Diverticulitis, Constipation, Diarrhoea & Bleeding

Hi!

My husband was diagnosed with Diverticular Disease 3 years ago. His specialist told him he would eventualy need an operation, to remove the infected part of the colon. He was advised to wait as long as possible before having the operation. Every 6 weeks or so, for the last 3 years, he has suffered from abdominal cramps, constipation or diarrhoea, and bleeding. This usually lasts for 3-4 days, then he gets better.

16 days ago, he started with the latest bout of diverticulitis. He had severe diarrhoea for 13 days, and lost 1 stone in weight. He has seen his own doctor twice in this time. She sent a stool sample for analysis, but only checked it for crytospiridium - which came back negative. (I told my husband I hadn't poisoned him!). She also gave him a course of Metronidazole.

On Friday past, his Doctor sent him to hospital to the A & E department, for an x-ray and blood and urine tests. I don't know what they checked for in the blood and urine, but they came back negative. The x-ray showed that my husband has a blockage in the colon, and was told he is constipated, despite having had diarrhoea for 2 weeks. The hospital Doctor gave him a 5 day course of Tramadol. He took two in the hospital at 1pm, and two that evening at 6pm.

By 9pm on Friday night, I phoned the Doctor On Call. My husband was staggering around the house and slurring his words as if he was drunk. Worst of all he still had the severe cramps and they were getting worse. He was dripping with perspiration although he was freezing cold to touch, and his face was a horrible yellowy colour. The On Call Doctor diagnosed that this was a Diverticulitis attack. She took the Tramadol off him, and gave him another course of Metronidazole 500mg, Co-Codamol 500mg and Ciprofloxacin 250mg. She said that although he is constipated, he has a diarrhoea overflow. This has really confused me! How can you be constipated and have diarrhoea at the same time? He wasn't given a laxative for the constipation, so how will antibiotics and pain-killers move the blockage?

My husbands own doctor didn't know he had diverticular disease until he told her - she obviously hadn't read his notes. She wanted to give him \"something\" to stop the diarrhoea. He now wants to see the specialist again, so I'm going to ring the hospital tomorrow, and see what I can do.

Can anyone advise me? He eats a healthy diet, and drinks lots of water. Is this constipation and diarrhoea at the same time \"normal\" for diverticulitis?

Thanks,

Louise.

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