drain the abscess (the drain was in me for 15 days) and was in the hospital for 8 days as I moved from no foods, to liquid, to soft food diet. Last week I started to feel better, I was digesting well, my bowel movements were normal, up until 1 week ago when I had another attack come on. Its been 8 days of going non stop to the bathroom and my Gastro Dr all has done but ordered for a stool sample test. Now its only been 4 weeks since my attack and I'm shocked that this may be another one. I put myself on a liquid diet/soft foods. I'm barely eating as I want to rest the colon. I have no fever, and the pain is not as intense as what it previously was but it is worrisome. I have a CT scan next week to see if the abscess is completely drained and gone down. I barely got back to work last week and now have had to take this whole week off again and I feel as though I have taken 100 steps back. 


I believe I have suffered with IBS my whole life but never officially diagnosed. It was something I just told people "Oh I have a sensitive stomach" NEVER did I think at 21 i would have diverticulitis. It's hard to explain to my peers and it feels as though I'm alone in this and can't see the brighter side. I know with food management, supplements I can try and contain this but right now it feels like it will never end. Its also difficult when you feel like medical professionals are not here to guide you along the way. I have gotten little advice from the 1 appointment I had with my Gastro Dr and Im trying to push through until Wednesday to see what the CT scan says. Im learning as much as I can about this and hope I can go back to feeling better soon. 

Tralala
Tralala
I'm brand new to this group as well, and new to diverticulitis. At least, officially. I'm so sorry you're going through this at such a young age, it's unreal. I'm 60, and had what was diagnosed as my first attack or episode starting the last week of June. Had no instructions as to what to eat except "what you think you can tolerate" and scripts for Cipro & Flagyl. I was so weak and disoriented (I hadn't eaten anything for 9 days prior and could barely keep down water or ginger ale) that all I found on the internet was clear liquids for 3-5 days, which I did. But as I slowly began to introduce "normal" foods, and thought I was improving, I had another attack or episode & was back in the ER in one month, after another week of not eating or drinking (due to terrible pains, bloating, explosive water diarrhea and nausea/vomiting. This time there was no admit, not even overnight, just the scripts again. Fortunately, a nurse told me to go from clear liquids to a "soft diet" for a few weeks before slowly introducing normal foods after that. When I googled "soft food diet" I got more info. But I know that my lack of insurance, and ability to pay (I stay at home-- after a lifetime of working and having insurance when I mostly didn't need it-- and watch my grandbaby and cook and clean for my family), has a lot to do with my lack of care. At least, I thought so until reading your post. It's just unbelievable to me the state of health care in this country. I suppose doctors are frustrated because they don't have definitive guidelines since everyone's gut is different, but that just translates to patients that their REAL pain and suffering, and their quality of life, is simply unimportant. Btw, I have been lactose intolerant since the mid-1990s (when I was in my late 30s) and started having IBS-like symptoms back then, too. Around that time, I also had my gall bladder removed. I think all of those things, and more, have to do with my diverticulitis. Anyway, best of luck to you, please keep us posted as to what you find.