How long do other people's diverticulitis attacks last? Just read someone on soft diet x 2months?!

Hi Judy. I am with you on this lasting longer. The first two times were over before the antibiotics were gone. But they weren't in the same place as this one. Are you on antibiotics. I have health anxiety that happens when I get something that is prolonged. I had the Ct scan at the er and they said no abcess or bleeding or perfs so I thought this would be long gone. When I had the colonoscopy and he found an inflamed diverticuli I wasnt surprised. I'm back on antibiotics but feel there's something still wrong. I'm having twinges off and on all day and now this off and on hip pain. I also out of the blue had a painful bm a few days ago that made my lower abdomen ache half the day. I'm afraid to eat . When the doctor calls back maybe I can figure out what's going on. Keep me posted on your progress. I'm 5 weeks out Tomm and I'm 53

Hi, Shawn, I am also 53/female and still trying to recover from my 3rd Divert attack. I have had low back and hip pain this time, unlike the other 2 attacks.  Have you found out anything on the hip pain?

I am having really bad acid reflux/gas that is making me feel nauseated at times. It seems to be worse after I drink water, juice, tea, etc.  Do u have any of this?

I have finished the round of Augmentin and am trying to slowly work soft foods into my diet but this constant "bubble" in chest/throat is bothering me.  Anyone else had this??

Hi.  I have always had acid reflux so it's hard to tell.  The antibiotics are hard in your system and will upset everything.  I takenprilosec when it's bad.  Have not had any recently tho.  It's been 8 weeks since my last attack how long has it been since yours.   I'm having low back pain also. Mostly on the left side and that's also where the hip pain is.   I can't lay on my right side bc it feels like something is pulling in the left side when I do.   I wonder if there are adhesions in there where something that was infected got attached to something it wasn't supposed to.    The surgeon said I had s simple kidney cyst on the Ct scan but they don't mention them bc everyone has them and they aren't dangerous.   I asked him couldnthis be causing the pain and he said no.  I have always had lower back pain off and on but not really the same as I've had since the last attacks.   If I eat a lot of fiber everything hurts across my lower stomach as it's going through.   I don't know the solution to all of this.   I'm constantly in fear of having another attack.  I had to go on anxiety medicine because of this.    It's sore all around my front hipbone if I push on it.   Some days worse than others.    Let me know if you find any information.  I'm always willing to talk.   Take care.   Shawn 

The kidney cyst is normal and should cause no pain. It takes a long time after a flare up and you are a different person now. You will be aware of every cramp, pain it has feeling it will be an attack. I have gone through these fears as well. It is normal but do not let it control your life. Just know you will have these aches probably forever. Watch your fiber. I have learned too much causes me pain or cramping. Take Miralax if you have constipation because forcing causes those diverticula to get inflamed. Try to relax and keep busy.🙏😊

Aww.   Thanks so much for your kind  reply.   It made my day.   Your right I'm sure I notice things now I never did before.   The third week after the attack we went to the beach and I hardly had any problems pain or even twinges.  Maybe because I was more relaxed and not thinking about things as much.  I am a very tense person and clench my jaw and such.  Pros sky doesn't help matters at all.   I will just try to relax.  But when they send you to a surgeon it's hard to do.   I find myself thinking that I. We'd to get through so many months without an attack or they are going to put me under the knife haha.   That's a lot of stress in itself.    😌🤞

That's supposed to say I'm sure that doesn't help matters at all

Shawn, this flare up started on Aug 14.  I took a tound of Augmentin. Had started trying to add in soft foods but now the reflux is so bad, as is bloating, that I reverted back to clear liquids.  I wasn't sure if I could take the Prilosec/Pepcid type meds or not. I may have to try that.  

