anyone have diverticulitis? the doc thinks that is why i am so much pain all the time, the pain is on my left lower side... i know i'm a nurse , but i have been in so much pain these past few months and wondered if this is normal for diverticulitis? i still can't get into a gastro doc , but i ran a fever all weekend long at work. today finally the doc put me on cipro and flagyl.. i hope it works because i am in pain.. i do have pain pills but they knock me out.. my doc ordered a pelvic ultrasound .. i don't know how that is going to show diverticulitis???... but i just wanted to vent ... any kind words and prayers would help... i've never been so sick before.. these past few months have been torture.... i love you all !! ahh i feel better allready just talking about it !!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
diverticultitis
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(Raises hand.) I have a mild case and I also have ulcerative colitis, so I truly can understand the pain. I have one spot that sometimes flares for me with diverticulitis. Right now I'm suffering (I think) a bout of colitis.
I'm not sure about a pelvic ultrasound, but I -know- that a colonoscopy will show problems with either diverticulitis or colitis. I may have to have another one here because the antibiotics my gut doc gave me are not helping.
Google on diverticulitis, Beth, there is a lot of good information about there and keep looking for a gut doc. I would put more stock into that than a GP, and you might avoid a procedure that really isn't appropriate/may not be the right one.
But DO keep after your doctor, maybe he can recommend a gut doc for you. If you keep after them for a referral, they might do it so you stop bothering them (lol). You know the system...work it, girl, work it (lol)
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My mom has it. Hers was so severe as to require surgery. That was more than 20 years ago and she is doing fine. Avoid corn and nuts and other hard to digest foods that get caught in the diveticular pockets.
Posted 6 months ago by KYKAT 12 23 #
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thank you so much siobhan.. i am so sick of being in pain .. the GP really treats me as if nothing is wrong. i've had a fever and the pain is awful... i am going to keep on this until i find out what it is.... you made me feel better i don't feel so alone .. or crazy... i think ihave colitis too.. i won't get into the nitty gritty for the world.. but the signs are there... i hate the stigma that people who have gastro problems are malingerers... which means they are hypchondracs... that the pain isn't there... but it is and it's real..... i had a little grandma with divertculitis and i medicated her for pain every 2 hours ..and she was comfertable all my shift .. night shift nurse came on.. they gave her pain meds at 8pm and not another thing all night long .. about 3 am she started acting wild and lashing out and the nurses thought she was confused and restrained her .. no pain meds given ... i think the poor lady was in agony and didn't know how to express herself...... she ended up having emergency surgery the next day for a abcess in her colon..... the daughter was very angry and i don't blame her..... i felt so bad that day when i came in and found this lady tied up ... they had a dr's order to restrain her.. but all she needed was morphine....... poor lady .... i will not let up on my doc .. something is wrong .. ugh
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Beth, I've had so many patients with diverticulitis and I know that it is extremely painful and can lead to much larger problems. I have diverticulosis, but it has never become infected.
A pelvic ultrasound won't show anything in the colon. Rather you need to have a colonoscopy for them to visualize the pouches of the diverticulitis. The pelvic ultrasound could rule out the possibility that your pain is connected to the ovaries.
I hope that they have started you on an antibiotic.
Mucho hugs.
Posted 6 months ago by WillowandWindismom #
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The fever just goes with that infection, Beth. But I know that you must feel really sick. I hope that you aren't trying to work. The cipro is so broad spectrum that it should kick in but you know that it will take a day or so. I wish that they would give you an injection of the Cipro to jump start things. Flagyl - hmm, don't know. That's mostly fungal.
I wonder if a heating pad on your tummy would help to relieve some of that pain?
Posted 6 months ago by WillowandWindismom #
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i don't have to work until friday .. but i worked last weekend in agony .. i hope the cipro helps and the flagyl... i have been using a heating pad and use those 8 hour pads on my tummy for work.. it does help you are right... my WBC count was normal last week when she took my blood .. but i am starting a fever now .. it just seems like i am being swept under the rug.. because my WBC count was normal she didn't even want to give me antibotics.. but because the fever is starting she put me on antibotics.... thank heaven.... i sure am happy you all are around to talk to ... i could give you all a bigg hug,,,
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Eat gently too, Beth. Nothing high fiber or 'hard' fiber (like popcorn) or seeds until you see a gut doc. Try foods that don't take a lot of oomph to digest right now. Easy clear-ish soups (mom always swears by chicken soup...this is good time for it) and be careful of juices with a high acid content.
For me, when I have a flareup, it's chicken broth with pasta, Lipton noodle soup, or Stotffer's mac and cheese. I don't worry about fat or sodium when my gut hurts. Maybe ask your doctor for Xifaxan, that's an antibiotic that stays in the gut and intestines. It's normally given for folks who drink water in foreign countries (think Montezuma's revenge) but my gastro doc gives it for diverticulitis and colitis flareups. It worked the last time I had a flareup of diverticulitis.
It might help...or might not. If you have good insurance for prescriptions, ask about it. If not...it's kinda pricey, over $300 for two weeks.
Other meds to ask about could include: Bentyl and Dipentum. If you're experiencing diarrhea, xifaxan might help. Or try Imodium over the counter. The prescription strength is twice the dosage :-)
GET HELP. The fever and pain aren't good.
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thank you siobhan i like those diet ideas ..i think i will eat what you say .. i wish i could get into a gastro... i may have to take drastic measures and go go a urgent care if this dosen't clear up .. maybe they can get me into a gastro.... i will be on the chicken soup diet and take it easy .. no popcorn... thats hard because i love popcorn.....
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I had two friends and former MIL who had it--they were sick for over a month with fever and couldn't go to work. After my colonoscopy I was told I had the "osis" so I need to be aware. I googled it and they said you no longer have to avoid seeds, but I have problems when I eat cucumbers, even with the skin on. Please take care of yourself so it doesn't get worse!
Posted 6 months ago by Sheba's Mom in Phx, AZ #
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The bit about seeds...I read that too. I even mentioned it to my gutdoc; he's not convinced. But neither am I and I still enjoy nuts and seeds. I don't notice problems afterwards, but with popcorn...yes. And I love popcorn, there's even a blue version that's supposed to have a softer shell. At my last colonoscopy when I was told again to avoid popcorn, I apparently argued with my gutdoc, so my husband says. I remember saying "But this popcorn isn't supposed to be the same as regular!" (lol)
Last night I had a Stouffer's mac and cheese, capping a day with lower fiber, and I actually feel better. Might be the imodium I took too.
I like cheese-its with my soup too, the white cheddar ones are yummy.
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feeling better today .. finally the antibotics are working.. right on time for work this weekend... i bought stouffers mac n cheese and we had it for dinner last night.. it was very good and didn't hurt my stomach... trying some rice pudding now and it is good... i think i may live for now.... i am still going to wear my little heat pack for the work weekend .. you can't even tell i'm wearing it.... i am on my way back to bed to take a cat nap.. thank you all for your love and support... i dread work this weekend... i am feeling better but really tired....
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thank you siobhan we are partner's in suffering... i dread work tommrow and plan to wear my heat pack on my stomach.. the mac n cheese was great !! i am hoping things will be better everyday... still having pain but not as bed... if i survive the weekend i'll post monday... i work fri sat and sunday this weekend... all 12 hour shifts of course... someday i hope to get into a gastro....
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