Diverticulitis Or Diverticular Disease? How To Differentiate
Mar 2, 2015
I found out 6 months ago I had diverticular disease after a flair up of diverticulitis. I have recently had another flair up - a few days ago. Although it seems mild it is still fairly debilitating but doesn't seem as bad as first time. I don't know if I am experiencing day to day diverticular disease symptoms or diverticulitis? First attack had fever with it and feeling sick but this one is just pain and diarrhea and feeling really down. Can't eat except for liquids. Is this diverticulitis or diverticular disease and how do you know the difference? Is it to do with the fever being present or not? I am so worried as no real information has been given to me and I feel scared I won't be able to live a normal life with this. Can someone tell me the difference and should I be heading to the doctors as soon as i get a flair up or just put up with it until it gets worse? I have read so many scary things about it I don't know if I can cope.
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I have had diarrhea and rectal bleeding for a month and discomfort (but not pain) lower left side. I went to see my GP and she ordered blood and stool samples. A few days later I woke up in blood stained sheets and when I got up blood was running down my legs. I called 111 and was told to go straight to A&E. They kept me in all day on an IV drip as I was dehydrated with sluggish circulation and later discharged with antibiotics Co-Amoxiclav and a letter for my GP saying Diverticulitis/IBD?
Flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy/CT scan have been booked for 31 October. Despite the antibiotics, the diarrhea and bleeding continue and although I am drinking lots of water, I have a continually dry mouth. This is the first time I have ever experienced anything like this and am naturally very concerned. I don’t quite understand what is happening. Are the antibiotics to take away the inflammation? Will the bleeding continue until the inflammation is gone? I read somewhere that diverticular bleeds usually stop on their own. Is a month a long time for bleeding to continue? I am trying to be positive but feel very run down and 31 October seems like a long way away for the tests. Any advice please?
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I've had this condition for many years. Recent tests/scan show it's now extensive throughout the bowel. I've been given conflicting advice on appropriate diet and wondered whether anyone can provide more help? I've been taking fibre gel every other day for many years. Consultant insists this should continue.
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I was diagnosed with Diverticular Disease in Dec 2013 after 4 days in hospital and the Drs having no clue what was wrong. After having a CT scan they found the problem. I was 30yrs old and if I'm honest I was shocked. I felt this was an 'elderly' thing.
Since my diagnosis I have had 4 bouts of diverticulitis that I have dealt with myself. I take paracetamol and go on a liquid only diet for 4 days and until the symptoms go away. I had a sigmoid colonoscopy in April to see how much of my colon has these diverticula and the Dr said it was of medium severity at this point.
The only way I can describe the pain of a flare up is like having contractions, I've had 3 children and would take childbirth over this any day.
The point I'm trying to make is that I have found there is little or no support for people with this digestive disease. I read conflicting reports on what I should be eating to help live with this and its starting to take over my life. I run a business and have 3 children so I need to be able to manage this.
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I think that i have just had the shortest appointment time with a doctor.ever
Four minutes max. Told I had severe Diverticular Disease, to eat a high fibre diet, ,and to look on the internet if I wanted any more information, then he was out of the door, and that was it ,,except for a parting shot delivered in the corridor ""to come back if I had it again"
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It may seem a silly question but I would like to get fitter - take up running - in my fifties and just wondered does exercise help with DD or make it worse? Anyone out there exercises avidly? I feel so depressed since my diagnosis - like my life is over! I suppose this is a bit dramatic but anyone got advise on exercise?
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I'd love to know how long other people's flare-ups last on average. Have had D disease x 15 y. Had 3 attacks in past 6 wks. Urgh! I usually take antis & get up after 1 or 2 days, liquids only x 36hrs then soft foods x about a week, then gradually reintro fibre, seeds, pulses. Maybe I should stay on soft food more than a few days after 36h on liquids?? Opinions please! And btw its almost impossible to lose weight when this rotten condition dictates eating all the wrong stuff after an attack.. White flour pasta, mash..all those carbs! And stodge! Not helpful. Any ideas? Thanks. New to forum. Am 63 now & desperate to do anything to avoid surgery.
