u/Ok-Comfort-7262

I went to the hospital last Thursday with soreness in my lower abdomen. I got blood work done as well as a CT scan. There was no infection, but the doc prescribed 7 days of Flagyl and 10 days of Cipro. Since then, I have been eating before taking the medication (and also eating small meals during the day) and the last couple of days, it is the only part of the day when I eat because I am still having pain (but higher up in the abdomen than last week). I know you are supposed to eat something with Flagyl/Cipro, but do I really have to? Or should I focus on a clear liquid diet while still taking the antibiotics until the pain goes away? I'm hungry but I live in fear of eating because of how I feel. I can't believe some people live years like this.

I've read some comments and questions on various posts where people discuss the outcome of surgery being a need for a permanent colostomy bag (or other type of bag, sorry for my ignorance). In what scenario related to DV would this have to happen? How common (or uncommon) is it? I am aiming for an elective surgery and although I know the chance of a temporary bag is a possibility, I didn't consider it could be permanent until recently. The thought terrifies me. I know plenty of people live with these things and learn to adapt, but my life already feels like it has been turned upside down since being diagnosed and dealing with this awful disease and I don't know how I would mentally deal with a permanent bag.

So I haven't been diagnosed with smoldering diverticulitis, but I suspect I have it. I was first admitted to a hospital in late December with a microperforation and from that time to April, I felt up and down constantly with pain and discomfort coming and going despite my best efforts to stick to a low residue diet and trying to reintroduce fiber. In early April, I was admitted with another perforation but with an abscess. I went to urgent care last week because I was feeling pain in my lower abdomen and wanted to make sure I didn't have another infection. Luckily, I didn't. However, I got a CT scan on 5/07 and one of the notes said the inflammation is "grossly stable compared to 4/07." This is really frustrating because I have been even more strict with my diet since that April hospitalization. I continue to lose weight, but the inflammation is still there. I suspect the inflammation went down a bit in between, but constipation from being on a low res diet caused inflammation again. Anyhow, I am scheduled for a colonoscopy in early July and I really want to get there, but I can't see how with this inflammation.

Does anyone have tips on "combatting" smoldering DV? I am meeting with a GI doc and a surgeon next week and I am really hoping they can provide some insight. I am currently on Flagyl and Cipro and also hoping that will help the inflammation as well.

I was admitted to the hospital last month for a perforation with an abscess and was discharged one month ago today. I was given a 10 day course of Flagyl & Vantin, which I finished on 4/18. Yesterday, I went to urgent care because my lower abdomen was feeling sore and I wanted to make sure I didn't have another infection (especially because of my history of complicated diverticulitis). I didn't have an infection based on the blood work and the CT scan, but I did have inflammation similar to what I had last month. The doctor prescribed another course of antibiotics - this time a 7 day course of Flagyl and 10 day course of Cipro. Why did they prescribe these antibiotics if I didn't have an infection? I started taking them because they advised me to, but it almost feels...wrong. I think I feel this way especially because I just recently took Flagyl. Anyone have thoughts on this? These antibiotics don't help fight inflammation, right? It's just to fight bacterial infections? Am I missing something?

I went into urgent care last night because I felt soreness across my lower abdomen. I was afraid it was another infection and wanted to get checked just in case. [Note: I was first diagnosed with diverticulitis with a microperforation in late December and was back in the hospital one month ago with a perforation and abscess. I was hospitalized both times, given antibiotics, and monitored to ensure I didn't need emergency surgery.] They did blood work and a CT scan given my history of complicated diverticulitis. Luckily, my blood work came back okay and my white blood cell count was within the normal range. The doctor reviewed the CT result with me and she said that basically the inflammation from last month is still there. I don't think it has been consistently there because if it was, I think I would have been feeling pain for the past month, which I haven't. Anyhow, they gave me a prescription for Cipro & Flagyl which I have to take for the next 7-10 days. This morning, in reviewing the CT results myself, I was confused and frankly, a bit scared to read the report. The doctor who wrote up the report used the word "mass" in the description, which was not used in the past two CT scans. My mind went to the worst case scenario, but I wonder if this is common terminology in a CT report for diverticulitis inflammation. Also, in this report, they noted about inflammation in the lower right quadrant without a single mention of the sigmoid colon even though the last two reports specifically referenced the sigmoid colon. They also mentioned the terminal ileum and base of the cecum which past reports also didn't mention. I wonder if this is a matter of one doctor's interpretation over another's or something else. My report can be seen below. Any thoughts on this?

