Diverticular-associated colitis

Forgive as this seems to be the closest forum to my condition and probably with the most who understand :)
I was diagnosed in July 2010 with diverticular associated colitis that now appears to be chronic. The colonoscopy said inflamed and edematous mucosa in the sigmoid colon right where most of the diverticula are located. The rest of my colon appears to be in good shape. This condition makes for a lot of constipation and rumbling and grumbling and pain primarily in my sigmoid. However, it is a real challenge to get a GI to take it seriously. Just about ready to spit nails as I fear it may progress into proctosigmoiditis or UC if not addressed. I am wondering if anyone has heard of it and maybe how they treat it. Read on one journal that the recommendation was to approach it like UC. Please feel free to add info or any suggestions! Thanks and well wishes to everyone!!!

Thanks for the info!!! Presently they have me on high dose Miralax about 50g per day to get things past the colitis patch. It can be painful until the bowels are emptied. Not sure how to proceed with these GI docs on it as they just want to ignore it. Occasionally have nausea and vomiting, I think when I have backed up too much. If they can't clear it up, I am really considering pushing for a sigmoidectomy. The diverticula and the colitis are a nasty mix, as you are well aware! I am suspecting my last attack was the beginning of mild diverticulitis. It was more painful after than my other attacks and responded "too well" to antibiotics.

Really sounds like the diverticular colitis is a form of ischemic colitis, IMHO.

My condition is more than likely only 1/100th what a person with UC experiences. I will say that complicated diverticular disease is no fun either. Doc told me my sigmoid was pretty loaded with diverticula. Hope yours isn't as bad as mine!

Post Edited (U_Hydrae) : 5/9/2013 8:18:45 PM (GMT-6)

Nope, mine are not as bad. But my two little small pockets cause me enough grief, I couldn't imagine having more. I've already had to go the ER three times for pain control. Have you considered a resection to get rid of the worse of the pockets?

Where exactly is the inflammation patch?

q

Just got back for the ER and a CT scan. My first known full blown diverticulitis attack. Not only is my old GI getting the boot, so is my PCP who ignored my symptoms.

Wow...good thing you went to the ER.
Ditto Sherry's questions.

q

Been awhile since reply, my apologies. Pretty much on cipro/flagyl constant now, as the sigmoid appears to be nearly ready to "give out". I have an appt with a good surgeon in 3 weeks and I highly suspect it will be to discuss when a sigmoidectomy will occur. My GI referred me to the surgeon and is in the "get it done" camp.

I know it is diverticulitis, as each dose of cipro/flagyl knocks out the specific spot of the pain where I have a bad diverticulum. Then it comes right back after the dose is done. My ascending, transverse and most of descending feel great. Where the descending bends into the sigmoid over to the rectal area is where it gets "funky". Sounds very much like I have the "smoldering" form of diverticulitis.

I changed doctors and clinic and it was the best thing I ever did. I have a doctor that listens and cares now. It was so foreign to me that I actually broke down and cried last time with him.

Hey Sherry...in the ER they gave me a IV bag of ceftraxione for the first whack at it, then cipro/flagyl. I was still hot after that round, so two weeks later came a second round, now followed by a third. I think the goal now is get me calmed down enough for surgery.

Post Edited (U_Hydrae) : 7/24/2013 9:54:30 PM (GMT-6)

I certainly will, Quincy. The new doc said the same as you...don't wait and risk perforation. I am now in agreement and ready to take the step.

Yup sometimes they resolve with antibiotics, sometimes they will until you end the treatment and then it comes back. Some get sharp pains and require immediate surgery, where others have "smoldering" diverticulitis where it nags and nags. I'm in the smoldering camp. The only way you can really tell is a CT Scan. That thing is a miracle. It shows nearly everything.
I'm on the "magic day 3" of cipro/flagyl where the discomfort/pain is gone.

Post Edited (U_Hydrae) : 7/25/2013 5:40:47 AM (GMT-6)

Not fun, definitely. But I have feeling it is only a taste of what a UC or Crohn's sufferer endures. I definitely have sympathy ;)

The sigmoid's going bye-bye in a month. Had a consult with a good surgeon and we both agree its time for it. Too much risk of perforation and side-effects from prolonged cipro/flagyl use are starting to show up. Thanks everyone for listening and I will keep you posted!

Well...3 months post surgery and I thought I'd better check in to let folks know how it is going.
It was pretty bad in there, as the surgeon told me afterwards. The body was literally trying to contain a perforation, but had not gone septic. They caught in the nick of time. No wonder I could not come off the antibiotics. The sigmoid was loaded with diverticula and the associated colitis was present. It was tamed down enough by one months worth of antibiotics such that the surgeon was able to resection and bring the decending over to make it a one surgery deal.
Life 3 months after is definitely better than before the surgery, but I do have mild to moderate Low Anterior Resection Sundrome. It now seems to be moderating and life is definitely better than before the surgery. I am told it will take up to 1 year for a normal to be established. But, I look at this way. If I did not have the surgery the alternative was death. Pretty easy choice IMHO.
Lealee, I hope your diverticular colitis does not follow my route but if it does resection surgery may be your only option. Don't be afraid of it if that comes...just get a second opinion from another surgeon and if both concur then follow that route. Mine became so bad that I couldn't not come off antibiotics...period. Life without cipro and flagyl is a blessing by itself!!!!

Post Edited (U_Hydrae) : 12/23/2013 7:59:12 PM (GMT-7)

I'm the only one (that I know of) in my family with an IBD, but my mother had several resections over the years for baaaad diverticuli. Pre-surgery, her quality of life was seriously affected by pain and uncontrollable urgency. She would get so frustrated that her primary care doctor wouldn't take it seriously for months on end. Anyway, eventually she got referred to a surgeon each time, and she says her only regret is she didn't get each of the surgeries sooner, as her quality of life was always so much better afterwards. The tough thing about diverticuli is that the only way to get rid of them is surgically, and ones that that are left after surgery, because they aren't too bad at the time, can get worse over the years.