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I was Diagnosed last week with Diverticulitis, After 18 months of being in pain. The Doctor offered me surgery as soon as he told me I had Diverticulitis.
It's all confusing to me. so many different symptoms and different stories.
Can anyone tell me if I need to see my GP after being Diagnosed with Diverticulitis for antibiotics or anything else.
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My Mom suffered from Diverticulitis but she passed last year and her and I had never really discussed anything about it other than my sister or myself might eventually suffer from it because it could be hereditary. I have some questions that I would have asked my Mom but now I please need help since she’s gone. And I was too stressed and forgot to ask my GI these questions and he’s not reachable on the weekends. Thank you.
I’m a 47 year old Male. And I just started my Ciprofloxacin 500 mg (2 daily) & Metronidazole 500 mg (3 daily) yesterday. GI said to take the pills for a week to 10 days.
- How normally long before the more extreme burning sensations will begin to dissipate? 2-3 Days?
- How long should I stay on the liquid diet? The entire time while I’m taking the antibiotics?
- I bought Carnation, Boost & Ensure food drink supplements - Good idea?
- I also bought jello, pudding, chicken stock, red, white & blue popsicles, ginger ale, apple juice & plain yogurt - All good? Any other recommendations?
- How much water should I also be drinking daily?
- The Metronidazole seems to be awful. I have a metallic taste in my mouth, evening & morning headaches, stomach cramps & a nauseated feeling all the time. Is this normal?
- Any other suggestions or advice?
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I am looking for some information to (hopefully) calm my nerves. I had unprotected oral and protected vaginal sex with an escort 16 days ago. After about 12 days I started to develop Balanitis symptoms on the head of my peniswhich was preceeded by a slight burning sensation in the genital area for about a day.
The symptoms have now almost cleared up but I am stressed about herpes potentially being the cause of the symptoms.
There has been no pain and no blisters of any sort but there was a slight itchy feeling from time to time in the genital area although that may well have been because of my imagination running wild.
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my daughter started this crazy autoimmune journey about 4 years ago at the age of 16. (at least that's when we realized her years of "weirdness" were actually SOMETHING)After some strange knots and rashes and being hospitalized and put on rocephin and bactrim only to spike a temp of 105 and develop a bright red rash from head to toe she was referred to a rheumatologist. She had a positive ANA (no numbers listed on labs, only positive) dsDNA and SSA. She was started on plaquenil and Mobic then added topamax and maxalt due to severe migraines. The initial diagnosis was undifferentiated. Her rheumy said he was leading more to Lupus because she has the distinct butterfly rash. She stopped taking her meds after she got married and has since had two kids (ages 3 and soon to be 1) She just reestablished herself with a new rheumy. They reran her bloodwork and said her ANA is quite high (didn't elaborate with numbers) and her vitamin D is extremely low. She is now back on plaquenil, Mobic, a prescription to help with the Vitamin D and calcium supplements. She has been to the hospital several times in the past few months with chest pain and high heart rate and sometimes high BP. She always tells them she has undifferentiated connective tissue disease but all they ever do is check her SED rate which is NEVER high..... are there specific things she should ask to be tested or should she always go through her rheumy for any unusual symptoms? The whole chest pain thing leaves this mama feeling uneasy and she is one who gets frustrated and says well I went and obviously I'm fine because they said I was fine.......
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I have had quite a few ECG's and blood tests but doctors say it is just anxiety but when you're experiencing symptoms without a panic attack how do you really know it's anxiety and not an underlying heart problem ?
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How to I differentiate between herpes, cyst and folliculitis?
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I've been having problems with hemorrhoids for many years now. Probably about 8 years or so (I am 27). It has gotten worse in the last 2-3 years I'd say. How do I tell if this is internal or external hemorrhoids?
I've read up on the symptoms and I'm not sure how to read this. For me, the flare up only occurs after a bowel movement. If i go to sleep right after, the hemorrhoids is always gone. Sometimes the hemorrhoids will go away on its own after a few hours on its own (how? i dont know).