So you just finished your antibiotic in the last few days.   I looked it up and  augmentin  is listed as a medicine that causes acid reflux.  I would just go very easy with my diet  it should wear off after you've been off it for a while.   In the meantime you could ask your dr about an antacid.   Hope your feeling better soon

Thank you so much!  I didn't even consider the Reflux being a side effect of the antibiotic.  Makes me feel a bit better.  I was afraid something else might've been wrong. 

Best wishes for the surgery.  I wonder if you have an abscess or fistula, causing the continuing flares, which I think means surgery is the only way forward.  I'm sure your experiences will help anyone facing surgery.  Good luck and thanks for sharing.

Hi Tony, all the best on your surgery.  I've had Diverticular disease for many years.  I am having a flare up now.   Not sure what caused it.  I have been hospitalized with an abscess in my sigmoid colon.  No fun.

Sometimes the best way to deal with the situation is to have surgery.  The antibiotics take a toll on your body as well. 

Take me care and let us know how your doing.

 

I hope your surgery went really well

Describe your flare ups.

Why do you have to eat what you shouldn't eat if you worry the weight will cone back on?

 

My flare up is elevated wbc..Low abdominal pain, gas, bloating, upset tummy at times, I've had CT scan in the past and colonoscopy to confirm diagnosis. I need to go to a liquid diet...Then soft foods...The soft foods are what I've been avoiding such as pasta, white bread, potato and such. So I do t want to fall back into bad eating habits.

I have only heard of people describe their flare ups as the pain in the bottom left pocket of the abdomen. I am suprised you were put on antibiotics for your symptoms unless your pain is in the left pocket. I had problems last week with feeling full and my GI suggested I increase my water for the miralax. I also take miralax most days it works me 1-2 x's in the mornings. I also take organic aloe vera juice every morning. This is working.

I do not eat pasta because it is hard to digest and it makes me feel sick. I never ate white bread only wheat. I eat white and sweet potatoes to help gain weight. My CT showed diverticulosis. I also had a colonoscopy. I am 9-10 weeks out from my only attack. I pray everyday I don't end up back on med's. That makes you more sick. 

I had mild pains when I had my CT scan and the scan still only showed diverticulosis which meant I was not having a flare up which means no infection. So a mild pain must not always mean a flare up.

Well, with my history of diverticulitis, my first CT scan showed my colon is loopy, so my pains are in both the bottom left and right and also shoot across. They chose not to do a scan because I have had so many in the past and the fear of what too many can do to the body...We both decided against it. The pain was very intense and I also had an elevated wbc which is all indicators of diverticulitis along with blood in my stool and diarrhea. So giving my history and the wbc I am on antibiotics.

Thank you for explaining that to me. I would love to hear if the anti's helped you. I think one of the keys is to keep the bowels moving on a daily basis. At least twice a day. And plenty of water. I was told to drink 6-8 glasses a day but I only do 3. 2 during the day at work and 1 in the evening. My GI told me I can eat as I usually do, except for seeds and nuts, but I will not eat pasta or rice. It does not digest. But I hear the very skinny white noodles digest better but I have not tried those. Lucky for me I don't care for itailian foods. 

The antibiotics do help...When one of the diverticula pockets gets infected...It's a must. If left alone...A pocket could rupture and then it would be emergency surgery..And life threatening. Water water and more water. Moving wet bowels are good. Myralax works by osmosis, drawing water into the intestines into the stool. Today I feel pretty good. Sticking to the liquids as suggested by my primary, will do that for a few days...Not the 2 weeks...That's too long for me. Keeping the bowels moving and regular is so important. I have found that no matter how perfect we eat.. .A flare up can happen our of the blue. I do know popcorn is a trigger for me. Other than that, I'm not sure what other foods trigger.

