Posted , 6 users are following.
Is anyone else suffering with severe bloating and pain in left side and back that has diviticula disease? I was diagnosed last year, but I seem to be constantly in pain and bloated.
0 likes, 20 replies
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nessmcd joanne46317
Posted
Hello, sorry to hear you have diverticular disease, too. I was diagnosed only three months ago but I have left hand side pain nearly all the time which also sometimes extends to my back as well. Occasional bloating.
It's very depressing, and Paracetamol doesn't seem to help at all. However, many users of this forum have experienced similar problems which can last for weeks or months so I keep hoping one day I shall be pain free.
It's so hard to know what to do to improve the situation; everyone seems to find different things helpful. I'm sitting here writing this with a heat pack on the affected area!
joanne46317 nessmcd
Posted
Please can I ask if you have diarrhoea/constipation occasionally or all the time?
thank you
nessmcd joanne46317
Posted
Hello again, my problem is generally constipation (which I never suffered from before the DD) and I have been prescribed Fybogel which I take every day. I also have a spoonful of Regucol each day which is a prebiotic fibre supplement with supposedly helpful microbes.
I think these fibre supplements help regularise both diarrhoea and constipation.
This is such a terribly un-glam disease to have 🙁.
joanne46317 nessmcd
Posted
many thanks, nice to chat with you x
Guest nessmcd
Posted
nessmcd Guest
Posted
I think you can increase the Regucol to two teaspoons twice a day.
Sometimes I think I have things under control poo-wise for a few days and then it all goes to pot again. Such a difficult disease to manage.
Guest nessmcd
Posted
Yes I think I have it under control then I get the familiar cramping and I'm rushing to the loo again,it's so frustrating.The only pain I have is the cramping associated with the runs and I've hardly ever had constipation.
susan95516 nessmcd
Posted
nessmcd susan95516
Posted
Available from Holland and Barrett.
Guest joanne46317
Posted
Hi Joanne
You are describing classic Diverticular Disease - pain, bloating, constipation/runs. Were you diagnosed via a Colonoscopy and/or CT scan - these are the classic diagnostic tools as the symptoms are also very similar to IBS? I am currently having daily symptoms varying from almost unnoticeable to uncomfortable. But I have had the disease 16 years and once the symptoms eased up I was pain free for 6 years between flares 1 & 2, and 4 years before 2 & 3. It is taking longer to ease up after each flare, from 1 month after flare 1 to more than 9 months this time (but I have had 3 flares since last August).
I take Fybogel daily in the morning, and if I am feeling constipated I take another sachet in the evening. I also take pure aloe vera juice, 2 teaspoons a day. It's revolting, but good for internal healing. I take paracetemol for the pain and Mebeverine for the muscle cramps, when needed, plus a hot water bottle.
I kept a food diary to work out which foods triggered my symptoms. For me it is gluten/wheat and full fat. Gluten is notorious for bloating so you might want to try cutting it out and/or switching to gluten free. The pasta is OK although the bread I don't find brilliant. We are all different and have to find what suits ourself best. Good luck
madeline27614 Guest
Posted
joanne46317 Guest
Posted
Hi Felicia, thank you for your advise, I will definitely try the Aloe Vera juice, I also take fibojel daily to help.
I was diagnosed last year through having a colonoscopy after I went into hospital with left side pain and fever.
I have just about managed until now when it is really painful again, I also have terrible bloating, I have gone from Size 10 to 14! and it's all around the middle. I was asked this week how many weeks pregnant I was! Very upsetting as I eat so healthy and don't drink or smoke.
anyway thanks for listening, any advise on the weight gain and bloating might cheer me up!
Guest joanne46317
Posted
Hi Joanne
I'm afraid I haven't found the answer to the bloating either. Going gluten free helped for many years but it is no longer as effective. Are you constipated as well, as that can cause bloating? After a recent painful bout of constipation I did something I had not done before (in fact I advised against it) and actually look Ex-Lax, which cleared out the system and after 24 hours I felt much less bloated. But it was only a short reprieve.
I suspect it may be related to certain foods, and the list of what I feel safe to eat is shrinking. A lot of other people on the Forum have reported the same but we are all different as to the type of food. Do you have problems with dairy? Probiotics seem to help a lot of people as well. As for the weight gain, I've joined Slimming World Online, as I needed to lose weight anyway. It's slow progress as I have to be careful with what fibre I can eat.
Unfortunately it can take months for the symptoms to subside - that's the nature of this disease. Best wishes.
madeline27614 joanne46317
Posted
susan95516 joanne46317
Posted