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What Causes Stomach Pain, Bloating And Constipation While Treating Diverticulitis?
Question: Hi this is my 6th diverticulitis attack in 7 years
I AM CURRENTLY ON 500 Cipprofloxin 2 times a day.
I just started yesterday - so this morning was my 3rd dose.
This is one of the worst attacks.
I have no fever.
Question - I am on clear liquids now but I can tell that my body needs to have a bowel movement but it is not happening yet.
Should I take Miralax to help clean me out and thereby helping my colon heal?
The pain is worse because I can tell my bowels are full and I am bloated and in a lot of pain
It hurts to walk - but again no fever.
How many more days should I continue on the antibiotics before I start to get better and if it goes like this for a few more days should I just get the surgery and put the bag on?
Scared as hell
Thanks
I live in the US and am basically in normal height and weight
5'9" 150pounds
Should I just get resection surgery after this bout is over
Its classic left side
I AM CURRENTLY ON 500 Cipprofloxin 2 times a day.
I just started yesterday - so this morning was my 3rd dose.
This is one of the worst attacks.
I have no fever.
Question - I am on clear liquids now but I can tell that my body needs to have a bowel movement but it is not happening yet.
Should I take Miralax to help clean me out and thereby helping my colon heal?
The pain is worse because I can tell my bowels are full and I am bloated and in a lot of pain
It hurts to walk - but again no fever.
How many more days should I continue on the antibiotics before I start to get better and if it goes like this for a few more days should I just get the surgery and put the bag on?
Scared as hell
Thanks
I live in the US and am basically in normal height and weight
5'9" 150pounds
Should I just get resection surgery after this bout is over
Its classic left side
Brief Answer:
Scheduled surgery seems advisable.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
As you probably know, diverticulitis can cause abscess, perforation and in some cases bowels obstruction. Lack of fever, does not rule out this complications. Especially that you are on the antibiotic. Pain while walking(and while coughing) can indicate abscess.
But lets assume that there is no abscess at this point (if it were, you would have night sweating and accelerated heart rate).
As you can not pass the stool, bowels obstruction is possible. Other, very common bowels obstruction symptoms are inability to pass gas, bloating, nausea. If you have any of this symptoms, ER visit would be a good idea.
Please also check your heart rate. If its over 100, go to ER.
If its not complicated diverticulitis, you should get better after 3 days of antibiotic treatment. As you have recurring diverticulitis, Rifaximine treatment would be advisable. If you are able to get this antibiotic, please try it.
You can take Miralax to soften the stool and eliminate constipation. But do not force the stool, as you may cause perforation.
Why do you assume that the surgery will result with a bag? Temporal bag (stoma) is necessary in case of bowels obstruction or developed abscess. In other cases we are able to make an anastomosis (connect intestines).
If you have had diverticulitis for more than 3-4 times by now, and they seem to recur again and again, scheduled surgery is a good idea.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Scheduled surgery seems advisable.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
As you probably know, diverticulitis can cause abscess, perforation and in some cases bowels obstruction. Lack of fever, does not rule out this complications. Especially that you are on the antibiotic. Pain while walking(and while coughing) can indicate abscess.
But lets assume that there is no abscess at this point (if it were, you would have night sweating and accelerated heart rate).
As you can not pass the stool, bowels obstruction is possible. Other, very common bowels obstruction symptoms are inability to pass gas, bloating, nausea. If you have any of this symptoms, ER visit would be a good idea.
Please also check your heart rate. If its over 100, go to ER.
If its not complicated diverticulitis, you should get better after 3 days of antibiotic treatment. As you have recurring diverticulitis, Rifaximine treatment would be advisable. If you are able to get this antibiotic, please try it.
You can take Miralax to soften the stool and eliminate constipation. But do not force the stool, as you may cause perforation.
Why do you assume that the surgery will result with a bag? Temporal bag (stoma) is necessary in case of bowels obstruction or developed abscess. In other cases we are able to make an anastomosis (connect intestines).
If you have had diverticulitis for more than 3-4 times by now, and they seem to recur again and again, scheduled surgery is a good idea.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you
That was probably one of the BEST answers and discussions I have ever had from this site.
Seriously - Thank you.
One final thing -YOU as a surgeon are going to be the only one who can answer this. Please just bear with me - This means something I think.
Final Question:
WHY IS IT THAT WHEN I FILL MY STOMACH WITH AIR AND REALLY PUSH OUT MY STOMACH LIKE I AM TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK PREGNANT DOES MY PAIN ALMOST GO AWAY??????
