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I'm in a dilemma now. Little over a week ago, had very bad stomach pain on left side - mid abdomen. Went to an Urgent Care center & he felt it was DIverticulitis, so put me on Augmentin & ordered a CT scan. Got CT that day, and next day went to my GI who has done 2 colonoscopies on me in last 5 years - last one a year ago. I had a few diverticulum (we all do, and I am almost 70) but no issues. He now diagnosed Diverticulitis, BUT the CT scan didn't show it. No fever, No bleeding, no elevated white cells, but both docs said CLINICALLY it is Diverticulitis.
A week later, after being on a liquid & then a low-residue diet, pain totally gone. Then yesterday, as I stood up I had pain in my lower back unlike any pain I ever experienced before. COuld barely move. Called Ortho, and saw him. X-ray showed degenerated disc L4/L5. He said it was only a matter of time with that and my bad scoliosis. I told him I was just finishing up diverticulitis. He could not give me a shot though, because my platelet count was too low to give an epidural. So He put me on the Prednisolone 6 day pack.
Next day, saw my Gastro, and he had a mini-fit about being on the steroid, because that makes infection more likely, and Divertculitis is contraindicated with Prednisolone. I am only on day 2 of the Prednisolone. Gastro put me back on Augmentin and low-residue diet for another week.
So now I am in quite a quandary - I don't think I can quit the Pred cold turkey, but it could exacerbate my DIvert. Wondering though if the short term Pred is not really a problem re reinfection.
What a Mess!
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donna89206 SRQLI
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SRQLI donna89206
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Thanks for your experience.
Hopefully the fact that the steroid is ony for 6 days it won't be a big problem. Waiting for return calls now from both the Ortho & Gastro
Guest SRQLI
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SRQLI
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Very odd stuff so far. First of all, Diverticulitis pain is usually in lower left abdomen - mine is upper left. My pain has pretty much been gone since last Tuesday - 4 days - the day my back went out. The two Drs are each pointing to the other as to whether I should have taken the steroid for my back. So today I am on day 4 of the steroid. Pain in stomach has been gone - EXCEPT - if I lay on my right side, I get a little pain on the upper left. Once I move to my back or stomach or left side, pain goes away.
I've been eating a low residue diet for about 6 days now and my bowels seem to be normal. But a litttle twinge of pain in upper left before I go. Goes away afterwards.
Unfortunately, back still pertty bad - my dog not happy because our walks are very slow - too slow for her :-)
donna89206 SRQLI
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I think you have something different. Go back to Dr's and ask for a scan of your pancreas. Your pain radiating from your back maybe something different.
SRQLI donna89206
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GI Doc considered that too - saw nothing in scan. Scan did show an issue in Cecum, but that is wrong side. He's actually more concerned with that than he is the diverticulitis.
Once things are cleared up, Dr wants to do a Colonoscopy to see what's going on better, even though I just had one exactly a year ago.
Back totally unrelated to stomach issue. Back just suddenty went out as I stood up. Have had back issues on & off for 40 years!
SRQLI
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