Question: HISTORY: Two months ago, my husband had his first attack of diverticulitis. He was diagnosed via CT scan. After a round of Cipro & Flagyl, a blood test showed a normal white cell count and no signs of inflammation. (Colonoscopies 2 and 7 years ago showed minimal diverticulosis.) He slowly transitioned from a low fiber diet to a normal diet plus Metamucil.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW: After eating a Burger King hamburger on a road trip this last weekend, he started having that same diverticulitis pain, but it was very mild. Over the course of the past three days, it has gotten better and he's now just a little sore. He's back on a low fiber diet.

QUESTION: Is this a new attack of diverticulitis? or has he not totally healed from the one he had two months ago? Since the discomfort never progressed and has gotten much better, we don't know if he should get another CT scan or just keep doing what he's doing, adding a little more fiber every day until he's ready to get back to normal and back on the Metamucil.

He is not constipated. In fact, he had a little diarrhea when he started eating again.

The pain is in his lower left abdomen, just like it was when he first developed diverticulitis two months ago, but it was much, MUCH milder this time.

The mild lower left abdominal pain started after he ate that burger (we don't eat much red meat or processed food), but never got worse. Within 36 hours, it was no longer pain, it was just discomfort.

He is very careful on the Mayo Clinic low-fiber diet not to let himself get constipated.

Both the pain and discomfort are now gone, but he's only planning to reintroduce higher fiber foods slowly because he's worried they'll come back.

Does he need antibiotics or anything else, or should he just keep doing what he's doing?