HI

Well, it seems like you have a good GP. Just because you have one condition, it doesn't exclude you from having another condition. 

Diverticulitis needs immediate attention because of the risk of peritonitis which is life-threatening. As your CRP levels are reducing, you may finally be getting on top of it. Have you been given any advice with regards to diet? When I had suspected diverticulitis I went on a liquid only diet for a few weeks. You should obviously do this sensibly by using fortisip or another complete meal plan to ensure adequate nutrition. Also, as your Vitamin D levels are low, I would take a supplement. In fact, I take 2 high dosage Vitamin D tablets throughout the winter. The RDI is only enough to prevent rickets. However, a higher dose helps with immunity and also auto-immunity. You could research that for yourself to decide if you think that is appropriate. 

I was 'fortunate' in that my gasteroenterologist felt that the pain I was experiencing where my diverticula are was a red herring and in fact, in my case, it was due to visceral hypersensitivity. He did a test to confirm this. After antibiotics, my CT scan was clear of diverticulitis also. I have been on medication for this ever since. Obviously you actually do have diverticulitis. 

There used to be dietry recommendations for diverticula, such as avoiding seeds etc. I don't think that is generally recommended anymore. But it might be useful for you to look into it and see if it is helpful in your case. Maybe try and go for soluable fibres which don't have bits and pieces in them. I find fibre one bars to be a really good type of fibre - and a tasty sweet treat too! As you still need fibre to feed the good bacteria and get a healthy balance in there, you just don't really want bits to get stuck and then become infected. 

So, hopefully you don't have anything more serious as diverticulitis is excruitingly painful and that is enough to deal with. 

Hi, 

It seems you have a pretty good idea of using supplements and nutrition to help support your body. Good luck with the sigmoidoscopy and potential surgery. I can't say I have personal experience of bowel surgery/resection or relish the idea, although there was a time for quite a while that I would have been quite happy to have the entire lot removed because of the extreme pain. My nephew has had most of his bowel removed and has a bag due to really severe Chrons. He is only 29. I don't think removing a section is quite as bad as it sounds, so hopefully that will go well for you. 

It is possible the antibiotics are causing the loose stools due to the disruption of the bacteria. As you said about the C.Diff, most people carry it, but the good bacteria keep it in check. It could likely be the reason diverticulitis and chron's are more prevalent in industrialised nations, because of the reduced diversity in the colon. That is still being studied and there is a lot to know still. In fact, during my 4 years of tests, I discovered that they actually don't know the cause of any IBD or colon disease. But they do have some treatments, so that is good. 

With regards to my own issue, it is managed pretty well now thankfully. What led to the extreme reaction where it was first suspected to be diverticulitis was that I went on a high fibre diet of 30g a day - the recommended daily amount. My bowel just couldn't cope with that at all, but I was fed up of laxatives and enemas. I developed extreme pain in the area where the diverticula are, which is at the base of the descending colon. I had pain in that area before I even had diverticula there though and still get it now as what I call 'breakthrough' pain. I take slow release 24hr mebeverine for cramps and muscle spasms and take 25mg nortriptyline which is an off label use. It is a tricylic anti-depressant but functions as a nerve suppressant at a low dose so works well for neuralgic pain. That was the absolute godsend for me as it is the only thing that works for that pain. I have been taking these for nearly 4 years now. So, no alcohol for me! (I didn't really drink anyway though). About a year later, I did a really strict 6 month diet due to being diagnosed with auto-immune thyroid disease. I did some sensitivity tests from a couple of different companies and took out all of those foods - there were a lot. I did it to give my immune system a rest. Since taking them out and reintroducing after a long period, I can tolerate pretty much all food. Before this, like you, fibre was really difficult to tolerate and would cause pain. Now, I even eat seed bread every day with no problems! I have never had to increase my thyroid medication either, so no flare ups there. However, I developed gynaecological issues last year and now have to have a hysterectomy. Did your Dr's say why your uterus was inflammed? 

Hopefully your BCC is unrelated to your other issues and will be removed very soon. You are under a lot of stress with all this, so be good to yourself. Also, it makes sense that your immune system is 'compromised' or at least working hard to clear this infection. So try and believe that this will all be resolved soon and that you and your daughter will be alright. Your sleep is very important right now too, but I understand that these things can keep us up at night. What I have experienced is that pain is not always an indicator of something serious. Even extreme pain. Sometimes the nerves are also inflamed and go haywire. And then the worry the pain induces can increase stress hormones and make everything a whole lot worse. 

