Tag: infection

Diagnosing Diverticulitis

Posted in digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, Hospital, Medical examinations, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

When diagnosing diverticulitis, the first thing that doctors usually do is carry out a blood test followed by other tests such as CT scans, X-rays and even ultrasounds.

Full Blood Count

The full blood count can tell doctors a lot about your current health. The number of red blood cells can tell doctors if you’re anaemic and perhaps losing blood. But one of the most important markers in a blood test when trying to check for diverticulitis is the white blood cell count.

White blood cells are a part of the immune system and are responsible for fighting diseases and illnesses. When a pathogen (harmful bacteria or virus) enters the body, it is identified by the immune system which then increases the number of white blood cells. An amount of white blood cells higher than the normal range could be considered to be a sign of infection. However, it is possible to have diverticulitis but not have a measurable increase in white blood cells. So a normal blood result doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have an infection or inflammation in the bowel.

CRP (C-Reative Protein)

CRP is known as an inflammation marker – it is a protein released by human tissues when they are inflamed. The higher the amount of CRP in the blood, the more inflammation there is. Having elevated CRP in addition to abdominal pain and other symptoms is a good indicator of diverticulitis. However, your doctor should also check carry out an abdominal examination too just in case the inflammation is coming from somewhere else.

An abdominal exam can help doctors find out if there is anything strange going on…

Abdominal Examination

It’s likely your doctor may carry our an abdominal examination. This is where the doctor will press on your abdomen to discover where the pain originates and if it is the bowel that is inflamed. It’s important to be very honest about the pain you are feeling at this point so that the doctor can rules out any other issues or sources of inflammation.

CT scanner…in you go!

CT scan

This is usually the most effective way to diagnose diverticulitis. A CT scan can be done with or without contrast, but contrast certainly helps when interpreting the results. The two main types of contrast are oral and intravenous (IV). The oral contrast is often a liquid mixed with water that you drink before the scan. It helps to highlight the digestive tract on your scan. The IV contrast is injected into a vein and reaches the tissues and helps them show up better on the scan. Some hospitals may choose to have their patients take both types of contrast. However, it is important than you let the doctor know of any allergies you have before you receive any contrast agents.

A CT scan is painless and just requires the patient to hold their breath for short periods. Let the technician or doctor performing the scan know if you suffer from asthma or COPD or any problem that makes you find it difficult to hold your breath.

After the scan, your results will not be ready immediately since they will need to be looked at by a doctor and a thorough report written. See my post on CT scans for more information.

X-rays

Some doctors may choose to send their patients for X-rays. This is to check for perforations in the bowel since X-rays can easily pick up excess gas in the abdomen that may be leaking out from the bowel. The results of an X-ray are much more immediate which is why this test might be chosen particularly if the patient is in a lot of pain or has a history of perforations and sepsis.

Ultrasound

Again, some doctors may want to send their patients for an ultrasound. This is very common during first time diagnoses when patients are doctors don’t know that the patient even has diverticular disease yet. An ultrasound may also show an abscess or cyst as a result of diverticulitis. It may also be able to detect excess air of material in the abdomen. However, it is not as clear as a CT scan, but the results are more immediate.

Why don’t doctors use colonoscopies to diagnose diverticulitis?

It’s very rare that a doctor would use a colonoscopy to diagnose diverticulitis because while a patient has an infection, it would be very painful and a little dangerous to insert an endoscope. There is a chance that the colonoscopy during an infection could make it even worse or could even cause damage to the colon.

Have you been diagnosed with diverticulitis? Which methods did the doctors use to diagnose you?

Hayley’s Gallbladder story

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My gallbladder story is quite short really and uncomplicated in comparison to others. I’d never really experienced any problems with my gallbladder. Although, looking back, there was a time I had a sharp and horrendous pain in my upper-right abdomen in 2012 one day while at work. The pain was severe and my boss called an ambulance which came right away and injected me with a load of pain killers and muscle relaxants. I went home and slept it off and the pain was gone within a few hours so I never even went to a doctor about it. Maybe, that was an attack, maybe not.

Fast-forward to the beginning of February 2019. I was still being investigated after a complicated case of diverticulitis that resulted in the perforation of my bowel and a battle with sepsis. My constant lower-abdominal discomfort caused my gastroenterologist to send me for a full abdominal ultrasound. He wanted to rule out abscesses, cysts and adhesions so requested a scan of the whole abdomen.

Ultrasounds are no big deal. Totally painless and easy to do.

At the ultrasound, the doctor started snapping pictures of my organs and measuring dimensions, then, the moment he got a clear image of my gallbladder, he asked ‘Are you on the waiting list to get this removed?’, ‘No’ I replied, ‘Why do you ask?’ and he told me that there were a few small stones in there, but more importantly a polyp. I told him I had no idea and hadn’t had any symptoms of things not working well. Anyway, at the end of the ultrasound, he gave me all the printed photographs and a written report detailing what he had found and told me to go back to my gastroenterologist as soon as possible.

