How do you love a normal life. When diverticulitis keeps attacking me. I’ve lost over 20 pounds. Sacred to leave the house and the medications are just as worst as the disease. I’m so miserable and tired of crying being up all Times of night alone. How are you all functioning with this condition
Hello @ciebrown. I am sorry you are struggling with diverticulitis. There are others here who can understand your situation, so you will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion that you can find here:
- Living with diverticulitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-diverticulitis/
I see others have joined you already to share some of the tips they have found to be helpful. I was also going to ask about your diet and the modifications you've made. What foods have you wholesale eliminated? Perhaps it is time to consider a food journal to see what others may be contributing to feeling worse after consumption. Have you ever tried that before?
Has anyone had an infection in the lower Colon and then a week
Later in the transverse colon? Now I feel like I get them 1x a month. And I am constantly on Augmentin. These are very painful and my GI wants me to get a surgical opinion.
Hello @marshelly1 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear that you are bothered by diverticulitis. This is a painful disorder to have to deal with. I am somewhat surprised that your doctor has not given you much help in preventing these flare-ups.
Keeping constipation at-bay is very important to prevent more flare-ups. The diet during a flare-up should be rather low in fiber, often a liquid and/or soft diet, along with prescription anti-biotics. Bed rest will also help you at this time. However, once you are over the flare-up then it is a good idea to keep fiber in your diet in order to prevent constipation. It is a good idea to find a chart of foods high in fiber and start to very slowly adding fiber to your diet. Keep well hydrated include a lot of liquids (non-caffeinated). Often there will be certain foods that you may find will trigger a flare-up. You might consider keeping a journal of foods and see if there are any that are triggers. Often the use of fiber supplements (like Metamucil) and stool softeners (like Miralax) can also be added to your high fiber diet.
Hi - I’ve had confirmed diverticulitis at least 6 lc and most recently feels like 1x per month. I’m in severe pain today. Each time I am treated with Augmentin. And last time within 2 weeks I had both transverse and regular diverticulitis.
Has anyone had an infection in the lower Colon and then a week
Later in the transverse colon? Now I feel like I get them 1x a month. And I am constantly on Augmentin. These are very painful and my GI wants me to get a surgical opinion.
Get the surgical opinion! Remember it’s just an opinion and you don’t have to follow through. I had diverticulitis many times. I didn’t want surgery but I ended up extremely sick and had emergency surgery. I had 11 inches of my colon removed because I had an abscess and perforated colon. I had an ostomy bag for 6 months. Thankfully, it was able to he reversed with no issues. I probably would have died without the surgery. If I had gotten a surgical opinion earlier when I was NOT sick, I probably could have had the worst section removed and not needed the bag.
Hi - I’ve had confirmed diverticulitis at least 6 lc and most recently feels like 1x per month. I’m in severe pain today. Each time I am treated with Augmentin. And last time within 2 weeks I had both transverse and regular diverticulitis.
Hello @samca298 and welcome to Connect. You are certainly struggling with diverticulitis and any of us who have had this problem can certainly empathize with you. Often it is difficult to get it under control.
One of the main things to reduce diverticulitis attacks is to avoid constipation. Finding an eating plan that works without causing more pain can be a challenge. For some, a high fiber diet works. For others, a low residue (or low fiber) diet is best. Some laxative products can be helpful (like Miralax) and some of us have found that products that contain Senna can cause more pain.
Have you found any foods or activities that are triggers for your diverticulitis episodes? What are you currently doing to control constipation?
Get the surgical opinion! Remember it’s just an opinion and you don’t have to follow through. I had diverticulitis many times. I didn’t want surgery but I ended up extremely sick and had emergency surgery. I had 11 inches of my colon removed because I had an abscess and perforated colon. I had an ostomy bag for 6 months. Thankfully, it was able to he reversed with no issues. I probably would have died without the surgery. If I had gotten a surgical opinion earlier when I was NOT sick, I probably could have had the worst section removed and not needed the bag.
Guys this is where I am with all of this as. Well. Imma have to get mine removed also I have had 4 episodes in 4 months. I’m so scared to do it. But I have cause c diff and lost my job due to having a new problem every other day it’s crazy. Look in to surgery before it gets too late. I’m telling u now. This isn’t fun.
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Hello @ciebrown. I am sorry you are struggling with diverticulitis. There are others here who can understand your situation, so you will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion that you can find here:
- Living with diverticulitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-diverticulitis/
I see others have joined you already to share some of the tips they have found to be helpful. I was also going to ask about your diet and the modifications you've made. What foods have you wholesale eliminated? Perhaps it is time to consider a food journal to see what others may be contributing to feeling worse after consumption. Have you ever tried that before?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHas anyone had an infection in the lower Colon and then a week
Later in the transverse colon? Now I feel like I get them 1x a month. And I am constantly on Augmentin. These are very painful and my GI wants me to get a surgical opinion.
Could it be caffeine ? stress?
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi - I’ve had confirmed diverticulitis at least 6 lc and most recently feels like 1x per month. I’m in severe pain today. Each time I am treated with Augmentin. And last time within 2 weeks I had both transverse and regular diverticulitis.
I don’t want to get a surgical opinion.
Anyone had these issues?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGet the surgical opinion! Remember it’s just an opinion and you don’t have to follow through. I had diverticulitis many times. I didn’t want surgery but I ended up extremely sick and had emergency surgery. I had 11 inches of my colon removed because I had an abscess and perforated colon. I had an ostomy bag for 6 months. Thankfully, it was able to he reversed with no issues. I probably would have died without the surgery. If I had gotten a surgical opinion earlier when I was NOT sick, I probably could have had the worst section removed and not needed the bag.
Hello @samca298 and welcome to Connect. You are certainly struggling with diverticulitis and any of us who have had this problem can certainly empathize with you. Often it is difficult to get it under control.
One of the main things to reduce diverticulitis attacks is to avoid constipation. Finding an eating plan that works without causing more pain can be a challenge. For some, a high fiber diet works. For others, a low residue (or low fiber) diet is best. Some laxative products can be helpful (like Miralax) and some of us have found that products that contain Senna can cause more pain.
Have you found any foods or activities that are triggers for your diverticulitis episodes? What are you currently doing to control constipation?
Guys this is where I am with all of this as. Well. Imma have to get mine removed also I have had 4 episodes in 4 months. I’m so scared to do it. But I have cause c diff and lost my job due to having a new problem every other day it’s crazy. Look in to surgery before it gets too late. I’m telling u now. This isn’t fun.