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Diverticula disease?

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danielrclark
danielrclark

Hi all

I'm new to this forum and seeking reassurance whilst going through some medical tests. I know every person is different, but wondered if my experiences rang any bells with fellow diverticula sufferers.

Briefly, my symptoms as follows:

  • Off and on throughout 2022 a 'sensation' lower left abdomen. Not painful, just a feeling like there was something there. Came and went.
  • November 2022. Woken in night with bad pain in lower left abdomen. Went to toilet: pellets, followed by diarrhoea. Suddenly felt feverish, was sick and had cold sweat. Lasted for 20 minutes or so and then eased. Pain in lower left grumbled for a few days after. Largely symptom free until...
  • December 2022. Painful lower left abdomen again. Repeated trips to toilet. Sometimes solid, sometimes loose. Pain eventually goes but I visit GP. GP not too concerned. Examines me and asks me to keep an eye.
  • February/March 2023. Low level pain in same location returns for a week or so and then disappears. Until...
  • April/May 2023. Low level pain returns. Sometimes made worse by running (I'm a long distance runner). Visited GP. GP not too concerned but arranges blood tests (tomorrow!).

Does this ring any bells with anyone? No blood in stool. Only the one proper 'attack'. Low level pain with relatively normally bowel habits (sometimes softer than other days). Occasional feeling of bloating on the left.

Thanks in advance for any stories you can share!

Dan

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • gill97439
    gill97439 danielrclark

    Posted

    Hi Dan

    I'm sorry to read you are having issues with DD, which I know is very unpleasant, and as Ive discovered , advice is not very forthcoming.

    I had an attack, unknowingly really, and was really worried it may be cancer.

    I requested a colonoscopy, which revealed, mild DD.

    By the time I got the appointment, all symptoms had gone, but that took a few weeks.

    Last year I had a second flare up, and found the white diet helped calm it, where I had been adding fibre thinking that would help.

    That just caused more pain, so stick to white rice, rice crispness, very plain food , chicken, fish, no peel on anything at all. I did that for 3 weeks, paying for a private dieticians help.

    You then add fibre back slowly to prevent bloating and more pain, over a few weeks, one thing a day. Lots of water is a must.

    I'm on my 3rd flare, I don't know what's caused it have had antibiotics, which I feel I needed this time. If you are constipated get help from your GP, I have Laxido for that.

    It can get you down, but try and keep busy and think that in time it will pass.

    Good luck.

  • Helena1967
    Helena1967 danielrclark

    Posted

    oh yes! I can relate to this...

    July 23 - had stomach pain lower left, cramps, sweaty. GP suspected food poisoning / diverticulitis. Passed after a week or so.

    18/9/23 - started to feel some pain lower left. By the 21st severe cramping, bloody mucous in BM. Headed of to A&E (abroad at the time) - admitted, CT scan confirmed acute uncomplicated diverticulitis. 2 days of IV antibiotics. Discharged with 7 days of antibiotics.

    still had some twinges, extreme fatigue, just not quite right.

    15/10/23 - cramps back, slight mucous again with specks of blood. Back to A&E (UK) - another scan, confirmed uncomplicated diverticulitis. 2nd round of IV (3 days this time). Discharged on 18/9/23 with further 7 days if antibiotics at home.

    fed up, fatigued.

    1st flare probably didn't clear completely.

    Standard follow up procedure to have colonoscopy.

    It really is quite a shock to be diagnosed with DD and takes some time to get your head around it.

  • mary36526
    mary36526 danielrclark

    Edited

    Hi Dan

    I suspected the worst last year following recall for a UK over 60 bowel cancer test - blood in pooh, I had had this on and off for years. Long story short diagnosed with diverticular disease, but all good as this is usually asymptomatic, I realised quickly I had been symptomatic on and off for years. Periods of pain on left side, and back in the same area, waking in the night with pain and sweats. Blood in pooh on and off, constipation frequently. I was urged repeatedly over the last 20 years to increase fibre in my diet but eventually figured out that this makes me much worse. Its been a process of working out what makes me worse - spicy food (that I love), beer (that I love) - I have them often but pay the price! I found a low fodmap diet helped when I had a bad bout - you can find this on the net. I also take Laxido regularly (specialist says okay to take daily, I take it every 2) and that helps a lot. Good luck

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