All i know is that it never goes on for more than 1 day continuously because it always goes away when I go to sleep. Any idea which type I have? Its gotten to a point where I dread bowel movements because it makes walking difficult (unless I find a comfortable laying position where it will go away on its own). Hoping there is a way to make the hemorrhoids go away within an hour of the bowel movement.
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i have been told i have Diverticular disease, i have been given Mebeverine 135mg but have found they make no difference at all. I am so swollen and as they day goes on i look like i am pregnant. This has been like this for 7 months. I am so fed up and my left side is so uncomfortable. When i have a bath or shower you can see the left side swell.
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I went for my 2nd opinion today with another Gastroenterologist. The Surgeon had referred me.
He said he wants to do a gastroscopy and also a sigmoidoscopy. He also told me that one of the medications I have been taking for years for my hiatus hernia called Prevacid could cause diverticular colitis.
Has anyone had diverticular colitis?
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My mum was diagnosed with both colitis and diverticulitis, she was put on a (9mg) 2 month course of Budenofalk granules reduced to 1 week 6mg and then finally 1 week 3mg. The diarrhea and need to go to the toilet eased during this time, however she has now been of the medication and is back to having to rush to the toilet again, we are awaiting for a follow up appointment at the hospital but this isnt until next month, she visited her gp last week in the hope of some help/advice - they were only able to try and get the appointment pulled forward. She has lost just over 3 stone since November, and we are at our wits end as nothing she seems to eat/drink remains for long, within 30 minutes of having anything to eat she has to visit the loo. She has been taking the acidophilus 10 billion since the beginning of the year. Can anyone offer any advice is there others that are in this unfortunate situation, she feels like she is wasting away and a prisoner inside her own home.
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I'm wondering if anyone has any advice regarding diagnosing graves and thyroid eye disease in pregnancy. Having never had any problems until being pregnant I'm very confused as to why I've suddenly got it? At around 12 weeks into my pregnancy I noticed a change in my eyes (one was protruding), after seeing an eye dr, he advised I'd be tested for hyperthyroidism and following his advice the bloods came back as a positive for hyperthyroidism. I was put on PTU by an endocrinologist for the rest of my pregnancy and at week 39 I noticed a yellowing in the White of my eyes and admitted myself to the maternity unit for blood tests following speaking with a midwife. It turned out I had developed severe jaundice (Which I now have learnt through research to be a severe side effect to PTU) and that my liver was failing; I had to have an emergency c section that night. I am pleased to say I have a had a healthy baby boy but I'm so anxious as to whether these conditions will worsen post pregnancy.
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I am a 24 year old who works a 12 hour rotating shift pattern (including night shifts). For the past 6 months or maybe more o have had upper left abdominal pain (cramping/aching) and more recently lower pain (sometimes across lower, sometimes left and sometimes a specific place on the lower right). I put it down to IBS due to shift work. My partner convinced me to see the GP as I have a family history of IBD. Oh and my bowel movements vary from constipated (less than once a week) to lose (not diarrhoea and multiple times per day)
Had stool tests and blood tests. I expected them not to find anything to be honest and just did it to please my boyfriend and put his mind at rest.
Doctor phoned and said that "the stool test shows signs of inflammation indicative of inflammatory bowel disease". I couldn't really ask more questions because of where I was. Phoned in for blood results and told by reception that they were fine.
I have been referred to the gastroenterologist and have an appointment in 2 weeks.
I am tired all the time and find it really difficult to get out of bed, frequently have naps at work but put that down to shift working.
I don't want to take any laxatives because I never know when it will change between constipation and loose stools and when I'm working, I often can't get to the toilet.
I often have joint pain but I also have a knee injury and some hyper mobile joints.
I am so confused as to what is going on and hate not being in control of my body. I know I only have mild symptoms, I feel so alone (shift work doesn't lend itself to meeting people regularly).
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I have had perthes disease since i was 6 i was on the bed rest i am now 24 years old and i still have it.
i also have arthritis too in my hip and i also need a hip replacement now all because of perthes it has made my live very hard.
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I have been told I have MD but had no tests what are the tests diagnosed just by my symptoms
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