Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi everyone. Just spent 7 days in hospital with bad diverticulitis attack. Only had a very mild case years ago. I had Iv antibiotics but cannot tolerate the oral ones for this disease. My doctor dr said the 7 days od intensive Iv antibiotivpcs should do the job. My question is,,when do you feel much better? I have no pain but still feel pretty lousy. Any replies appreciated.
1 like, 70 replies
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dee88278 Rhiannon_5000
Posted
Mornings are always worse for me, too. I don't have much nausea, but that is when my bowels are most upset - either too much or too little! You may still be feeling the effects of the IV's you had because as I recall you were on them for 7 or 8 days which is lot of meds. I am 4 weeks away from the attack I had, and I have good and bad days - and can never put my finger on what causes what. I'm on a semi-regular diet, avoiding all garlic, onions and broccoli as I thing those may be some of the foods the cause the biggest problem for me. Kinda takes the fun out of eating as I previously used garlic and onion in most everything I cooked. I'm eating oatmeal and eggs, vegetable/turkey soup, and fairly regular meals at supper, just limiting red meat and high fiber fruit and veggies. I know how awful it is to drag through everyday. I have found that if I feel good for a little bit, I'd better getup and get something done, because I'll be back to the couch before too long. Hard to get your energy and strength back.
Rhiannon_5000 dee88278
Posted
Guest Rhiannon_5000
Posted
Morning first thing is the worst time for me too. I wake up bloated and with no appetite, although fortunately not nauseated. I do get better once I have been to the loo. Some days it takes longer than others. And some days I have more energy than others. I just take my time now. You are still, I suspect, getting over the side effects of all the medication. After each of my flares, it was a good 4 weeks before I started to feel more normal and for my bowel movements to start to get back into a pattern. Also if you put in less, less comes out!! The good news is you are pain free.
People who do not have this disease do not understand just how debilitating this is - and that includes all the doctors. And each of them should be made to ungergo a colonoscopy without sedation too. Best wishes.
Rhiannon_5000 Guest
Posted
Yea I can't believe it has taken this much out of me. I realise now from all you kind people that it will,be a while before I'm 100%. I'm usually so fit and active. Also, in Australia , we always have sedation when
we have colonoscopies, thank goodness! Otherwise I probably would never have had one lol. Thanks you for your reply. I will keep you posted on my progress! Hope you keep well.
Rhiannon_5000
Posted
Hi everyone. Just an update. Hope this is in the right place. I'm much the same. Had a better day yesterday, but still couldnt do anything, just felt better.woken up this morning with the usual nausea once my bowel starts working. I think I've asked this before , but my bowel movements are still very abnormal. Feel like I want to go but don't produce much at all, very little, and I did eat a little more yesterday. I'm out of hospital a week today. Does this sound normal. I think I need a bit of reassurance today . Thanks everyone.
dee88278 Rhiannon_5000
Posted
I think what I have learned most from suffering from this and reading this forum is that It isn't like most illness that you get over and move on with your life. It definitely takes a long recovery time, and unfortunately is always on your mind. My good days are slowly increasing - I am four weeks from attack - but my mind is always on it, and the least little thing sends me into a panic. My movements have never been regular due to IBS, and it doesn't seem to matter what I take, eat, etc. I will be normal for a couple days, then out of the blue will be constipated a couple days, which really starts the worries b/c I know that is the worst thing that can happen. All this to say that I think it will take some more time before you become regular. This disease, and especially the strong meds and anxiety that goes along with it does a real number on your entire system, and it takes quite a while to get back to normal. My main advice would be try to be patient and try not to worry continuously (ha - if you figure out how to do that, let me know!) If possible try to do something to take your mind off of it and look for tiny step improvements instead of hoping you will just all the sudden feel "all better". I journal mine and that helps a little. I try to look for the small gifts such as 4 hours that I really felt good. Prayers that you will see a little progress each day. Keep us posted - believe me, I know where you are and I know the anxiety and stress it causes.
