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

How do you know when your having an attack. I went to the er on March 3rd. Was put on antibiotics after a Ct scan confirmed diverticulitis of the lower left sigmoid colon. 4 weeks later I had the colonoscopy that still showed an inflamed pocket. Was put back on antibiotics. Had a Ct scan at 6 weeks showing all clear. But still have twinges of pain 11 weeks later. How do I know if it's an attack or just leftover pain. Shawn female 53

Shawn, I had my only attack the end of February. After the antibiotics and 2 weeks I had a cat scan. The scan showed diverticulotis not diverticulitis and I was having slight twinges when I got the cat scan and it still showed "otis" and not "itis". I had the colonoscopy about 1 month later and no itis. If I have twinges now which is very rare I skip a meal or two and only do liquids. That's to be safe. 

Thanks for your reply. We had our attack almost at the same time. The Dr who did the colonoscopy said I might have had a perforation that why at 4 weeks it might have still been inflamed. It just worries me when iget the twinges. Sometime there might sometimes strong I think depending on the amount of fiber. I do have the twinges everyday at some point. I guess when something moving through the area. And he took a biopsy from the inflamed area and said he saw no pus(gross I know) when he took the sample so he did not think I had an abscess. And I didbhave th Ct scan two weeks after the colonoscopy.I had to go on anxiety medicine. I wish the twinges would stop

I had a terrible attack in February. Was admitted to hospital. It was April that I started feeling better. It's May and I am seeing a surgeon for a consultation next week. I have been living in fear and although I did have a ctscsn I will probably be having a colonoscopy in the very near future. Yes I was in soft foods until mid April. I eat no beef only if it is ground. Lots of bread and potatoes but my appetite wasn't very good until last week. I am curious if the colonoscopy will show any signs of damage. I am having the surgeon doing my colonoscopy. I'm told a surgeon will look closer and do it slower than a Gastro doctor. I too take anxiety medicine. So worried about a perforation.

If you have any other questions I will try to help. It is very scary but surgery has many risks too.

Why would your doctor do a cat scan after a colonoscopy? I've only heard of it being given before a colonoscopy.

Although my GI did not restrict my diet with the exception of nuts and seeds I haven't eaten beef, pasta, rice or dairy since my attack either. I think we have to give our colon a rest so maybe I'll try those foods in a few months. I had the cat scan and colonoscopy.

Are you sure some of the pains aren't hunger pains. I found that the few pains i experienced after my attack went away when I ate.

Hi. Yesterday was 11 weeks since my attack. The twinges and sometimes stabs I feel a few times a day are very low pelvic area left side right where the infected diverticuli was. I have a picture of it still inflamed from colonoscopy and the exact location of course I know where it's at because that's where the pain is localized. I think it's been less the last few days. I've had no red meat or dairy either. I'm hoping all will heal soon. Thanks for responding

Hi. My colonoscopy did show th inflamed pocket. But you can only see th outside of it and not the actual pocket or th outside of it. It was only 4 weeks when I had it and I wondered if that wasn't enough time to fully heal. My gi says two attacks a year is the criteria for surgery but it's very individualized. I have had three attacks in 10 years. I'm afraid of red meat now. I was on a low carb diet and eating a lot of meat. I will only eat chicken and turkey now. Let me k ow how your test goes. Do you still have twinges like me.Thanks.

Yes I do have twinges and at times nausea. Hopefully I'll be able to get a colonoscopy soon. It's been 10 weeks since my attack and I couldn't get in to see surgeon until this Wednesday so I've been pretty careful. I don't eat seeds,nuts, skins and only chicken mostly boiled in soup. I did eat two things lately ( pork BBQ and spinach) and today I am very nauseaus. I can't wait until Wednesday. Having blood work tomorrow (Monday). Hoping to find help. This has gone on too long. I started taking magnesium and now I'm wondering if that is what's causing nausea. It has helped with constipation but I read dude effects and says nausea possible but I do take it with food! So stressful especially when you feel sick! Will update you after surgeon visit. I am considering surgery but also Functional medicine. Read up in it. Use google!

Shawn I meant to say the cat scan showed Diverticulosis not diverticulotis or diverticulitis. I did not have diverticulitis although I was having slight twinges when I had the cat scan.

I had the first cat scan when I went for the attack. The colonoscopy 4 weeks later and the second ct scan because I was still having pain at 6 weeks and he wanted to look for abcwss or perforations. He had the radiologist look specifically at the area he saw inflamed on the colonoscopy. The colonoscopy can't see a walled off abcess all came back clear tho.

Hi. Madeline. If you don't mind me asking how old you are. And how many attacks you've had to consider surgery. I think it would take a lot to send me down that road. I take a Product called Calm. It's is magnesium citrate powder. You mix it in water. I drink a little cup before bed to keep things moving. It's good for sleep also. I'm not really ever constipated tho. But I'm not taking any chances. I've had a little nausea but seems to be if I take my probiotics or vitamins on an empty stomach. The twinges a few times a day I can live with if nothing sinisters going on. And the off and on left hip bone pain which started during all of this. I done even know if it's related. It's just nagging me and making me think it is. Let me know how your visit goes. And get well soon. Shawn.

I am 70 and I have had attacks starting in my early fifties. They have gotten more severe the last few years.

Hi Madeline. I'm so sorry that you are getting more attacks and that they are more severe. When I had this last colonoscopy besides the inflamed pocket I had from the current attack I had no damage or narrowing etc.I asked my Dr about the percentage of people's he's had with surgery. He said over the last 40 years he'd had about 8-10 with diverticulitis that have had to have surgery. Roughly 2 a year I guess.And he is a very busy an popular g i dr in my area. Which is charleston. Wv.And then he said they were all still alive. I guess he knew I was nervous.But that was good to hear. Let me know how your tests go.

I will write back after the surgeon's visit.  My big question to him will be what is more of a risk the risk of complications from surgery or having an attack and having to have emergency surgery.  It will be a tough decision any way I look at it. My last consult with him was 5 years ago and he said let's hold off so I know he is conservative which is good in my opinion. M.j.

Good questions. This is the strange thing. The first attack I had I only had one pocket one single diverticuli. And I said why in the world would that one get infected. The dr said he has done colonoscopies on people that had thousands of pockets or pouches. And they had never had attacks. Now I have 25 pouches which is considered mild. But why are some people with hardly any getting infections and some with hundreds and thousands not.That's the question. He thinks food intake has nothing to do with it. But more likely caused by I flamation in your body. I guess that's the thousand dollar question. Good luck. I will say a prayer that all goes well. Shawn