Diverticulitis flare up 1 month ago, now bleeding?

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Hello all, I'm a 31 year old woman who was diagnosed with a mild flare up of Diverticulitis last month - went to the ER, with significant lower left abdominal pain, had a CAT scan and it was confirmed. I was sent home with serious antibiotics and told to eat more fiber and to find a gastroenterologist. Because of COVID, a lot of the gastro doctors in my area aren't taking new clients for a bit and so I haven't found one yet.

Two days ago I used the restroom and had some bleeding in my stool. Bright pink and not much, but more than I've ever had before. I hoped it would stop, but the next day I used the restroom twice and had some blood both of those times too (enough to turn the water pink, but not a huge amount). Today, I had a BM and still have a bit of blood, though less than yesterday.

I do not have any of the same pain I had during the first flare up. I do not have any of the constipation or diarrhea I had the first time I had a flare up--but I can't think of any other reason this would be happening. Stool is passing easily--it just also has blood with it. Do I need to go back to the ER? It's expensive and seems like overkill, but this also doesn't seem like something my GP could solve? Am I panicking for nothing? I've been really working on my diet since getting over the first flare up and had finally gotten to about 20-25g fiber a day when this started.

I appreciate any help you can give. I am so anxious about all of this. Thank you all in advance.

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  • Posted

    Bleeding does happen sometimes, if a diverticulum bleeds. The first time it happened to me I went straight to A&E and was told the bleeding would stop, which it did after a few days. If it gets worse though, you do need to go. You say you were not straining so it would not have been a small tear, and you have not mentioned piles.

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