____________________________________________________________

Impression

Compared with 4/7/2026 there is persistent inflammatory mass in the right lower quadrant involving the terminal ileum and base of the cecum. Tiny localized pockets of air within this inflammatory mass consistent with localized perforation. Findings may be the result of diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease. No obstruction or new fluid collections. This report electronically signed by [Doctor] on 5/8/2026 5:44 AM

Narrative

CLINICAL HISTORY: Reason: lower abdominal pain Diverticulitis before CREAT 0.89 04/08/2026 EGFR CREATININE-BASED 110 04/08/2026 COMPARISON: Multiple prior exams

TECHNIQUE: Study performed per protocol. CT Dose: As required by California law, the CTDIvol and DLP radiation doses associated with this CT study are listed below. This represents the estimated dose to a standard lucite phantom resulting from the technique used for this study, but is not the dose to this specific patient.

Type / CTDIvol / DLP / Phantom

Abdomen / 13.93 / 800.57 / B

Total Exam DLP: 800.57

CTDIvol = mGy DLP = mGy-cm

Phantom: B=Body32, H=Head16

CONTRAST: 100 mL of iohexol Inj 100 mL (OMNIPAQUE 300) by route: intraVENOUS

FINDINGS: Lung bases are unremarkable.

ABDOMEN: Liver: No suspicious enhancing hepatic lesions. Bile Ducts: No dilatation is seen. Gallbladder: No inflammatory changes are seen. Pancreas: The pancreas shows expected enhancement. No ductal dilatation is seen. Spleen: The spleen is not enlarged.

Adrenal Glands: The adrenal glands show normal size and shape. Kidneys: The kidneys show symmetric enhancement. No renal mass is identified. No hydronephrosis is seen. Vasculature: The vasculature is unremarkable. Lymph nodes: No adenopathy is seen.

Gastrointestinal Tract: Again seen is a masslike area of inflammation in the right lower quadrant involving the terminal ileum and base of the cecum which is grossly stable compared with 4/7/2026. There is likely contained perforation within this inflammatory mass. There is thickening and hyperenhancement of the terminal ileum. The appendix is normal caliber. Peritoneal Cavity: No ascites or pneumoperitoneum is seen. PELVIS: Bladder: Urinary bladder is unremarkable. Prostate/Seminal Vesicles: The prostate gland is not enlarged. The seminal vesicles appear symmetric. Rectum: The rectum is decompressed. Lymph nodes: No adenopathy is seen.

Has anyone ever had pain in the lower right quadrant that feels like pulsating or radiating pain? When I have a flare up, I generally start getting pain all across my lower abdomen as well as specific pains on both the left and right side at random times. This last time I had a flare up and was in the hospital (with a perforation and abscess), I had pain that went from right around the belly button area down to the my lower right abdomen where I believe my appendix is. Since then, I have randomly felt radiating/pulsating pain stemming from that appendix area. It comes and goes. I wonder if inflammation from my diverticulitis caused inflammation in the appendix that is lingering. Is that a possibility?

I was released from the hospital three weeks ago having had a perforation with an abscess. I was previously hospitalized in late December with a microperforation. Since being home from the hospital, I have been conservative with what I am eating - lots of white rice (with soy sauce, most times), white pasta (with butter and salt), toast, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken. I have felt okay for the most part but I always have a bit of pain or discomfort throughout most days. This past week, I have tried to introduce some fiber items like guacamole and hummus, but it has caused me some pain. I was feeling better this week but I just slipped up and had a bean & cheese burrito 2 days ago and I feel like I am paying for it now. I had bad gas last night with some diarrhea. It affected my sleep a bit last night, but I slept most of the night. Today, I have been getting sharp pains all around the lower abdomen. I had liquid for most of the day but I had a little bit of white rice now because I am hungry. I am so tired and sick of this feeling. I finally got a referral for a gastroenterologist and I will be calling to make an appointment tomorrow and I have a colonoscopy scheduled for early July. I guess my question to you all is, would you recommend that I stick to a low res diet? If so, how long do you think I should stick with it? Should I maintain it all the way through July? This diet gets old fast!

I am on a low res diet (going on 3+ weeks) and I have had a few instances where my stool has been on the harder side. I want to be on the diet for at least another week to help heal my last flare up, but I want softer stools. I'm trying to get into the habit of taking a single serving of Miralax every day or maybe every other day (or even considering a half serving every day). However, I believe I am getting some of the side effects of the medication (some gas, some discomfort around the abdomen) that I would rather do without. I am curious to know if anyone else has experienced this and if those side effects went away the more you took the medicine. I realize I might just need to deal with the discomfort in order to avoid the constipation and potentially, another flare up.