Yesterday morning I started getting these dull pains in my side and as the day progressed so did the pains so much so I couldn't get off the couch. At home with 4 children and my husband at work I was scared.
I finally decided I was going to my doctor's who has a walk in clinic as part of their office. Meanwhile on the way there I called my husband at work, crying from the pain, he met me at the doctors but after sitting there so long and not yet seeing a doctor we decided to go to the ER.
The triage nurse asked me a handful of questions, are you pregnant, my answer no not yet. She suggested maybe I had an ectopic pregnancy - great thank you for giving me that thought. So they called my name and in I went to be poked with needles, IV hooked up. The doctor game in and suggested where the pain was that maybe it was a twisted ovary, a cyst on my ovary or diverticulitis.
They gave me an ultrasound, praise God not cysts, my ovary isn't twisted and I do not have an ectopic pregnancy. Next I had to drink 3 big cups of this tasty stuff for my cat scan. It had to work thru my body for 2 hours and then it was time for the test.
At 9:00 last night I finally got the results. I have Diverticulitis. Diver what???? Diverticular disease is a disorder of the gastro-intestinal tract that particularly affects the colon. This disorder is characterised by the development of pockets or 'diverticula' within the colon wall. These diverticula tend to develop in the weak areas of the bowel, in particular, sites where a large number of bloods vessels penetrate the walls of the bowel and in areas that are generally narrower than most others- such as the sigmoid colon.
Apparently I was having an attack yesterday. I had an attack. My intestines are inflamed. I have an infection. I begged the Dr. not to admit me so before I left the hospital they gave me IV of pain meds and an antibiotic. I have to get my prescription filled this morning for meds to take for 10 days. If I do not see an improvement I have to go back and stay for 2 days w/ an IV antibiotic. I am bummed not only from the pain but no more berries! What am I going to put in my smoothies! Apparently I have pockets in my intestines that these seeds get caught in and causes an attack. I have to go see a gasto doctor next week. Apparently this will be a life changing diet for me.
I would have never guessed I would have had this in my life. Personally I thought it was my appendix or Gall bladder. So now what does that mean? A high-fiber diet and pain medications help relieve symptoms in most cases of diverticulitis.
Apparently this is a life changing diet and lifestyle.
No fun, sorry to hear this. I just want to share with you I was diagnosed with this at the age of 21 and took steriods for 10 years and ate no nuts or foods with seeds. Only 10 years later to find out it was a gluten intolerance that was causing the inflamation. I can now eat all the nuts, seeds, strawberries and more, as long as I don't eat wheat. You may want to get another opinion if the meds do not help or you just don't feel like yourself. Feel better! Oatmeal will be your new best friend - high in fiber.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon. My MIL has this and occasionally has flair ups, but she does very well most of the time.
ReplyDeleteA relative of mine has this, I know they have the flare ups/attacks too and it is very painful.
ReplyDeleteThey take Citrucel regularly and it seems to help some.
For smoothies...well. Uh. You could put creamy peanut butter in a smoothie. Maybe make an orange julius? Strawberries and raspberry types are out.
I hope you feel better! Take good care.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better soon! My mother-in-law was diagnosed with the same thing.
ReplyDeleteJen
I hope you feel better soon. Give me a call if you need a set of helping hands.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better, take care of yourself and get as much rest as you can-you know with 4 kids and all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story and hope you feel better, I too have issues with my stomache and need to watch what I eat. I need a high fiber diet as well, sometimes I think I have too much. if you know the happy medium to a great diet could you please share with me. Never know whats gonna bother me at any time of the day. Enough about me, feel better and glad I found your site. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI have ulcerative colitis so I am familiar with your pain. I am on a VERY low fiber diet so if you have any questions just holler!
ReplyDeleteHugs! Hope you feel better. I too have Diverticulitis (my grandma & dad also had it). I also have Crohn's Disease, there are some days I feel like I can't eat ANYTHING.
ReplyDeleteOuch! You poor thing!! Well, thank goodness you know what it is and it sounds like you can manage the condition. Best wishes as you heal!
ReplyDeleteI stopped by as result of diaper giveaway and saw you were homeschooling mom and then read this. When I read the first part and you thought it might be a twisted ovary I thought back to when I had intense pain and they thought may it was that, but a cyst which turned out to be a teratoma.
ReplyDeleteHope the diet works. You have a great blog and I am glad I got here today. I teach at a homeschooling tutorial- Classical and Christian in MD. I love it as I can do that and still be the primary caregiver for my mom who has Alzheimer's. In my spare time ?? I also blog.
Prayed that God would make this diet tradition easy for you and it relieve the pain.