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...
Im now on my 4th days of antibiotics (levaquin and Flagyl) and I'm seeing improvements although at a very slow rate.
Presently my diet consists of: soup, jello, toast, oatmeal, mashed potatoes and saltine crackers. I've been drinking lots of water and having an occassional sprite. My low grade fever finally broke yesterday and I seem to have a little more energy.
My bowel movements are normal and I'm taking a fiber supllment at night.
I spoke to the doctor yesterday, and we'll reassess my situation next Monday. He indicated he might keep me on the antibiotics for another week. If my fever comes back we'll likely do a cat scan.
While my painful cramps are gone, I'm still "tender" on my lower right side (right sider diverticulitis).
Questions-Assuming the infection is clearing up from the antibiotics, how long should it be until I feel "normal".....no tenderness and normal energy level?
Last night I had severe heart burn. I've had a history of GERD but it comes and goes. I have prevacid to address this issue, but question whether I should be taking this with my antibiotics. Thoughts appreciated.
Presently my diet consists of: soup, jello, toast, oatmeal, mashed potatoes and saltine crackers. I've been drinking lots of water and having an occassional sprite. My low grade fever finally broke yesterday and I seem to have a little more energy.
My bowel movements are normal and I'm taking a fiber supllment at night.
I spoke to the doctor yesterday, and we'll reassess my situation next Monday. He indicated he might keep me on the antibiotics for another week. If my fever comes back we'll likely do a cat scan.
While my painful cramps are gone, I'm still "tender" on my lower right side (right sider diverticulitis).
Questions-Assuming the infection is clearing up from the antibiotics, how long should it be until I feel "normal".....no tenderness and normal energy level?
Last night I had severe heart burn. I've had a history of GERD but it comes and goes. I have prevacid to address this issue, but question whether I should be taking this with my antibiotics. Thoughts appreciated.
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
As respects how long it should be until you feel better, it's honestly anyones guess. Initially my attacks would only last 3-4 days of pain and within a week I'd feel normal. The past year, I've had several attacks; each worse than the last. My most recent was in July and the pain never went away nor did my energy level come back. I am now 1 week post surgery for a sigmoid resection and actually have better energy now than I've had for almost a year.
Watch the fiber supplement at this time. For the low-residue diet, you should really be under 5 grams of fiber per day and the supplement may increase the pain. Once you are pain free, you can slowly increase your fiber consumption by about 5 grams per week.
Good luck to you. Please feel free to message me!
I've been on the low residue diet since. The pain is much improved, but...
Tuesday I had almost no pain. Today I have almost no pain. But yesterday I did have pain. So I am of the opinion that it can take a few days.
Everything I've read agrees with Kimbly. You want very little fiber while you have pain. I've started taking a non-laxative stool softener to help things along a bit in the absence of fiber.
Once the pain is gone, then raise the fiber over several days (not all at once).
You can actually eat quite a lot of foods on a low residue diet. Here are a couple of links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_residue_diet
http://www.healthcastle.com/low-residue-fiber-diet.shtml
I elected not to take the prevacid as I couldn't find any indicating it was safe to do so.
At this point my two symptoms are fatigue/lack of energy, and tenderness minor discomfort in my lower right abdomen.
I have already begun taking a hard look at diet modifications and believe I can make the changes with out major sacrifices. Biggest change will be to reduce/eliminate beef, and to significantly fast food, processed foods and chips, etc.
Please try and see a GI and get a scope done once the inflammation goes down. It's the only way you'll know what you're dealing with. Some people have one attack and never another but the scope will determine if there is damage that needs attention - better to know than face a rupture down the road.
Best of luck to you! Keep us posted.