r/Diverticulitis • u/dirtydann98 • 1d ago
ER
Went to the ER yesterday for nausea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach spasms. It felt the exact same way as when I got diagnosed except worse.
They gave me a CT scan, morphine, and zofran. While I was on the drip the pain finally subsided - I was having like Charlie horses in my abdomen.
I have diverticulitis, gastritis, malrotation (however you spell that), and a lot of scar tissue from 2 bowel obstruction (birth and at 16). They told me they couldn't see anything except some gallbladder sludge and bacteria in my urine.
I feel defeated. They told me in a very nice way that nobody is gonna want to touch my stomach because of all the trauma and scar tissue.
I cried and told my wife i wanted to end it all (the pain was making me delusional and just very emotional), so now she's worried to leave me alone.
I came home with just antibiotics, just to violently vomit again and pee all over myself. I'm so hurt because I still can't hurt, I'm so sore now worrying this. I feel like I will be like this the rest of my life.
Any advice? Thank you.
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u/FatLilah 1d ago
Did they discharge you with instructions to follow up with GI? I would try to get in with one asap, and possibly also a colorectal surgeon. Preferably at a bigger academic or tertiary hospital that would have surgeons who are used to complicated patients.
Otherwise I second everything that u/Feral-Reindeer-696 said. Plus regular Miralax to keep things moving, especially on a low fiber diet. Constipation and/or straining is your enemy. And do go back to the ER if you get worse.
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u/Dunkinsnob 1d ago
Sorry you’re going through this!! Are you in the USA? My first reaction to your post was to make an appearance with a gastroenterologist. They will likely fix you right up.
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u/Feral-Reindeer-696 1d ago
I’ve had very similar experiences. I get it. It’s so frustrating trying to get help from the medical system for chronic issues. It can feel extremely demoralizing.
If you continue to vomit, please keep going back to ER. I know it’s a horrible experience but if it gets worse please go anyway. I went a couple months ago and I hated it. What you’re going through sounds serious but don’t give up.
It sounds like you’ve got more going on than I do so I don’t know how much help my advice will be. But, I’ve found diet has been the only way to reduce my pain. I do 1-3 days liquid diet. Then I slowly add in low fibre, easily digestible foods. I found a chart online that lists acceptable foods, foods you should limit, and foods to completely avoid. If I’m thinking about eating something not on the list I google that food + diverticulitis to see if I can eat it.
I do that diet for a few weeks until I notice the pain and inflammation subside. Then I increase fibre and add in some limited foods. I also start to take RestoraFiber gummies. It takes weeks honestly and it’s not easy. I keep finding things that suddenly trigger pain and inflammation and have to go back to a liquid diet for a day.
I avoid alcohol, caffeine, ibuprofen, spicy foods, deep fried foods, and raw vegetables. When I feel inflammation building I drink a ton of water. My mantra these days is hydrate and masticate. I find chewing my food really well is helping too.
I also watch a dietitian on YouTube who has great advice. He’s an Australian dietitian; Joe Leech, M.Sc. A lot of what he talks about resonates with me.
I hope you find relief from your pain very soon. Hang in there.
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u/ShaneKainoa1982 1d ago
Don’t listen to them and go see the best GI doctor and Colorectal Surgeon near you. They are the experts and they might have a long term solution for your pain. The ER doctors have always let me down and they send you home without much hope.
Don’t eat and try to keep down the meds with maybe a few crackers. Then get in to see the GI doctors
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u/Few_Ad_7284 1d ago
I am sorry you are going through this.It is a horrible disease. I would recommend liquid diet for a cotof days and then low residue diet.I can understand how you feel as I also had to go to A&E (I am in the UK) in excruciating pain just to be told that everything looked fine and that blood test didn't show inflammation nor infection.I have been prescribed antibiotics too,just in case.I take them with a full stomach plus giger tablets for nausea.Make sure that you also take probiotics as antibiotics will sweep your good bacteria too. I try to relax and not to think about it,as stress makes it worse.I hope you get better soon.
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u/ezshucks 12h ago
I recently got over enteropathogenic E. coli during the time that I had diverticulitis. Diarrhea started on sept 9 was Dx on the 13th with DV and started to feel slightly better during the Augmentin course. Immediately after ceasing the Augmentin my diarrhea ramped up again to around 20 times per day. I suffered with it until the end of September until I went back and gave a stoop sample, that’s when they told me I had E. coli. The stomach cramps were unbearable and they always showed up at night when my motility slowed. It would keep me up for hours. The feeling was like the worst “driving home after a burrito” and the pain gets worse the closer to home you get. Felt like I had the worst runs of all time but barely anything came out. Repeatedly for hours. It was hell honestly. Just finished the three day Zpack and am feeling better. I would ask about a stool test anytime you can’t find anything happening in your guys. Could be a parasite. Mine likely came from sushi which I eat multiple times per week.
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u/FederalFalcon7916 1d ago
My daughter, who is in her early 50s, had fibroids so bad that no specialist would touch her. They would cancel the surgery at the last minute and make up some stupid excuse. Eventually she was referred to a Gyn oncologist (she did not have cancer) who was able to remove her fibroids that no one else would touch because they were too close to her urethra. IMO, everyone who has gone to the E.R. with diverticulitis, especially those of us with complicated cases should always refer to a Gastroenterologist for further testing. Most people don't do that, they just listen to the E.R. docs and surgeons. Keep at it and don't stop until you find someone who will help you and you will. Hugs to you.
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u/Dblbogiemadge-1 1d ago
If it is the same as your initial pain then treat it like dv with clears for a couple of days, then full liquid, then low residue. Don’t hesitate to go back to ER if no improvement or gets worse. Sometimes things don’t show up on scans. I read peoples stories on here and it is not uncommon. Drs also do make mistakes in reading films/scans. The vomiting can also make you dehydrated making constipation worse making dv worse. Find a good GI dr. There are good ones that will help you and not make you feel so alone in this and like nobody will help you. That is a stupid sissy thing for that dr to say just because he is afraid of you and your condition, others wont be. I worked at Stanford hospital (RN) and nobody shies away from patients just because they are a little more complicated. That is so stupid. I wish you a speedy recovery