Hi Sara

Thankyou for your reply. What you say makes a lot of sense. I've never actually thought of nerve pain, i've thought about referred pain so i suppose that maybe similar. When the constant pain starts it affects not only my left, very low quadrant but my left groin, left leg and travels to my right groin area too, also lower back ache. I have taken Amytryptoline (not sure of the spelling) before for an unrelated condition that's resolved now but unfortunately couldn't tolerate it. I can fully imagine inflammation affecting the nerves or vice versa. Generic pain relief doesn't seem to touch nerve pain.

The food sensitivity tests sound like a really good idea and cutting out food and reintroducing them slowly sounds like something i really need to do when i'm in a position to. My system will be shot through with the amount of Antibiotics i've been taking and the durarion of them. 

That's very harsh for your Nephew to go through at such a young age, poor thing, how did he cope? And is he ok now?

Sorry to hear you need a Hysterectomy, an Operation is not something any of us would wish for but if it helps quality of life then i feel it's necessary. Easy for me to say though when it applies to other people. I'm scared stiff of a bowel op! Especially complications during or afterward. I don't know why but an operation on the Bowel somehow seems a lot worse and it shouldn't do. 

I hope it all goes well and you have plenty of support at home to help you rest and recouperate afterward. Are you on a waiting list?

One of my family members (in law) developed UC out of the blue recently. Like you, not only would he have been quite happy for them to remove his entire Colon, he was literally begging them to do it when he was at his worse. How awful for you both to get to that stage but i can relate to it now. He seems to have it more under control but has regular trips to the Hospital for IV medication.

It's great you now have your condition under control, it sounds like you've really been through the mill and back with it! 4 years? But it sounds like you've done lots of research of how to help yourself and keep your body healthy in turn, keeping your condition stable. I'm new to all this really and just beginning that journey.

I have been one of those people who have pretty much skipped through life health wise! Taking my health for granted. Eating and drinking what i wanted, never gaining much weight. Always active, doing what i wanted when i wanted to. I wouldn't say i had a particulary good or bad diet, i just ate a mixture of everything. Those days are well and truly gone now. I used to drink alcohol, nothing nicer than a sunny beer garden in summer with a glass of wine. I'm now tee total. I cannot consume alcohol even in small amounts and i probably never will again.

With regards to the inflammation of the Uterus. This was Secondary i believe to the Diverticulitis. It was seen on the CT Scan. What's bizarre is the levels of CRP don't correlate to pain or worsening symptoms. My CRP level was 138 when in AnE the 2nd time, it should be 10. The level the last time was 21 so significantly lower but still higher than it should be, i got myself to Hospital quicker the last time round but the pain was just as bad as before. I also had worse symptoms too with pain in my Vagina, on emptying my bladder and in my lower back. Iam also beginning to wonder if my periods ending has coincided with what's going on with my Bowel. They began going more haywire earlier in the year. I've only had 1 since March and was pretty regular before that, give or take a week. The doctor did prescribe me HRT earlier in the year but i was reluctant to take it. I was diagnosed with PMDD in my younger years, the lack of periods have really helped and it's such a relief. The GP told me initiating HRT will kick start my periods again. So i thought i might be able to get away with just trying to 'cope' with the Menopause naturally if i can. But i suppose as with Stress Hormones and i agree with you they definately have a relationship on how the body reacts, the brain/gut connection. Hormones reducing at Perimenopause/Menopause will affect our bodies too. I will ask the Specialist about this.

Thankyou for your kind, reassuring words. I know this time will pass eventually, it's just what happens in between to get there that bothers me. It seems a never ending cycle of AnE, admission to Hospital, IV antiobiotics, oral Antibiotics then for the whole process to start again once the Antibiotics end. The Antibiotics are the only thing standing between me and the horrendous pain. Theres also the concern of my body getting used to them and in turn the effectiveness of them reducing.

I'm on Co Amoxiclav at the moment this seems to allow my bowel to function normally again but still with intermittent pain but it's much more stable,  so at least i can eat. I was on Co Trimoxazole and Metronidizole. Metronidazole is awful for me to take hence the drug sensitivity. It made me feel so poorly and unable to eat or function. The loose stools seem to commence with the ending of either oral or IV Antibiotics. Then it's a slippery slope to all the rest of the symptoms returning and extreme pain again and Hospital visit. I can actually feel the painful area in my Sigmoid, a dull, persistent ache, even when symptoms improve. So i know it never truly resolves.

I have asked my GP if this could be an abscess, she said that's what she was worried about. I said it would be seen on CT? She said yes, from what i've read CT isn't good at picking up very small things so who knows. IV Antibiotics are required for 5 days for Complicated Diverticulitis i've only ever had them for 2. Mine seems to be Uncomplicated Diverticulitis because there are no abscess/fistulas seen on CT. It doesn't seem very Uncomplicated to me.

Thankyou for listening. What will be, will be. I can't change the outcome now, whatever this is but i can try to give my body the best chance to recover in the future.