Diverticulitis

I have had diarrhea for about 2 weeks. I went to see my pcp and we did a stood culture and nothing showed up. The dr is is was most likely something I ate and it should be better in a day or two. Last Friday I had it with the diarrhea and I start having pain on my left side. Called my doc and he wanted me to go to the ER. Thinking most testing could be done there.I went we did a abdominal x-ray ,more stood samples and a cat scan. I have DIVERTICULITIS. Its an inflamation of the bowel. Most people have constipation.along with the pain on your left side. What to to fix it eat a lot of fiber. I was given 2 different antibotics and some pain meds. I feel a lot better now . One very important point I want to point out is get /or add fiber.Go to this web site its very informtive http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis   Sherri got me their and its explains it better than the ER doctor. I feel much better after starting the meds. I will be adding fiber supplament to my diet.

Hugs and blessings,Gail  Cant wait to see everyone on Saturday

Gail, my Ma has that. It is a struggle for her to get enough fiber in. I keep telling her to use benefiber, but she's adverse to it. make sure you get enough fluids too.. Hugs, Angie

Angie,  I will be adding extra fiber to my diet. I heard beneafit is a good source. Thank you for always being such a kind person. Sherri thanks again for getting me to above web site , it answered way more ?'s I had for the ER doc and he didn't have time to answer. Love.Blessings, Hugs, Gail

Wow Gail I hope you feel better soon!!

Gail, Thank you for letting me know about the diverticulosis.,,and for sharing the information with those on the board. It just startled me when I read about it on that site and that it said that two contributing causes was constipation and lack of fiber. That kinda screamed out to me that us post-ops are going to be at high risk for getting it! I know I'm always seeing people complaining about constipation here on the board. Until I had this latest problem, I too always had constipation. When I talked with the nuts about it, they told me to increase my fiber to at least 30 grams a day. They also suggested Fiber One cereal. So..I'd put a cup of it in a baggie and munch on it like it was popcorn in the evenings. One cup would give me 28 g of Fiber and I was pretty confident that I could get at least 2 more grams in from fruits & veggies. These days, since I am having the opposite problem, the visiting nurses have me taking Fibercal...actually, I take the Kroger brand instead...WAY cheaper!. The bottle says that you can take up to 12 of those caplets a day...I take 6-8. If I take less than that, I manage to complete several Sudoko puzzles during the day! If you have a follow-up with your pcp, would you ask them something? If constipation helps to CAUSE these pockets on your colon, once they are there and are inflamed (which I take it is why you were put on anti-biotics) is that why you had the diarea? It's important for us to remember how very important fiber is...no matter how our stools are. Oh..when you do have bouts of diarea, try eating the BRAT diet..bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Rice seems to be the only one of the 4 I'm good with lately but I think it does help some. That was another thing my visiting nurses suggested. Thanks again for sharing with us Gai! Sherri ps...I'm glad your stool cultures came back ok. Dr. Gupta had them done on me because of my persistant diarea. She also had me take a round of the meds just in case the results were positive. I never did hear what the results were..but those meds? It's the same drug they give alcoholics to be sure they stay off of booze. It'll make you nauseated and you can't keep anything down at all if you have ANY alcohol at all. Well..the 0.6 mL of tincure of opium that I'm on for my intestinal spasms is 65% alcohol was just enough to make me sicker than a dog! So be VERY glad those results came back negative! It wouldn't surprise me if cough syrup would have enough alcohol in it to trigger the nausea!

diarrhea is no fun...I have had it for about a week and I found out it was the Liquid tylenol I was taking for the arthritis pain....the #2 inactive ingredient is CORN SYRUP! So everyone be sure to read the labels...I didn't even think to look! So the Doc and the NUT told me to try the tylenol gel caps...hope they work as well as the liquid did! Gail...take care...I will be praying for ya...hope to see ya soon! hugggggggggggggs,  Janene

I have diverticulitis also .Ive had it sence 2000 .Did the doc give you levid.for your prescripion? i take that when I have a flair up..Its helps...