Cronic Diverticulitis and Recovery Time?

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I have had one acute attack of Diverticulitis years ago and it was horrible but after taking a few days worth of antibiotics everything was better. Not this go round. My attack started 4 months ago with tenderness in the lower left abdomen. I was prescribed flagyl only and my symptoms improved but never cleared up. A month later I was prescribed Flagyl and Some other Antibiotic (not Cipro) and the symptoms only slightly improved . Finally I went to a gastro and he prescribed 12 days Flagyl and Cipro , I went a liquid diet and the symptoms started clearing up on day 4. I still have lingering pain and twinges but they are less by the day . How long can the pain last. Also the antibiotics are bad news. I think they have beat me down as much as the attack itself. Does anyone else have lingering pain that gets worse as the day goes on? Also does anyone experience a fullness in the lower abdomen below the belt line?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Frank, I'm sorry you are having these lingering affects of a flare up. My pain has never lasted more than 3 weeks with a flare up. Have they done a colonoscopy? Have you been on a clear liquid diet the whole time?

    • Posted

      Once I finally received cipro flagyl combination the bulk of the pain subsided by day 4. Now I just have a few twinges from time to time. I'm have just hit the 3 week mark since starting the antibiotics and 1 week since I finished them. I was on a liquid diet for 3 days and then a low residue diet for a week or so. I am just now easing into more fiber.

  • Posted

    Twinges ,not full blown pain can last for months in my case . Two months was the longest. This time I have been on antibiotics for24 days. I agree that the treatment is worse than the pain. So nauseous from the meds ! I’ve lost 25 # since I can’t eat due to meds. I get more pain if I try to big of a meal . If I have 2 eggs instead of one or too much water at one sitting. Definitely have that bloated feeling!
  • Posted

    Oo yea I almost always have slight twinges usually at least a few a week. I had my sigmoid colon removed yesterday. I had so much scar tissue that my intestine was narrowed to the point I had constant problems. Hopefully after I heal my problems will be in the past. They took out every bit of intestine that had diverticulla
    • Posted

      i had 2 attacks and its hard for me to have a bm i think i have scartissue also my stools are narrowed ,its been almost 4 weeks i have that tiny bit of cramping everyday on left side ,i am trying everything, i ended up with diverticulitis 3 months after a colonoscopy when i was told i had mild divericulous

    • Posted

      how did you know you had so much scartissue im assuming a colonoscopy

    • Posted

      also what problems did you experience

  • Posted

    Hi Frank

    Unfortunately it seems you were not given enough antibiotics at the beginning, so the infection lingered on.  Flagyl and Cipro are nasty with bad side effects which also make you feel rough.  Because this has dragged on so long, your insides have taken a real battering and will take a long time to heal.  My pain always went after 4 weeks, but in August 2016 I had 3 flares in quick succession, and it took almost a year for the pain to subside to the odd niggle.  I still wake up each day with tenderness which goes after the first bowel movement.  And yes, I do feel bloated a lot of the time, and I have to be careful of my diet.  No gluten, full fat, or large indigestible meals.  And make sure you take a probiotic to counteract the meds, and a stool softener to keep your bowels regular and soft.  It all helps.  Best wishes.

  • Posted

    I am sorry you are going through this. Last year my low grade  left sided pain lasted for ten months! I have been very lucky in that I have not had a serious attack and hope I never do so I did not need anti/iotics. I still feel that niggling pain from time to time but nothing like last year. Mine too usually got worse as the day went on and I often used a heat pad to the area in the evenings which was a great comfort. I would also take paracetamol if necessary. I did not have any other symptoms except for some pain in the left leg when I had the llq pain. Hope you feel better soon. 
  • Posted

    Oh dear poor you.  Hope it gets better for you soon.  My Dr gives me a prescription for antibiotics to keep at home so that when I get a bad flare up I can go to the pharmacy and pick it up.  I was diagnosed with DV 6 years ago and have only had to use antibiotics twice in that time.  However, the minute I feel DV coming on I rest up and put myself on a liquid diet, soups and smoothies for a couple of days and most of the time fortunately that has worked for me.

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