You are so right about,"no matter what you eat a flare up can happen." which is why I think my GI did not restrict what I can eat. Yes I hear no popcorn. I only ate it at movies which is rare anyways. The downside of food is not knowing what seafoods we can eat other than fish. I had an infection and with it I had fever and pain. I never want to feel that again. Those two weeks of not being able to eat hard food is how I lost weight. I have began to fill out some now. When I was feeling the aches about 2 weeks ago and my doctor told me to increase the water and take the miralax the pain went away within 1-2 days. Today has been a great day for me as well. I feel great. I went to an event today and ate, but I ate baked chicken, green beans and banana pudding. I thought the desert would upset my stomach but it didn't. 

Drinking water also helps with digestion not just softening the bowels.

If we're eating foods that are nit digesting that causes a lot of discomfort.

I've never had a problem with seafood. I don't eat it very often though. I miss my popcorn as that was my fave snack. Oh well. My primary said to skip the old school thought of nuts seeds corn and such. He said people will discover their triggers the hard way. My surgeon who does my colonoscopy said the same. I do get in quite a bit of water. It helps with so much in the body. I also drink in a glass of water the juice of half a fresh lemon. If you haven't researched it..It's fascinating what it does. I feel super good today. Done the flagyl, just 3 more days of cipro and I'm done that. I've been having some soft foods even though my primary wanted me on liquids for 2 weeks...Nope...I have a cousin that had colon surgery and was only on liquids for a week. But I know the foods that are hard on the gut... Avoiding meats for sure right now. Glad you are having decent days.

I tried doing the morning lemon water cleanse and on the first try I felt sick and I feel it was from the lemon.

I heard to stay away from acidic foods.

Have you eaten crab legs? I read if you have stomach issues and eat raw seafood it can be deadly.

Today is another good day. I even clean out my garage. I thank god for 2 in a row. There are days when I do have mild discomfort though. But this weekend has not been any. I'm also glad you're having a good day today.

The lemon I don't do as a cleanse...It helps metabolize your food as the lemon acid actually helps the stomach to pH balance it. And it is a nice natural way to help keep fluid from retaining. It's helped me a lot and it's full of vitamins and such. I have had crab legs and all kinds of seafood. I don't like oysters. I don't have a stomach problem, my colon is the issue. However, what isn't processed in the stomach properly can cause colon problems. It started with me from being too constipated and straining? too much to go. That created the diverticula pockets. And it's been issues with it since then. So popcorn and unhulled seeds are my triggers. Other than that my primary and my surgeon both said to eat what I want, just stay very hydrated. That is the main reason for myralax...It pulls water into the stool.

Glad to hear of someone else getting sensible advice from their doctor. I use lemon in my water also. Have been eating anything I want since 1st attack in Janaury including seafood and have been fine just a mild discomfort twice but it never developed into anything. I am drinking more water then I used to.

My pains were in the lower center and I did have an infection.

I was told liquid for 3 days and then low fiber for a couple of weeks then slowly transition to my normal diet. It worked great for me. Liquid for 2 weeks seems extreme.

Liquids for 2 weeks is extreme. Especially when he tried to have me switch 5 days after the onset because I wasn't able to talk to him prior. I went to full liquids for 2 days and now soft foods. I feel real good. No blood in the stool no cramps.

That's great!

Hi linda I have a question. I am 8 weeks out from my flare. Still some mild pain and light twinges. I added more salad this week and ate cucumbers sweet potatoes just a lot off roughage. Well last night I started getting worse twinges sharp stabbing that were hurting and it scared me to death. It went off and on then I had to go to the bathroom. Now this is tmi but I had a huge bm way larger than normal from all that fiber. Then the bad pains were over. None this morning. I am assuming I should stop eating fiber for now or very limited. I did the progression from liquid to low residue to small amounts over the last eight weeks. Now I'm afraid to eat again. Has you had this happen. Thanks

I think I was lucky, I did a slow progression back to normal and I was fine. I get a twinge now and then and think oh no here I go again but it has never developed into anything. Maybe try to keep the roughage to every other day. I also am drinking more water then before DD and I know that helps. I would keep the fiber moderate for now but you do need it to keep everything moving.