Acute diverticulitis recovery time

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I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago on CT with an inflamed diverticulum. Since then, I took antibiotics and have recovered mostly, but the pain has always come back a little bit every few days, and especially in the last day or so. I thought I was recovered last week and then I decided to have a wild weekend and I think it set my recovery back. 

I don’t believe my case is severe diverticulosis disease, but more of a localized issue with a single diverticulum. I’m still under 40 and the CT scan didn’t have any remarks that there was an extensively diverticulosed colon - just the one pocket.

How long does it typically take to recover from acute sigmoid diverticulitis? Weeks, months? A year? I can’t find anything about this out there. Does anyone know? Is this normal that I’m still feeling pain 6 weeks in?

I know that some recommendations say no colonoscopy for 8 weeks, I assume that’s because the area takes that long to heal sometimes?

I hope my situation is common and that I am on the road to recovery and that I just need a little more time.  I have a big trip in 3 Weeks. 

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  • Posted

    i’m just so happy to finally find someplace that validates the continuing pain after diverticulitis attack. I was diagnosed with a micro perforation back in June and here I am seven months later with tiny little twinge is still going on. The antibiotics in the IV made me violently ill and I ended up losing like 20 pounds. And I still have only gained 10 back. You literally worry every day if you’re high fiber diet is going to work. I realize now it is some thing that is forever.

    • Posted

      Hi Kim358.

      I have had DD for 15 + yrs. When I first had an attack the pain would last 3-5 days. Now it seems like my pain never goes away. I have pain and pressure every morning. It last until I have gone poo up to 3 times. The first movement is usually normal and the ones following are loose and sometimes watery. After that I get twinges and pressure all day long. I rarely go anywhere in the mornings.Im considering having the surgery.

  • Posted

    in the same boat as you. i went to the ER the first of december. 3 months later and several rounds of antibiotic later i still have lingering pain. manageable but lingering. i went about a month feeling almost symptom free no pain regular bowel movements. after a weekend of the stomach flu i now am having pains in my lower abdomen/pelvic region. but really only if i press firmly on the right spot and only then really. anyone think this is just soreness? or am i still dealing with inflammation?

  • Posted

    Hi, I'm new to the forum but I've had several bouts of diverticulitis within the past two years. Initially I didn't know what it was but I had a cat scan last September which confirmed it. After 10 days of antibiotics it got better and I was doing ok until several weeks ago, right before a road trip. Back on 10 days of antibiotics, took them during my vacation, and just feeling back to normal now. I noticed that I get

    bouts of it when I'm really stressed. I asked the doctor but he said stress doesn't exacerbate it and I can't

    find anything on the internet that claims it's one of the contributing factors. I was wondering if anyone here notices a flare up when you're stressed out. It seems like there's no cut and dry cure for this.

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