Rhiannon_5000 dee88278
Posted
Thank you so much Dee I really need to hear that today. I'm probably impatient to feel better. I did have a reasonable day yesterday and thought I would today, but it might get better😀 I'm lucky my husband is taking care of me when he is not at work, because I really can't do much at all except shower . Thanks again for your quick reply, it's morning here and that's my worst time so a bit of reassurance is lovely. Wishing you all the very best .
dee88278 Rhiannon_5000
Posted
I would suggest if this goes on another week you check in with your doctor - he might want to run some blood tests to be sure something isn't out of whack. Hope you can enjoy your summer down there - I spent 2 Christmas's in New Zealand and loved it. This year I am traveling to the frozen tundra of Minnesota to visit my other son. That is part of my problem - I am divorced, and both my sons live thousands of miles away. So I am alone a lot although I have a lot of wonderful friends. Wishing you the best, also. Hope this message doesn't come across twice - I wrote a reply a few minutes ago, and it just disappeared.
Rhiannon_5000 dee88278
Posted
Yes Dee I will definately do that. That must be hard having your sons so far apart. We are having a cool start to our summer. But it will soon heat up. Very hot this week apparently. South Australia is a very hot state in summer. I think my blood test from the other day will reach my specialist at least by Monday I will ring him. If he has it and there was anything amiss I think he would have contacted me. I will certainly go back if I don't feel at least a little better next week sometime. I have a scheduled appointment with him on the 20th for a follow up, but I won't wait that long if things don't improve.
Rhiannon_5000
Posted
Hi everyone. Hope this is in correct place. Am feeling better today. Still not much energy, but bowel a bit more normal. Appetite still not great in morning, but fine in afternoon, so that's when I eat. It's lovely to have a little improvement. Hope this finds everyone well. 😀
Guest Rhiannon_5000
Posted
Sounds like a textbook recovery and hopefully you'll be fine for Christmas. But why not persuade your family to give you a bit of pampering!!!
Rhiannon_5000 Guest
Posted
Guest Rhiannon_5000
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Hi Beth
Yes, particularly after my last bout where I had 3 flares in quick succession. I put the extreme tiredness down to side effects of the medication, and the fact that this time my DD was worse than before. Fortunately I was retired so did not have to deal with work. But it took almost a year before I felt fighting fit all the time. Up until then I woke each morning with niggling tummy pains and bloating.
I can remember my first 2 flares, where the only time off I took was for the colonoscopy, CT scan and my trip to A&E, when I was doubled over and passing blood. I can remember the swamping pain as I stood by the photocopier unable to move, when I was midway through my 2nd course of antibiotics. Now I am much more savvy about the diet and what suits me. Please do enjoy being spoiled.
Rhiannon_5000 Guest
Posted
You poor thing. If you went to a and e here with bleeding and diverticulitis you would be admitted. I agree the meds are very powerful. I think I said in an earlier post I cannot tolerate oral antibiotics for this disease. This will be a problem if I get it again. I had intensive intravenous antibiotics for 7 days in hospital. Been home about 10 days. Still feeling sickish in mornings when bowel becomes active, and not hungry, but as day goes on I get very hungry! I have extreme health anxiety too, that doesn't help lol. I just hope we all have a healthy Xmas . Best wishes.
Rhiannon_5000
Posted
Well update everyone. Have had a few good days but more awful ones. Couldn't keep anything in today . No nausea, but frequent motions, thin again, about 14 times today. With cramping. From 7.30 in the morning until about 5 o'clock in afternoon. Couldn't eat until about 5.30. Really fed up with it all.
Guest Rhiannon_5000
Posted
If I've got my sums right it's 2 weeks since you left hospital so your bowels should certainly have started to settle by now. I agree with Dee's timescale that it's time you saw your gastroenterologist again, just in case there's something else going on as well. Or your insides could still just be very badly inflamed. Does any food in particular set off your runs? Or maybe a virus, or IBS - could be anything. Some people on the forum have been prescribed Immodium - half to one tablet. That treats the symptoms rather than the cause of course. Hope you can get some answers.
dee88278 Rhiannon_5000
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Rhiannon_5000 dee88278
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Thanks Dee. Rang specialist, it's defo not c diff.thank goodness I've been tested for that. I had eaten a bit more the night before . He thinks my bowel is still very inflamed. Suggested a few things, mebeverine , and benefibre of all things to firm things up and will reduce the amount of times I go. Who knows. It's morning here so I'll,see what today brings. Only been once so far, but I think I saw a little blood, is that to be expected?
dee88278
Posted
Rhiannon_5000 dee88278
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Thank you dee. Great to have someone to share this with. Scary stuff! Can hardly remember feeling well. But I know I will eventually . 😀