Does anyone share these sypmtoms for diverticulitis?
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi all,
I think I have diverticulitis, and am wondering what those who suffer with this disease think. Let me tell you my symptoms. I suffer from a discomfort/sometimes pain below my left rib, as shown in attached diagram (blue ellipse). I have had some blood tests, ECG, and two CT scans – all my organs are essentially healthy – no kidney stones. I do have diverticula, in my sigmoid colon, but as far as can be told from the CT scan – they are not inflamed.
The pain I feel is not excruciating, but can take my breath away when it is really bad. It can almost disappear entirely, for a few months, and then come back for a few months. It feels like a pushing/bloating feeling localized within the ellipse. I generally eat a bowl of Uncle Tobies oats with soy milk for breakfast, but after reading that this can be problematic during a flare up of diverticulitis I stopped for a couple of days and started to feel better. For some reason I decided to try metamucil two days ago (high fibre phyllum husk orange drink). Ten hours after drinking it I experienced strong pains in the blue ellipse area, such that it was impossible for me to sleep. This is my best evidence for diverticulitis – as if it were stomach related I guess I would expect an immediate response?
I also feel some mild back discomfort – approximately localized to the region of the back behind the blue ellipse. I do NOT experience much reflux, I am mildly constipated, I do NOT ever feel like I am going to vomit.
I have consulted with a number of doctors, one told me diverticulitis sufferers experience pain much lower than the blue ellipse, and also my symptoms are not extreme enough – i.e. he didn’t think I would be able to function at work with it. Which most days I am, although some days I just sit and stare at my computer (the pain is just too distracting).
Sorry for the long description, I am curious of the opinion of those that suffer with this disease if:
(i) Are my symptoms like yours? In particular, is the pain location consistent?
(ii) Could I have a mild form of diverticulitis?
(iii) When you have a flare up,and you eat something high in fibre (metamucil for example) do you get really bad pain, and does it take hours for that pain to manifest?
(iv) Do you get a little bit of back pain?
(v) Besides a colonoscopy is there any way to diagnose diverticulitis?
Thanks in advance for your opinions, I have stopped eating all forms of fibre to see if this will subside.
Cheers,
Andrew
0 likes, 43 replies
Guest andrew47254
Posted
What does this mean blue ellipse? Besides CT Scan and colposcopy and checking your blood I don't know of any other way myself. Have you had them check you for an enlarged spleen? Have you been checked for Mono? I am a diverticulitis suffer and I pray you DO NOT have this horrible disease!
vic_07103 Guest
Posted
Below Andrew’s signature there is a drawing of a male figure with a ‘blue elipse’ drawn to show where the pain area is.
andrew47254 Guest
Posted
ellen_46197 andrew47254
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Hi andrew the area you are showing is way high for diverticulitis pain in general belly button or below During a flare up I do liquid diet You need to find a good gasomytris and and hopefully figure it out I have severe back pain with flare ups Why do you think you have DD And as other response I pray you don't
andrew47254 ellen_46197
Posted
My symptoms - that are DD like - pain on left side (although high as you say), I have diverticula (CT scan - although in the sigmoid colon, and it was noted by the radiologist as 'uncomplicated'. My reaction to a high fibre drink - severe pain in the blue ellipse area. All other simple things have been ruled out.
ellen_46197 andrew47254
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andrew47254 ellen_46197
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I am feeling a little better since removing fibre from my diet. I am hopeful, that it will improve further. I am off to the doctor next week to see if I can get some more tests, will ask about a hernia.
Thanxs for all your info, and your nice thoughts,
Andrew
vickie47128 andrew47254
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andrew47254 vickie47128
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ok, this sounds similar - so Vickie are you saying you feel a localized pain in a similar area to me and you have been diagnosed with diverticulosis? Note that diverticulosis is an inflammation of the diverticula. So you can have diverticula (in the sigmoid) and never experience any diverticulosis. Wow, my feeling is also a 'weird balloon like pressure' - I could not have said that better. My stools were also fine, all my major organs in that area and elsewhere were fine (from CT scan with contrast).
andrew47254
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vickie47128 andrew47254
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andrew47254 vickie47128
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Does your Xyphoid process move around?
vickie47128 andrew47254
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andrew47254 vickie47128
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If I find out anything I will be sure to let you know,
All the best.
vickie47128 andrew47254
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