The gastroenterologist told me that it would need to be removed and set up a meeting with a surgeon for a few days later. He looked at my results, agreed that it needed to be removed because of the potential for the polyp because of its size to be a risk. He penciled me in for two weeks later to get it removed. In the mean time, he told me to eat a low fat diet and gave me a list of foods to avoid. (I’ll post about this soon, I promise)

Before I knew it, it was removal day. At 7:30am I hopped onto the trolley and was taken down to surgery. I watched the staff running around doing last-minute checks and preparation. It was fun chatting to the hospital porter who spoke pretty good English and was so smiley. I wasn’t particularly nervous or scared, I deal with hospital and needles etc pretty well and I’m not someone to get themselves into a state about a surgery. I’m sure I was mid-sentence joking with the surgeon and porter as I drifted off into a deep sleep and the surgery began.

In what seems like no time at all, I wake up in a different room with an IV in the opposite arm and a drain coming out of a hole in my upper-right abdomen. I look to my right and the porter is stood there smiling. I smile back and say ‘I need to sit up’, He immediately props the trolley up and hands me a little sick bowl….no, I say, I feel like I can’t breathe. So, he calls over a nurse who measures my oxygen levels and rushes off and comes back with a mask. I’m hooked up to oxygen and starting to catch my breath. Five or ten minutes later, the porter takes me back to the ward where my boyfriend was waiting to see me. He seemed worried, I asked him what the problem was and it was only then, that he told me that the surgery was expected to last maybe an hour and a half, but that I had been there for over four hours due to it being a tricky surgery. I hadn’t even noticed what the time was.

I expected to be in major pain the rest of the day, but other than a horrible discomfort in my back and shoulders, I had no pain at all. I refused dinner when the nurse brought it. I wasn’t hungry at all and the noodle soup did NOT look appetizing at all. I was alone now because my boyfriend had left for work. I forgot I had the drain and as I got up out of bed and went to the bathroom, I must have moved the drain a little and it was a bit sore. After the effort of that, I went back to bed and was in a little pain. The nurse came to check on me and when I told her it was sore, she injected something into my IV and the pain subsided and I drifted off again.

I woke up the next morning feeling quite chipper. I still had some discomfort in my back and chest from the gas, but was keen to get up and about. I got up had a wash, brushed my teeth and did my hair. Then I got changed. When the nurse offered pain relief via the IV, I declined since I didn’t have any pain except for the gas pains. I got up and walked around the ward and the catering team brought me a chamomile tea which I sipped at.

My surgeon came in to speak to me and told me not to lift heavy things or to strain when going to the bathroom due to the risk of getting a hernia. I was a little worried since I had pushed a bit going to the toilet in the morning, but it was okay, the stitches had held. He removed the drain and replaced my dressings. Before telling me to take almost 3 weeks off work and discharging me from the hospital. He told me to clean my wounds and replace the dressings each day. He also  advised me to take a paracetamol if I was uncomfortable, but to contact him if I had severe pain, or jaundice.

I didn’t even need the paracetamol. Recovery wasn’t too difficult, but I stuck to the post-op gallbladder diet that he gave me. (I promise I’ll write about this, too) The one thing I had a problem with, was laying down. The stitches were tight and I couldn’t lay down or get up, so for the first week, I slept sitting up on the couch. It wasn’t a problem.

Sleeping on the couch wasn’t so bad!

I used glycerine suppositories everyday to keep me going to the bathroom without effort. As the days passed, I found doing things even easier and as time passed I found myself able to tolerate more foods. The surgeon checked up on me regularly via telephone and asked me to send him pictures of the healing incisions on Viber. They were all doing great accept for my belly button which was weeping and a little sore and hot to the touch. Although, the surgical incision in my belly button did become a little infected and I had to pack it and take antibiotics, but within a week, it was much better and I could go to have the stitches removed. I had to be careful to stay near a toilet after trying a new food though because a few times in those first couple of months, I experienced dumping syndrome and had to make a bee line for the bathroom.

Post-op, life isn’t much different for me. I sometimes still get dumping syndrome, particularly if I eat something too fatty. Otherwise, I don’t have any real symptoms…just like before my op. However, it’s nice to know that the polyp was removed and won’t be causing any trouble in the future.

So, if you’re having your gallbladder removed. Don’t worry. It isn’t as bad as you might think. If you are suffering with a lot of anxiety, tell your doctor. There are things they can do to help you relax and to reassure you about the surgery. Of course, everyone’s gallbladder story is a little different. But, this is mine and from my experience, I feel it wasn’t a bad or scary experience. But, it is so important to take time out to recover.

My advice is to not push yourself or overdo it during your recovery – you may regret it. Also, don’t expect to feel back to normal immediately. The human body is amazing, but it certainly needs to be given the time to heal after surgery.

Diverticulitis – What can I eat?

Posted in Diet, digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, General health, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

This article is for people suffering with an episode of Diverticulitis rather than just having Diverticular disease/Diverticulosis.

Not sure what the difference is? Then check out my post about Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis Vs Diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is an inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula (pouches) in the bowel. It can cause diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain or discomfort, blood in the stools, a fever and various other symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, chances are that you’ll be taking antibiotics to help clear the infection. You may also be advised in some cases to undertake a clear liquid diet. For a detailed explanation of what this entails, click here.

