Is it Diverticulitis or IBS?

I would go to a GI doctor just because of the lower left abdomen pain. It can be diverticulitis... which can be very painful. Gallbladder problems and removal can cause you not to digest some things as you did before so that may be the stool problem. .. of course many other things could be the cause.

Thank you for your response! I have been calling all morning to get appt. for Colonoscopy in a large medical group I go to in NY. So far, everyone is booked. Will keep trying. Tried to go directly to Memorial Sloan Kettering - but they seem to want to know if I have been diagnosed with cancer. Certainly hope not - but some symptoms seem to possibly suggest that.

You do not need a colonoscopy for diagnosis of diverticulitis. Sometimes just a physical exam and other times a ct scan.

By a gastroenterologist? My general surgeon for gallbladder suggested colonoscopy (with a Dr. he knows). He specializes in hernia and ruled that out.
My long-time internist also suggests colonoscopy.

Usually you meet with the gastroenterologist and he/she decides what test you need. If your surgeon referred you to one he knows that is just fine. If you have a general practitioner or family doctor they may be able to take care of it. Usually diverticulitis is treated with two antibiotics. It is basically an infection in a diverticula... pocket in the colon. It should be taken care of soon as possible being it is an infection.

Thanks. I have been reading too. I have had 2 TKR - the last knee was 7 months ago - so infections can be serious.

I am replying to my own post! I think I have figured out the problem (NO thanks to doctors who DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PATIENT. Unprofessional).
Based on my research, I think I have abdominal adhesions/scar tissue after gallbladder surgery June 2019. And now reading Mayo Posts, I am encouraged that I may be right and can seek new doctors. Surgery was OK. Except went to ER 4 days later because I could not move bowels. All along I have had a pain on left - 3 inches left of navel and 2 inches down. It is always sore; pulses a little and it is like a muscle tear - that is why I think adhesions. Painful: having BM, sneezing, major difficulty getting in and out of bed. Sitting is fine. Standing is not too bad. But cannot really exercise.
Surgeon did Lap. surgery and also worked on naval hernia (that I had no clue I had!). I also had former abdominal surgeries (hysterectomy, oopherectomy, pregnancies, etc. - which he knew). Here's the thing: I told him it is hard to "push" (I think this is part of bathroom problems). He keeps saying "You are fine."
Went to my internist who thinks it is muscular - not diverticular. Have appt. for colonoscopy. However, I do not think it is a good move until I have a new GI Dr. or surgeon examine me. And I want to find a very experienced one.
Oh, I discovered when I do go to bathroom, if I push my hand against my abdomen, it is less painful. As if I am supporting the colon or something?
Is there any reason I should stay with my Gall. surgeon? I have had 3 post op visits and he is not attentive to what I say. Last time he said maybe "diverticular and get a colonoscopy". I think I should leave local hospital and go to the best Drs. I can find in N.Y. City which is nearby. How does anyone suggest I get them to see me asap since time seems to be an issue with adhesions or organs that are stuck(?) or compromised by same? It hurts every day. I do think after a bowel movement there seems to be less pressure for a while, but still sore. Sorry, I am disappointed with the medical profession. Noen of the doctors mentioned adhesions or scar tissue which I find astounding. Thanks for thoughts.

All your responses to my mystery have been so thoughtful and helpful. I went to my GB surgeon 3 times and he seems almost clueless and keeps saying "You are fine". He says not hernia after a 2-second check. My internist says not diverticular., but it seems like a muscular problem. They both suggest colonoscopy. But now that I think I may have discovered problem (abdominal adhesions) myself, I think that needs to be addressed before a colonoscopy? Would that make sense? I have not had one in 10 years. Age 70+. Physically very active (when normal). Busy lifestyle. Interestingly, Cleveland Clinic's website says "Listen to your body." Seems so important.

Hi tennisgolf: You sound kind of like me, even your age, 70+. My complaint is somewhat different but I see similarities.
Many years ago I had hysterectomy, 1988, and then gallbladder removal in 2005. At time of GB surgery I was told I'd had loads of adhesions to get through, and I assume that was due to the earlier hysterectomy.

Now I was recently diagnosed, after several years of reflux and other digestive complaints, with Barrett's esophagus. It has no symptoms in itself, but was found during endoscopy and typical symptoms of GERD are what I feel. Along the way to this diagnosis I had many medical tests because I began unintentionally losing a lot of weight and internist and an ENT got concerned. I also have a raspy voice that comes from GERD often, and one vocal cord is messed up so ENT wanted to be sure nothing bad was pressing on it; hence another scan.

