Diverticulitis - Left or Right?

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Most of the information I have read about concerning Diverticulitis indicates the pain is on the left side. I only get pain on my right side and it totally paralyses me where I cant move at all. I went to see the doctor when I had my most recent flare up and she said it sounds like a diverticulitis flare up and that was it. When I was diagnosed the specialist at the hospital explained the condition and said if I have a flare up I need to see a doctor immediately because if you have pain that indicates the pockets in the bowel have become infected and need antibiotics. I wasn't given anything when I went to the doctors. Does anybody else experience pain on the right side?

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    Pain is more common on the left but it can occur on the right side. It is more common in people of Indian or Asian descent, but not always. A flare up occurs when you have infection causing swamping pains and fever. But you can also get pain from irritation, without infection. In that case medications would be of no use whatsoever. The treatment in clear fluids for 48 hours, then a bland residue diet for about a week, slowly returning to your normal soluble fibre diet. If you are UK based, doctors are reluctant to prescribe unless certain of infection, to avoid antibiotic resistance. This is how I've managed my DD for 20 years. I do get niggling pain on and off, but have only had 6 lots of medication.

  • Posted

    I primarily experience pain on my left side in the locations where I know I have diverticula that become inflamed. However, when I'm having a flare-up or a flare-up is coming on, I've also noticed that I experience pain across my entire abdomen that is as you say, "paralyzing." It feels like I'm having a widespread muscle spasm involving the entire musculature of my colon. That is the best way to describe it and I notice that it often happens when I've been in a sitting position for a prolonged period of time.

  • Posted

    morning

    I too have pain on my right side, waiting for a scan to confirm doctors diagnosis of diverticulitis. the pain is horrid, i am exhausted.

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