Diverticulitis (1 Viewer)

[detroitdad]

I've been having pain in my lower left side since THUR. SAT. afternoon it finally got unbearable. I canceled going to @ChaosRock poker game one hour before I was supposed to be there (never did that before) and headed to the ER. This was my first ER visit as a patient in over 20 years. This was some of the worse pain I have experienced in a long time.

Of course the ER visit moved a snails pace. Ended up being a six hour visit. At least both my nurses were pretty hot. I had my PCF poker tour shirt on, just realized I should have gotten a picture for @k9dr thread, damnt.

Anyways, once the doctor hit my room and did his exam. He said it was most likely Diverticulitis or severe constipation. He sent me for a CT scan which was another first for me. It came back that I had Diverticulitis. I'm on Antibiotics, inflammation shit.

However, they send me home from the ER and instruct me to follow up with my doctor. Don't really give me any directions. I've been researching different medical websites. It looks like I should do low fiber during the flare up. After my intestines heal I should be on a high fiber diet. Of course all the fun foods/drinks are bad for me lol.

Anyone here have any experience with this? Share if you would like either via the thread or PM's.

Seriously, yesterday I thought my intestines were going to explode through my body.

 

[bentax1978]

Don't have anything specific to offer in terms of advice nor experience, but just hoping you feel better soon and make a quick recovery. (y) :thumbsup:

 

[DrStrange]

You will learn what not to eat. Maybe things like nuts or berries with tiny seeds like blackberries or raspberries. Several of the players in my game suffer from this, each watches his/her diet differently.

 

[David O]

I have friends with Diverticulosis and you will be fine. You just have to watch what you eat.

David

 

[detroitdad]

I have friends with Diverticulosis and you will be fine. You just have to watch what you eat.

David

ummmmmm, I started the "Dinner Plans?" thread? lol.....However, you are right. Could have been much worse. I'll have to watch what I eat, and let "moderation" be my friend

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Never heard of it but wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[MoscowRadio]

Here's to hoping that you're feeling much better very soon!

 

[mike32]

The people I know who had it had to avoid foods with seeds and spicy foods as I recall. One of our truck drivers eventually had an operation where a section of his intestine was removed. He is doing fine today and I am not trying to alarm you as I have no idea how common that is. Hope you are feeling better!

 

[Payback]

My mom was just in the hospital for this about a month ago and her recovery took a while. Watch what you eat and yous should be fine, my understanding is that it is pretty common, but also serious.

 

[courage]

Bill,

I had it a few years ago, the day after I returned from a Vegas trip. Swore I'd torn an abdominal muscle but was in pain and cold sweat in bed for 24 hours before hitting the ER, so I sympathize.

There's a lot of conflicting info regarding diet and causes. The tiny seeds etc. is B.S. imo, simply theory, no substantial data that I could find. I went back to my regular diet after the antibiotics and have been fine since. Hope you're feeling better soon!

 

[links_slayer]

no specific advice to offer but i hope you are feeling better and that you can figure out a way to manage this!

 

[AK Chip]

I also have gone through that. Spent almost 2 days in cabin before I had to drive myself into town to the ER. Lots of fiber after you are feeling better and I cut way down on beef haven't had any issues since. I have no proof that cutting down on beef is why I haven't had problems but seems like it to me.

 

[detroitdad]

The people I know who had it had to avoid foods with seeds and spicy foods as I recall. One of our truck drivers eventually had an operation where a section of his intestine was removed. He is doing fine today and I am not trying to alarm you as I have no idea how common that is. Hope you are feeling better!

I am actually a little familiar with it. My dad has the same problem. Colleen has ulcerative colitis. Different/worse, but still similar. Surgery is a worse case scenario. I won't be considering that at this time.

Bill,

I had it a few years ago, the day after I returned from a Vegas trip. Swore I'd torn an abdominal muscle but was in pain and cold sweat in bed for 24 hours before hitting the ER, so I sympathize.

