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...

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Mom in pain - please help.

DoxieGal
DoxieGal
My mom is currently having diverticulitis and is in great pain. She is having pain on the lower left side of her intestines and she has been in bed already for two days with a heat pack that needs to be warmed up constantly. What can she eat? What can she do to alleviate the pain? Does she just have to wait it out? She is not interested in taking pain killers or medications. But what should her food intake be like? I have gathered no fiber should be in her diet, right? Can anyone help??? I hate seeing her in so much pain. She had thought that it may have been a kidney stone, but her bowels are acting up and she is using the bathroom quite frequently with loose bowels. Please help! I really want her pain to stop. Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi DoxieGal,

Please get your Mom to a hospital emergency room ASAP. It does not matter if she has seen a doctor in the last 24 hours or not. She should not eat anything.

If she is in that much pain she might be in real trouble and need surgical help. In the hospital they will give her a shot of morphine that will kill the pain in a few minutes.

Best Wishes,

John
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would echo 4strikes advice to get to the ER. After you are sure she is not in serious trouble start with liquids only and gradually add more low residue foods. Stay away from fiber until she can gradually build up to tolerating it.

I went through this same type of situation and cannot emphasize enough that she needs to be seen in the ER and they need to do a CT scan. Do not leave without one.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You MUST go to an Emergency Room with this. Continued pain of that sort could be a perforation and that can KILL. Your mom needs a CT scan and other medical intervention. You cannot do this at home. Call an ambulance if you can't drive. Do whatever it takes to get her to the hospital.
deleted_user
deleted_user
please let us know what is going on with your mom. i too think an emergency room visit is needed....make sure she has a cat scan. is this her first attack? no fiber until the flare up is over......please keep us updated. i will say a prayer for your mom......


rhonda
DoxieGal
DoxieGal
Thank you for all the advice and prayers.
DoxieGal
DoxieGal
After your suggestions, I did take my mom into urgent care. They ran some tests and it did not appear that she had diverticulitis at all. They took a urine sample and found a small trace of blood in it, so it appears that she may have a kidney stone. The symptoms are very much alike with the pain. At least we have piece of mind now. Sometimes, the pain will ease and at other times it gets stronger. It will go away, though, as soon as she passes the stone. She also has to drink plenty of water. I think the frequent trips to the bathroom were caused by the pain and the high fiber that she ate during the week, which contributed to her dehydration. Thank you for your suggestions, and Rhonda for the prayers.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am glad you found out what is causing her pain and she will soon be better.

It can be confusing what is going on in there with so many different organs. I believe that before my hysterectomy some of the times I was having pain were actually the diverticulitis and not "female trouble". Also with my "1st attack" I thought I had a UTI or kidney stone because I have always had alot of pain in my back and low around my bladder associated with the DD. During my surgery the Dr found my colon had stuck to my bladder and every other organ and the abdominal wall.
deleted_user
deleted_user
thanks for letting us know what it is. i don't wish a kidney stone on anyone but it is better that diverticulitis. at least once she passes it then she doesn't have to worry. God answered my prayer on this one. tell your mom i hope she has an amazing day......

rhonda
DoxieGal
DoxieGal
Thank you, gramy and rhonda. My mom is still in pain and I guess she will be until she passes the stone. It is just so horrible to see her suffering like this. I have suggested that she take lemon juice and olive oil to help break the stone so that she can pass it with less pain. The pain goes in and out. She did try the olive oil/lemon combination, but it also made her blood sugar go down since she isn't eating much with all the pain. I am hoping she passes the stone soon and that at that point, she will be pain free. Thank you for the prayers. Keep em coming, please.