Diverticulitis stories - page two

The story of...Stephanie

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in June 2005 after a night of excruciating abdominal pain and a visit to the ER. I was on antibiotics for two months and despite massive amounts of these drugs my sigmoid colon abscessed and perforated my colon. To say the pain was unbearable is an understatement. If help was not available, I would have chosen to die.

I ended up with a hospital stay of 16 days and then home for four weeks to reduce the inflammation in the colon. Followed up by a two foot resection of the sigmoid colon. Fortunately I do not have a colostomy bag.

I am a 46 year-old woman and am a healthcare professional. I tire very easily now and feel exhausted almost every night around 6pm. I exercise, ride a bike, etc. I have always been very athletic. Don't smoke. Not overweight. Does anyone else have this exhaustion?

E-mail Stephanie: tigerzz[at]alltel.net

The story of...Eileen

I've just found out through a barium enema that I have diverticulitis. I am concerned as my doctor says it's in the large bowel and the colon. I didn't seem to get much advise from my doctor, but I go back to the hospital in May as a follow-up. I have been given mebeverine tablets to take when I need them.

I don't understand when people say they have had several attacks. My pain is in my left side constantly and my stomach is bloated constantly. The pain is like a ball of wind under my left ribs. I have had these symptoms for seven months now.

I don't drink a lot of fluids which I have been told I must, and I'm wondering if it's through eating a lot of bread which is my main diet. Besides fruit and veg has anyone got any dietary tips.

E-mail Eileen: eileenw2[at]hotmail.co.uk

The story of...Jim

I was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis. I am 41 and have always had bowel issues, although nothing that has affected my lifestyle at all. Even now I have had my second bout of pain from the diverticulitis and the antibiotics clear up the pain by day three.

However I had a scare about five days into my antibiotic treatment as I passed blood, about a tablespoon, at the conclusion of a bowel movement. It hasn't happened since and my doctor tells me that it is a symptom of my diverticulitis. He also told me not to be concerned about the bleeding unless it continues. Has anyone else had bleeding like this?

E-mail Jim: jfricejr[at]comcast.net

The story of...Debra

For years I suffered with upper left flank back pain. I went to the doctor time and time again, and I was told it was my back, but then I lost a lot of weight. One night I just doubled over in pain, went into the ER and a surgeon decided it was my appendix. The next day I was still no better.

After a few more days the surgeon decided to take a look at my bowel, and when I woke up he said I had had a severe attack of diverticulitis. I have had an attack now for over a week, I know it was probably something I ate last week. It has been helpful reading some of your stories, as I was never told exactly what I could or couldn't eat.

E-mail Debra: sas_pur[at]msn.com

The story of...Ronnie

I just got diagnosed with diverticulitis last night. I have had five attacks within the last one to one-and-a-half years and never saw anyone about it because the pain would only last about two days. But after having an attack just last month and another in the past couple of days, I was annoyed enough (and doubled over enough) to go to the ER.

By using the internet, based on my symptoms, I had narrowed it down to an ovarian cyst or diverticulitis. After having a trans-vaginal ultrasound, the possibility of an ovarian cyst was ruled out. So it was onto the CT scan w/contrast.

I had to drink three large glasses of some substance that they mixed with peach iced tea - still tasted yukky, but it was tolerable - anything to get rid of the pain. They gave me Toridol in an IV and three Tylenol tablets orally.

The CT wasn't bad either, and it was quite a relief to finally have an actual diagnosis for the pain and learn that it wasn't cancer. I do know that one of the things that I am guilty of is not drinking enough water - I am so busy that I often let myself get dehydrated. Now my concern is having to pay close attention to my diet and trying to figure out the food triggers for this pain. Wish me luck.

E-mail Ronnie: brianandronnie[at]aol.com

The story of...Eileen

Hi everyone. My sister has diverticulitis, and has had all the tests, and was on antibiotics by IV. Her first attack was early in December, and she has been in and out of the hospital since then. She is now at home, and is not improving that much.

I have been searching on the internet for things that might help her. Has anyone tried aloe vera, and has it helped? What about papaya? She told me that she doesn't seem to be healing that well, and I would like to know if anyone had tried aloe vera or papaya, or any other treatment, as to help the intestine to heal. Any information will be appreciated.

She eats small meals through the day, and finds that this is better than trying to eat a full meal. She is allergic to milk and rye, she has soya milk, and uses this on cereal, and is going to cook with it. I have found some recipes for cooking with soya, and am going to send them to her. Thank you.

E-mail Eileen: Brysea[at]telus.net

The story of...Dotty

I also have diverticulitis and this is my second bad bout. No pain meds helped me. I just came home from the hospital and now have to see a surgeon. I am 56 years old and need to have surgery. If anyone has had the surgery please let me know, thanks.