There's a lot of conflicting info regarding diet and causes. The tiny seeds etc. is B.S. imo, simply theory, no substantial data that I could find. I went back to my regular diet after the antibiotics and have been fine since. Hope you're feeling better soon!

I've done a lot of reading on it this morning. I'm reading the same thing that your saying.

I also have gone through that. Spent almost 2 days in cabin before I had to drive myself into town to the ER. Lots of fiber after you are feeling better and I cut way down on beef haven't had any issues since. I have no proof that cutting down on beef is why I haven't had problems but seems like it to me.

Colleen is in PA. I drove myself. The pain was excruciating. You could actually see the swelling on my left side of the intestine. As long as I'm not moving its not to bad lol. Honestly, I hated missing the poker game lol. I was excited to try a FL structure.

 

[DJ Mack]

I know several people who have had it and as others have said each manage it a bit differently. I think all are diet only and no huge changes.

One friend wound up having surgery but it wasn't for the diverticulitis per se; he had some other intentional issue that caused the symptoms downstream. Once that was fixed the diverticulosis went away.

 

[dennis63]

I went through this in 2007. Pain was very bad, fever, chills. I thought I had a stone or something, and went to the ER thinking they'd give me something and I'd be done. They did a CT scan and found I diverticulitis with a micro-perforation. They kept me at the hospital for five day on IV antibiotics.

Two attacks in five years, or three in 10 years and surgery is recommended to remove the diseased part of the colon. It's extensive and nasty, so your goal is to never have to get the surgery by doing what you can to avoid another attack.

While you are sick, take the meds and eat much, much less. (I've even gone up to a week on liquids only during a flare-up.) Drink lots of liquids and bullion.

When you feel well again, eat more fiber and drink more water. These are the only two things that reduce pressure in your colon, the cause of the flare-ups.

Lots of folks will tell you, "Don't eat corn," or "Don't eat seeds." My gastroenterologist says those are old wives tales, and extensive studies show that no specific foods trigger flare ups. What he does say is this:

Eat more fiber. Try some high-fiber cereal each morning, starting with a quarter cup and going up. They recommend Fiber One.
Drink more water.
Eat smaller meals and take extra care at those big, giant holiday meals not to stuff yourself.
Exercise (helps keep you regular)

Generally, if you live long enough, you'll get diverticulosis, the condition that causes the attacks of diverticulitis. I think the percentage is 50 percent of the population over 50 and 80 percent at 80 years old.

And if you go 10 years without an attack, you get to "re-start" the count at 0.

I'm hoping for the best for you. I hope this helps.

Meanwhile, I'm not a doctor, and have never played one on TV.

 

[inca911]

Wishing you all the best, Bill! Hope things get back closer-to-normal soon

 

[bivey]

So I tend to shy away from medical advice on this forum for obvious reasons, but let's point out that diverticulosis is different from diverticulitis. Most with the former never develop the latter.

The "-itis" version is much more serious. Repeat flares can lead to surgery and untreated flares can lead to into-abdominal access or more serious surgery.

Bottom line DD, take care of yourself and finish those antibiotics. And they are serious about not drinking alcohol on those antibiotics - unless you like puking your brains out.

Take care Bill. Get better soon.

 

[ChaosRock]

I've been having pain in my lower left side since THUR. SAT. afternoon it finally got unbearable. I canceled going to @ChaosRock poker game one hour before I was supposed to be there (never did that before) and headed to the ER. This was my first ER visit as a patient in over 20 years. This was some of the worse pain I have experienced in a long time.

Of course the ER visit moved a snails pace. Ended up being a six hour visit. At least both my nurses were pretty hot. I had my PCF poker tour shirt on, just realized I should have gotten a picture for @k9dr thread, damnt.

Anyways, once the doctor hit my room and did his exam. He said it was most likely Diverticulitis or severe constipation. He sent me for a CT scan which was another first for me. It came back that I had Diverticulitis. I'm on Antibiotics, inflammation shit.

