Diverticulosis

Gjac, I just had an awful time with cramping and the worst pain I could imagine. It happened every morning for about 7 hours. I let it happen the second day and had to go to the doc. She prescribed the 500 mg of Cipro and Flagyl. Took them for 7 days. The 3rd dose helped the pain. I up until now wasn't sure what the pain was as I have been diagnosed with gastritis and diverticulitis. She did no blood work because I just got a knee replacement 9 weeks ago and felt I had been through enough, She said that the antibiotics will get rid of anything. I have never had this sort of horrible pain before.

I have been off
of them for a week and still have a metallic taste in my mouth among other thing.

I think 50% of folks over 60 have diverticulitis which are pockets in the colon. When food gets trapped in the pockets and it get infected it turns into the "itis " accompanied with fever and chills meaning infection. Cipro and Flagel(antibiotics) are usually prescribed to treat the infection. My first attack was in 2003 and have had at least one a year until 2009 when I had 18 ins of my colon removed. All was well until last week and had another attack. According to my Dr what ever the underlying things that cause the pockets in the first place are still there and it can occur again over time. I have been taking fiber supplements once a day for 15 years. Most Drs now say anything can get trapped in the pockets not just seeds or nuts. I don't want to go through another colon resection.

Docs usually emphasize the importance of eating plenty of fiber, to help sweep things through the intestine. It isn't foolproof, one can still get some stuff festering in a pouch, but the fiber can't hurt and could help. Other than that, like they say, surgery is the fix. My wife had 1/3 of her colon removed in 2008 and it ended years of agony, but now she has to stay close to a bathroom. Stuff moves through her much faster and she never knows if it's gas or worse until she sits on the throne... can't take the chance.

I had 10 inches of my colon removed in 2000 due to this. Woke up at 2am in pain and throwing up, looked so bad the DW took me to the ER. Had never had symptoms other than diarrhea which was attributed to lactose intolerance. After the surgery and about 5 weeks recovery I felt fine. I was given a booklet listing all the things not to eat. Four years ago had a checkup and colonoscopy and the Dr. Informed me that the "protocols" for treatment had changed and to go ahead and eat pretty much whatever I wanted in moderation and I'm still doing fine.

I had the surgery to remove some of my colon ten years ago because of acute diverticulitis. It gave me my life back. It was a MOST SUCCESSFUL surgery. After recovery I was as good as new again. It completely solved my problem. Look here for more info on the surgery. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002941.htm

I had it for 5 years and at first it was every 2 years, then every year and the last one was 6 months from the previous. I learned to recognize the twinge of pain and symptoms and go immediately to the doctor and get antibiotics. That worked for awhile. During the last attack my primary doctor sent me to a great GI surgeon. He gave me the options: 1. keep doing what I was doing and take the risk of the antibiotics not working and then when I had surgery I would have to have a colostomy bag for several weeks and then a second surgery to remove the colostomy or 2. I could elect to have surgery to remove the portion of my colon that was affected. I elected to have the surgery and am so glad I did. No more pain and no more diarrhea. Had the surgery 12 years ago. It is major surgery and 6 weeks recuperation. I believe the new diet for the problem is not as restrictive as the old one. Talk to a gastroenterology doctor for the diet and to a surgeon for your particular options.

Putting a scope down your throat cannot rule diverticulosis in or out. Diverticulosis is outcroppings or little pouches on your intestine wall. Diverticulosis is the disease of having the pouches only. The problem comes when something cause one or more of the pouches to become inflamed. This sometimes happens when material becomes trapped in the pouch, such as seeds etc. This is diverticulitis and is what causes the pain.
There is no treatment for diverticulosis short of removal of the intestine that has the outcroppings. The treatment for diverticulitis is RX antibiotics and some doctors believe in a bland diet and avoidance of certain foods. If the diverticulitis cannot be treated conservatively then surgery to remove the affected part is usually beneficial. You sound like a possible candidate for surgery. But surgeons are hesitant to operate while you have an infection and that is why the WBC is important here, but I do not understand the 16 and think you misunderstood the number UNLESS they told you 16,000 which is a HIGH WBC and would indicate an infection. So the first thing is to get rid of the DIVERTICULITIS (inflammation) so the diverticulosis (outpouchings) can be taken care of if you are a candidate for surgery.

Do you have insurance coverage where you can go to private doctor? If you do why are you going to the VA? The rink has a good suggestion.

I have it and had 18" of my colon removed. That was 3 yrs ago. Haven't had another issue yet.
Get a colonoscopy and a good GI surgeon.