Update...Well, I had the surgery. I had a foot of the large bowel and a foot of the small bowel removed. He said it was really bad. I came home on a Monday and was rushed back Tuesday from my incision opening up. I had an infection and I was really sick. Well it's been three months now and I have this terrible pulling on both sides of my belly. I've got to go for a catscan to see what's up.

E-mail Dotty: dottyann49[at]msn.com

The story of...Adele

I am 44 year-old mom of a 15 year-old. I woke up in agonizing pain a few days ago and went to the ER and was diagnosed with diverticulitis. This has been one of the most painful things I have ever experienced!

I am on two different kinds of strong antibiotics and drinking water like mad. I also am very bloated. I cannot get constipated because I am being treated for an anal fissure due to hard BMs. I am thinking this is stress-related? Does anyone else think that this could be stress-related? Also my mom, and grandmother and uncle all have this. Is this something that runs in families?

E-mail Adele: delsa61[at]comcast.net

The story of...Lisa

I am a 32 year-old mother of three small children. I just spent five days in the hospital fighting my second bought of diverticulitis. My doctors have mentioned the surgery and I am looking for any input from others who have had it done.

E-mail Lisa:lbrant31[at]hotmail.com

The story of....Carol

I have been suffering from diverticulitis for many years. I have just had a colonoscopy, which has shown up severe evidence on my left-hand side. My symptoms are not so much pain but feeling flu-like symptoms, tired, bloating and constipation.

My surgeon in now wanting to take out part of my bowel and I would like some feedback on this operation. I have also had 10 bladder infections in the last six months, could this also be connected? I look forward to some helpful advise.

E-mail Carol: bminer[at]xtra.co.nz

The story of...Derrick

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis approximately three years ago after several short stays in hospital and loads of tests. Like most people on this site I was told to go away with a high fiber diet. Great, I thought, until the next time.

I was also given antibiotics which helped. Great, I thought, I can live with this once in a while. But this attack has now lasted eight weeks and five lots of antibiotics later things don't seem to be getting better.

My doctor has not mentioned surgery and I would not be keen anyway. I have found it a very lonely disease (and hard to explain to work etc). I have found the site very useful, thank you to you all for your stories - I now know I'm not alone.

E-mail Derrick: zoo[at]pendirk.wanadoo.co.uk

The story of...Margaret

I have suffered from IBS for 15 years and now have diverticulitis. I have now had my first bad attack and it has lasted for three weeks. The pain on the left lower side is very acute which is driving me insane. Painkillers and antibiotics have been of no use.

I am scheduled for a barium soon. Is there any cure for this terrible and painful illness, as I do not want surgery? Please help.

E-mail Margaret: margaret.muir7[at]btopenworld.com

The story of...Kevin

I was diagnosed in November of this year with diverticular disease. I have undergone both a sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema, but I do not get the results of the enema until 3 January 06.

The only thing that really concerns me is that I am experiencing most of the pain on my right lower side. I have done some extensive research and all the pointers seem to be to a condition called appendiceal diverticulitis. Is there anyone out there who has been diagnosed with this? If so, I would be grateful if you could tell me how you were cured of this if at all! Many thanks.

E-mail Kevin: kevin.hill437[at]virgin.net

The story of...Stanley

Hi, my name is Stan. In June 2004 I was hospitalized for four days due to high fever, bloating, and high white blood cell count. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in August 2004.

In September 2005 I was hospitalized again, and this time I was in a bit more trouble. Again my white blood cell count was off the charts along with the fever and bloating, but the kicker was that my colon perforated. Antibiotics were not going to fix this problem.

So off to the operating room I went. Five and a half hours later I came out with an ostomy bag and seven inches shorter of colon. I spent 17 days in the hospital of which six days were spent in SICU.

Now it is January 2006 and I am scheduled for another surgery on January 4. It is time for the doctors to put humpty dumpty back together again.

I have always loved my fruits and veggies. I will have to agree with Tessa, I believe stress also plays a big role in this disease.

E-mail Stanley: svining[at]centurytel.net

The story of...Tonya

Hi everyone, I am in need of some advice. My grandfather who is almost 80 years old was just diagnosed with diverticulitis this year after about seven years of going through tests and hospital stays. He has been through so many doctors and tests that he has pretty much just given up on it.

He is about 6'3" tall and only weighs about 100 pounds because of this disease. The only treatment that they will recommend for him is to take antibiotics for 10 days out of every month for the rest of his life.

It really kills me to see my grandfather go through this and would like to know if there is any other treatment out there for this disease. Also I would like to add that he tries to eat a high fiber diet but most days he feels so horrible that all he wants to eat is soup. Thank you for any advice!

E-mail Tonya: chtoas[at]mchsi.com

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