just diagnosed with diverticulitis but what is a flare up

Hi,

Just a few semantics:  Diverticulitis is the acute - aka flare-up - phase of the chronic disorder, Diverticulosis - or Diverticular Disease.  You really need to get the rest of the results in, because a lot of middle-aged prople seem to have a small amount of pocketing in the gut, but it doesn't of iteslf cause continuous diahorrea.  The colonoscopy may have spotted pockets, but the rest of the tests results need to prove the underlying cause, I'd suggest.  I'm not a medic, just a medium-term sufferer of DD. 

Good Luck!

I do not beleive that you have diverticulitis.  I would guess colitus, possibly ulcerated.

My first reaction is to ask what on earth your doctor is playing at?  If you have had this problem for four months, then whatever you are/are not doing is not working.  You need to stop all fibre, anything with seeds (strawberries, kiwi, granary bread etc) and start on a low fibre/low residue diet.  I have inclouded a link to the one I use, so this reply will go through the mediator first.   http://www.gwh.nhs.uk/media/140811/low-residue_diet.pdf.  You must give your innards a chance to heal and then slowly reintroduce a food with a bit of fibre in it.  I am not kidding - it took me best part of two years to get back to where I am now.

As for flares - they can be minor - a bit of bloating, bit of dashing to the loo, maybe discomfort; or they can be major - diverticulitis is the term for when an infection gets into one of the pouches.  That then means antibiotics, maybe a hospital stay.  My worst (first) started with mild lower left pain.  I thought a little upset tum and nothing more.  But it didn't go away and by the end of the night I was in agony.  The A & E saw me quickly and diagnosed DD.  Three days in bed with an IV drip.  I hope you never find out what that's like.  That's how mine started, but you should read through Divi Diners to make the best of all the advice there from fellow sufferers.  We are a good bunch!

Oh my goodness, Four Months??? I am so sorry!! My limited understanding is that once you have been diagnosed with diverticulosis it can " lie" dormant and quiet after just one incident or it can reappear- flare up- at other time. I have a friend who has had only one episode but it was terrible because one of the infected pouches burst and it resulted in surgery and wearing a colostomy bag for six months. However, she has had only the one episode and the bag is now removed. She is very diligent about what she eats and What she does not eat- nothing with seeds!!! Some doctors think seeds are not a problem . Who knows!!!?? I was told I cannot have a colonoscopy until four weeks after finishing antibiotics. This is my first and I hope only go around with this nasty disease!! I will add you to my prayers that you might quickly recover. Be proactive with your doctor because four months is dreadful! May you find something joyful to make your heart happy this weekend. Peace and blessings.