However, they send me home from the ER and instruct me to follow up with my doctor. Don't really give me any directions. I've been researching different medical websites. It looks like I should do low fiber during the flare up. After my intestines heal I should be on a high fiber diet. Of course all the fun foods/drinks are bad for me lol.

Anyone here have any experience with this? Share if you would like either via the thread or PM's.

Seriously, yesterday I thought my intestines were going to explode through my body.

Only something like this to keep you away from poker my friend! LOL!!! And even then we were all talking we would not be surprised if you made it here after your ER visit, hahahaha...

Kidding aside, I hope you're well in no time brother... Knowing you, you're gonna kick this diverticulitis ass 'pronto'!!

You were missed and we'll have another FL game for you soon enough...

 

[detroitdad]

So I tend to shy away from medical advice on this forum for obvious reasons, but let's point out that diverticulosis is different from diverticulitis. Most with the former never develop the latter.

The "-itis" version is much more serious. Repeat flares can lead to surgery and untreated flares can lead to into-abdominal access or more serious surgery.

Bottom line DD, take care of yourself and finish those antibiotics. And they are serious about not drinking alcohol on those antibiotics - unless you like puking your brains out.

Take care Bill. Get better soon.

not looking for medical advice More looking for shared experiences.

The antibiotics are doing their job. I'm feeling marginally better every day. Just a light tenderness on my side at this point. Follow up doctor appointments are already scheduled.

Regretted coming to work yesterday. I forgot I had to take a new Officer around my area for orientation. As I'm backing out of a parking space with the work truck I hit a trailer that was closer to me than I thought. Not a big deal. Just a bunch of added paper work for me

MRI is scheduled. Possible a meniscus tear in my right knee. Could be worse. At least I have a game to look forward to this SAT. Even if its a NLHE tourney I know Mike is playing in it. Are you @ChaosRock

 

[bonesnjnts]

not looking for medical advice More looking for shared experiences.

The antibiotics are doing their job. I'm feeling marginally better every day. Just a light tenderness on my side at this point. Follow up doctor appointments are already scheduled.

Regretted coming to work yesterday. I forgot I had to take a new Officer around my area for orientation. As I'm backing out of a parking space with the work truck I hit a trailer that was closer to me than I thought. Not a big deal. Just a bunch of added paper work for me

MRI is scheduled. Possible a meniscus tear in my right knee. Could be worse. At least I have a game to look forward to this SAT. Even if its a NLHE tourney I know Mike is playing in it. Are you @ChaosRock

couldhave shouldhave showed me your knee the other night...

 

[detroitdad]

couldhave shouldhave showed me your knee the other night...

Poker night is for poker night That was the start of my diverticulitis. Other things were on my mind lol. That was a fun group. Thanks for the invite. It also helped that I almost tripled up in the first five hands of the night. Sometimes its better to be lucky than it is to be good!

 

[RowdyRawhide]

My brother in law just went through this about five months ago. Took about 2 weeks and he's a pussy (IMO). YMMV

 

[ChaosRock]

not looking for medical advice More looking for shared experiences.

The antibiotics are doing their job. I'm feeling marginally better every day. Just a light tenderness on my side at this point. Follow up doctor appointments are already scheduled.

Regretted coming to work yesterday. I forgot I had to take a new Officer around my area for orientation. As I'm backing out of a parking space with the work truck I hit a trailer that was closer to me than I thought. Not a big deal. Just a bunch of added paper work for me

MRI is scheduled. Possible a meniscus tear in my right knee. Could be worse. At least I have a game to look forward to this SAT. Even if its a NLHE tourney I know Mike is playing in it. Are you @ChaosRock

Oh man! You've had a few (bad) eventful days huh, Bill? OMG man... I hope things go back on track...

Just let me know how the MRI goes... The meniscus thing is not supposed to be as serious as it was when we grew up... Lots of new procedures for it man... Regardless, don't let some not great news bring you down!

No, not playing SAT... Playing at my place today though, 7th tourney of our league... (y) :thumbsup: