WTH! Diverticulitis

After spending three days, in extreme pain in the fetal position, on my sofa; I was finally able to stand up straight (with lower stomach pain) and walk to the local clinic whereby they sent me to, yet, a second clinic. WTH!?!

My Diagnosis: After routine blood work; urine analysis; and an ultrasound, it was confirmed as acute diverticulitis . . . a common digestive disease particularly found in the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches (diverticula) on the outside of the colon. Diverticulitis results if one of these diverticula becomes inflamed.

My Treatment (during a six and a half hour stay nested in the back corner of the emergency room): consisted of fluid for dehydration; gravol for nausea; morphine for pain; and the one and only . . . antibiotics for infection.

Now home, back on my faithful sofa, I am happy to say there is less pain; no solid food intake for a few days; lots of rest and a healthy twenty-one day supply of meds, I'm looking forward to a full recovery (fingers crossed).

Things I learnt about Diverticulitis include, but not limited to:

1. Mild episodes usually respond to antibiotics;

2. Patients with repeated episodes or a severe attack may need surgery;

3. Surgery is usually not necessary but is sometimes performed in patients with severe or frequent complications. Often the bowel can be joined together immediately. If there is an infection a temporary connection between the bowel and the skin (colostomy) is formed to avoid connecting infected bowel. This surgery can be reversed at a later operation when the bowel is reconnected. The long term outlook is good; and

4. In general, increasing the amount of fibre in the diet is recommended with adequate fluid intake. While this will not cause the diverticula present to become smaller or go away, the high fibre diet may reduce the formation of other diverticula. There is no evidence that avoiding foods such as popcorn or those with small seeds such as strawberries or tomatoes is useful, although this has been recommended in the past.

Click here for more information about Diverticulitis . . . Living With Diverticulitis