I had no appetite to speak of and those reflux symptoms and had just slowed my eating way down. I also became depressed/anxious about all things medical..

Anyway, re the pain you feel in left side since your GB surgery. I get it, an the way you describe it. I have always had typical digestive pains, suggestive of IBS, but this colonoscopy, which was my first recent test, revealed nothing except for newly found redundant (too long) colon. It is also called 'tortuous.' Never knew about that before and it 'can' be acquired over time, they say. I did not hear 'redundant/tortuous colon' when having my first colonoscopy many years ago and I was not 'sore' for weeks after that one but I am much older now.

A routine pelvic exam I had last year just about killed me, too. I was sore from that experience for weeks and in years past (numerous years ago and many pelvic exams), I never had that reaction. They say older people tend to feel pain LESS but you and I seem to be exceptions to that and are encountering pain now.

Within a week of that recent colonoscopy, leaving my insides extremely sore I found that I had a searing pain just above the navel and across upper abdomen in a straight line when 'pushing' (NOT straining) during a bowel movement, most of the time, not all. Afterwards, I would feel no pain. If I sat back on toilet and pushed again, when NOT having a BM, I would not feel the pain at all. I asked the GI doc about it but he brushed me off, said it could be due to constipation, and with all other scans (due to weight loss) showing nothing in any of the abdominal organs, he seems to think I'm nuts. He is a good and well respected doctor but can be less than personable and is dismissive.

This was all several months ago now and the pains when, not before, not really after, but right during the act of pushing (sorry about the TMI) itself brings on this searing pain that now covers entire upper abdomen. I have no idea if it's from any adhesions, as you are wondering about in your case, or if during colonoscopy the doc 'did something' to the colon when manipulating that scope around, or the loops and twists in extended colon worsened and that's what I'm feeling.

I finally got another appt. with this doc since a GI seems to be the right specialty to address this, but it's not for three weeks. Like I said, he is well known, considered excellent, and even other docs go to him. So every time I need to have a BM I know I will have this tearing/searing pain across upper abdomen . It seems odd that nothing showed up on any of the CT scans I've had. I dread the doc's reaction when I see him again in three weeks. Wondering if I should change doctors or see some other type of specialist or what.

Believe me, I feel your pain and understand your dilemma re who to see and where to go! I do know that gall bladder and any other abdominal surgeries leave us, most of us, with adhesions that can be extremely painful. In fact, doesn't even have to be surgery. Any trauma to an abdominal area can cause adhesions to form. I just didn't think the pain of adhesions would occur or worsen during something 'mechanical,' like having a BM. You mentioned something similar on your left side that sounded similar.

I look forward to hearing your next report. I'm about to throw myself on the mercy of UCLA here in L.A. and try to get a diagnosis. With you near NYC and great facilities and me near UCLA we both SHOULD be able to get the attention and care we need. I hate to say this but I hope we aren't being brushed off due to being over 70! My best to you.

In 2017 I had diverticulitis. It was not my normal pain with it. It started lower on my left side. My first thoughts were I had pulled a muscle from coughing. Second thought with more pain was adhesions from the hysterectomy I had in 1997... then the pain moved more centered in the lowest part of my abdomen. I start thinking a vaginal fistula. So I saw a gynecologist All was fine there. He ordered a ct scan. Somewhere in all this I had short bout of diarrhea and then constipation. Diagnosis was diverticulitis and the doctor did not put me on antibiotics. It was a few days after getting results I had an appointment with my gastro doctor.. I had scheduled it months before as a regular check up. He was surprised that the gynecologist had not started me on antibiotics. By this time my whole lower abdomen was hurting. I did the round of antibiotics and had a colonoscopy about 6 weeks later... doctor wanted time for it to heal. I did not clean out well, but he was able to see the one section that concerned him most.. Instead of the couple of diverticulum I had a colon full. I another colonoscopy a few months later. One polyp... pathology was fine on it. Now since I have more of the pockets I will be more susceptible to diverticulitis.

My point is... just because it feels muscular it may not be. It could be a blockage or diverticulitis or something else causing your symptoms. I think you should see a good gastroenterologist.

Your doctor may want you to have a ct scan, ultra sound, and or a colonoscopy or other test. Yes, Know your body and find the words to express what your body is saying. Write down your symptoms so you do not leave anything out as you talk with your doctor. Write down questions.. bring something to write on and with to your appointment. Take someone with you. Two sets of ears are better than one. Sometimes the other person can think of questions that you have not.

I don't know what I would do without my husband going through all of this with me... fortunate to still have him. We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.. taking care of my 91 year old mom. No cards... no gifts, no fancy dinner just taking care of each other and now along with my mom.