IS IT BECAUSE BY DOING SO THAT I AMINTERNALLY LIFTING MY COLON AWAY FROM MY BLADDER.
BECAUSE WHEN I HAVE THESE ATTACKS MANY TIMES THEY START OUT LIKE I HAVE A BLADDER INFECTION AND MANY MANY TIMES THEY HAVE HAPPENED AFTER I SEX (NORMAL OLD BORING SEX) WITH ORGASM.
DO YOU THINK MY COLON IS SOMEHOW ATTACHED NOW TO MY BLADDER?
OK THANK YOU AGAIN
NO XXXXXXX DOCTOR HAS EVER GIVEN ME SUCH A GREAT ANSWER AS YOU DID.
DESPARATELY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU FINAL RESPONSE.
TAKE CARE
That was probably one of the BEST answers and discussions I have ever had from this site.
Seriously - Thank you.
One final thing -YOU as a surgeon are going to be the only one who can answer this. Please just bear with me - This means something I think.
Final Question:
WHY IS IT THAT WHEN I FILL MY STOMACH WITH AIR AND REALLY PUSH OUT MY STOMACH LIKE I AM TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK PREGNANT DOES MY PAIN ALMOST GO AWAY??????
IS IT BECAUSE BY DOING SO THAT I AMINTERNALLY LIFTING MY COLON AWAY FROM MY BLADDER.
BECAUSE WHEN I HAVE THESE ATTACKS MANY TIMES THEY START OUT LIKE I HAVE A BLADDER INFECTION AND MANY MANY TIMES THEY HAVE HAPPENED AFTER I SEX (NORMAL OLD BORING SEX) WITH ORGASM.
DO YOU THINK MY COLON IS SOMEHOW ATTACHED NOW TO MY BLADDER?
OK THANK YOU AGAIN
NO XXXXXXX DOCTOR HAS EVER GIVEN ME SUCH A GREAT ANSWER AS YOU DID.
DESPARATELY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU FINAL RESPONSE.
TAKE CARE
Brief Answer:
You may have a connection between bladder and large intestine.
Detailed Answer:
When you do that (push out your stomach) there is much more space in the abdomen. Smooth muscles can get relaxed, intestines can be detached from the abdominal wall (front abdominal pleura is the most sensitive part of the abdomen and it gives a lot of pain when inflamed). So you may feel relief.
This particular sign does not indicate any issue with the bladder.
However, from the other hand, diverticulitis can cause a connection between large intestine and bladder. Depending of the size of such connection, recurring bladder infections (the connection tends to close when the inflammation is gone) or constant bladder infection (when the connection does not close at all) are typical symptoms of such connection. It is called fistula. And it has to be repaired with surgery.
In extreme cases, patients are able to see brownish particles in the urine.
Recurring bladder infections can lead to kidneys degeneration. So thats just another argument to get the surgery done.
But before it, abdominal and pelvis CT with contrast is necessary to either rule out or confirm fistula.
Once again, scheduled surgery of the sigmoid colon diverticles (and other parts of intestines) usually does not result with a stoma. Urgent surgery very often ends like that. So it is much better to have it done as a scheduled surgery, than wait for perforation.
You seem to be a strong candidate for such surgery.
You may have a connection between bladder and large intestine.
Detailed Answer:
When you do that (push out your stomach) there is much more space in the abdomen. Smooth muscles can get relaxed, intestines can be detached from the abdominal wall (front abdominal pleura is the most sensitive part of the abdomen and it gives a lot of pain when inflamed). So you may feel relief.
This particular sign does not indicate any issue with the bladder.
However, from the other hand, diverticulitis can cause a connection between large intestine and bladder. Depending of the size of such connection, recurring bladder infections (the connection tends to close when the inflammation is gone) or constant bladder infection (when the connection does not close at all) are typical symptoms of such connection. It is called fistula. And it has to be repaired with surgery.
In extreme cases, patients are able to see brownish particles in the urine.
Recurring bladder infections can lead to kidneys degeneration. So thats just another argument to get the surgery done.
But before it, abdominal and pelvis CT with contrast is necessary to either rule out or confirm fistula.
Once again, scheduled surgery of the sigmoid colon diverticles (and other parts of intestines) usually does not result with a stoma. Urgent surgery very often ends like that. So it is much better to have it done as a scheduled surgery, than wait for perforation.
You seem to be a strong candidate for such surgery.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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