Diagnosed with diverticulitis 4 weeks ago and still not right. I am confused.

So sorry to hear of your pain.  Have you had a colonoscopy yet?   This is a very intense disease for sure.   I am waiting for scope to be done to confim diagnosis.  My pain is on the bladder and left side/hip.  We are all differen for sure.  How long have you been on the antibiotics?  I know it took me almost the whole length to get feeling some better.  At first my GP only gave the Cipro/anti and no Flagyl,  and I ended up in the Er, where they added the Flagyl.  Hope you get somemore answers here,  Im not too worried about perferation myself, but if its concerning you i am sure someone will comment.   Hope you can try to relax, since worry usually makes it worse,  hang in there,

Hi, yes it takes a long time to heal, Diet is very important, start with the Mayo Clinic diet, do a good probiotics cuz antibiotics tear up gut flora and cause more pain. Take a digestive enzyme also. Drink lotsa water and I used beef bone broth, all soft foods. Mashed potatoes and carrots, steamed chicken and rice and salmon. Soups. Go easy on diet for a few weeks, no processed or fried foods. No seeds. I also did smoothies. The pain will go away in time. I still get pain and twinges. And it’s been 6 months for me. The stools take a long time to get back to normal, I found that when I started adding new foods back into diet, no dairy, or high fiber for awhile. Keep a food journal till you figure out your food triggers. It’s a hard disease but in time you will get better. Everyone is diff so just gotta listen to your body, destress, be patient and watch diet. I also did Apple cider vinegar with warm water and lemon daily helps with inflammation and heating pad on tummy Tylenol, no ibuprofen. Well I hope this helps a little. Feel free to reach out or ask ? ? We all been through it. Best wishes for speedy recovery. 

Hi Matyboyie,

Did the doctor tell you to eat low residue which is low fiber soft foods? Fodmap is good when you are feeling better but not so great while you are sick. Lots of water and I mean a lot. I do 10 cups minimum a day because it helps with pooing. Soft foods low in fiber so potatoes no skin, carrots, apple sauce, low fiber cooked fruit and veg (google mayo clinic low residue diet). Talk to your gp about a fiber suppliment or laxitive but please do not take these with out a doctors permission.

Write down everything you eat and look to see what causes pain and what doesn't. It is total trial and error when it comes to food. Most people have problems with dairy, red meat, skins on fruit or veg, nuts, seeds and pips and corn. But everyone is different. The pain can last months or days unfortunately no one can tell you. Don't strain on the toilet. Try to relax as much as possible. I know I am asking alot but if you can do what everyone mentions you will make life easier. Please remember most people only get one attack but some get lots so please get on the food right and when you feel better do high fiber fodmap. At least 30 grams a day but work up to it very very slowly or you could cause pain from too much fiber too fast. Hopefully others will post and give you more tips and tricks. I hope you feel better soon.

Julie

Hi I am so sorry this has happened to you at such a young age As you probably already know this is a lifetime disease but by trial and error you will learn how to keep flare ups at a minimum I like you was pooping like what rabbit stool looks like a few weeks before my first flare I would guess if cat scan with contrast looked good to doc's your colon is still angry It has been thru a lot with infection and it's probably inflammation that is causing pain If you can ask what your CRP level was when blood work was done Try to control anxiety for this can also cause a flare You will getta better idea of what is up after your colonoscopy Do drink lots of water and follow Mayo clinic diverticulitis diet eat smaller meals more frequently thru out the day I did all these things and still had to have 2 surgurys and still can't eat like I use to before diverticulitis But do eat I started out 138 pounds 4 months ago and I now weight 99 lbs don't b afraid to eat but do eat according to mayo clinic diverticulitis diet Let us know how you are lots of great advice on this forum Do you have IBS ?

Hi

Sorry to hear you have developed this disease at such a young age.  I've read through all your replies and they offer you excellent advice for managing this disease through your diet.  It can be very scary at first, because it takes a long time to get over an attack, weeks or even months, which nobody will have told you.  That makes it hard to explain to family and friends, and that you must watch your food for life.  I have had the disease 17 years now and had 6 flares.  At first it took 4 - 6 weeks to start to feel better, but last time I was still suffering twinges for almost a year.  Now if I eat properly I am OK, and if I don't I get the twinges.

The medications you have been given are VERY strong and strip out all your gut flora - the good along with the bad.   They also make you feel lousy from the side effects and it takes a few weeks for these side effects to wear off after you've finished the courses.  Your insides will have been left inflamed and sore from the infection and it does take a long time to heal.  If you think about an ordinary cut, even when its clean and healing it will be tender, swollen and itchy and that's similar to what's going on inside you.  There may be pressure on your bladder, and you have no gut flora to process your poo, hence the rabbit droppings and excess mucus.  It takes time to rebuild the gut.  Many people take probiotics daily to help with the repair process.  I also take pure Aloe Vera juice daily, as a natural help to internal healing.  It's been used for centuries in the Canary Islands.  I also take a daily stool softener to bulk and soften the stools and make them easier to pass, but not whilst I am on the antibiotics.

So what you are feeling is normal recovery.  You should be reassured that you have 2 scans and there are no signs of the complications you fear.  They are rare and you should also remember that most people do not have these complications, so stop posting when they eventually begin to feel better.  You do need a Colonoscopy, which will give a definitive picture of what is going on inside you, but that can't be done until they are sure the infection has gone.  That will show if you have narrowing or little polyps, which are removed at the same time.  Of course if the pain worsens then you must go back to the doctor. 

I have lived a normal active life with this disease, playing competitive sport, and no need for surgery.  Mine is serious but uncomplicated Diverticular Disease, with multiple diverticula and severe narrowing.  I am fortunate not to have additional issues like IBS.  I was undiagnosed for years and had I known, would have got on top of my diet much earlier.  It will take time but you will slowly learn what does and does not suit your body.  We are all different, so each must find their own way.  The doctors may say "eat what you like" but that's simply not true for most of us.  A healthy balanced diet with lots of water and soluble fibre, and excluding all your own particular triggers.  Exercise like walking is good, but avoid heavy lifting and bending whilst still in pain.  Also get plenty of rest and don't push yourself too far too soon.  Best wishes.

Thanks everyone for the replies. All the advice and so on has been great. I have been feeling alone through this whole thing because people seem to look at me like i am fine but dont know the pain i am in. I pray i dont get another flair anytime soon and will be doing some major lifestyle changes to make sure of that. Thanks again

And of course yesterday and today pain is back on right side. Almost feels like an appendicitis. Nearly 5 weeks and feel like its never gonna end. Keep getting told to go to hospital but i feel like there is no point because they have already done 2 ct scans on me and last one showed it was nearly healed.