You may also be told you are allowed a soft foods/low residue/low fibre diet. This means plain/bland and easily digestible foods that do not contain much fibre. This allows the bowel to rest.

Include:

  • white bread
  • white pasta
  • white rice
  • white crackers (e.g. Saltines)
  • chicken/turkey breast (no skin and cooked without adding fat)
  • white fish (no skin and cooked without adding fat)
  • boiled/mashed potatoes (no skin)
  • clear Jelly/Jello
  • limited low fat dairy (a small portion of low/no fat yoghurt)
  • limited eggs (preferably cooked without the addition of fats)
  • decaffeinated tea/coffee and carbonated drinks
  • applesauce, stewed fruits without seeds of skins
  • well boiled carrot and courgette with no skin
  • strained fruit juices without pulp
Even crackers can taste yummy after a clear liquid diet…

Please avoid:

  • fried foods (including fried eggs, potatoes, etc)
  • rare or medium cooked meat
  • fatty meats such as duck, lamb and pork
  • bacon and sausages
  • high fat dairy products such as cream and butter
  • brown, high-fibre bread, pasta, rice, quinoa, etc.
  • fruit juices with pulp
  • raw fruit and vegetables with seeds and skin
  • alcoholic beverages
  • caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks
  • very high sugar sweets
  • chocolate
  • unhealthy fatty and salty snacks such as crisps, biscuits, cakes, etc.
Save the cake for when you’re feeling better…

Remember that everyone is different and sometimes even these foods may cause discomfort. Because of this, I recommend tracking your food and water intake alongside your symptoms to have a clear picture of what is going on. You can do this by using my Diverticular Disease Tracker which is available to download for free and print out immediately.

In addition, I’d recommend eating slowly, and having small portions regularly so that your digestive system isn’t overwhelmed by large meals. You can pick up more tips for good digestion by reading this post.

What do you eat when you have diverticulitis? Are you able to tolerate all of the foods on this suggested list? If not, which are unsuitable foods for you?

How to deal with a diverticulitis flare up

Posted in Diet, digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, Hospital, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

If you’ve got diverticular disease (DD)/Diverticulosis, you may be unlucky enough to experience diverticulitis. Don’t know the difference? Check out my post on Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis Vs Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is an inflammation or infection of one or more of the diverticula (pouches) in your bowel. Diverticulitis can vary in severity and can go from being a mild flare up, to an infection so severe that it can carry life-threatening complications. So, what can you do if you suspect you may be getting a flare up?

For a start, symptoms of a flare up can include:

  • abdominal pain/discomfort
  • high temperature/fever
  • painful bowel movements
  • generally feeling poorly (nausea, headache, stomachache)
  • diarrhoea/constipation
  • loss of appetite
  • Change to stools (excessive mucus, blood, huge change is regularity or stool type)

If you are experiencing some of the symptoms above, it’s a good idea to prepare for a flare up by doing the following things:

DO:

  • drink lots of water – 2-3 litres a day will help flush your system and keep you hydrated. It may also help relieve constipation.
  • Try a clear liquid diet – eliminating solid foods and dairy from your diet for a day is the best way to rest the bowel and give time for the inflammation to go down on its own.
  • Keep track of your temperature – on a notepad, note down your temperature every couple of hours so you can monitor any changes. Please note that diverticulitis does NOT always cause high temperature/fever.
  • Rest – Take time to relax and rest as well as removing yourself as best you can from stressful situations. Sometimes a duvet day and a few extra hours sleep can help the body heal.
  • Listen to your body – Remember that our body usually knows what is best for it. For example, if you’re tired and want to sleep, do it. If you have no appetite, don’t eat just because it’s dinner time and someone has said you ‘should eat something’.
  • Take paracetamol-based pain killers to relieve the pain if necessary. This include brands such as Panadol in the UK or Tylenol in the US.
  • Track your day using a Diverticular Disease tracker.
  • Seek advice from a medical professional – If you are in a lot of pain, have a very high temperature or feel very unwell, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice from a professional. This may include booking an appointment with your GP/PCP, Gastroenterologist/GI doctor or even visiting the local A&E/ER.

If you suspect you may be experiencing a flare up, there are a few things you should avoid doing in order to not make things worse.

DON’T:

  • eat high-fibre foods – If you suspect a flare up, it’s best to go for a clear liquid diet, but if you want to try solid food, you should stick to low-fibre/low residue foods such as white bread, chicken breast, white pasta or rice.
  • Take NSAIDs without approval from a medical professional – NSAIDs are not recommended for people with diverticular disease because they can increase the chance of bleeding from the diverticula or increase the risk of perforation.
  • Take Codeine-based painkillers without approval from a medical professional – codeine is known for causing constipation and so can worsen the infection if stools are not passed through the bowel.
  • Eat large portions – if you decide to eat, stick to small portions that won’t overwhelm the system.
  • Take anti-diarrhoea medication without approval from a medical professional – stopping diarrhoea can be a bad thing since you may be keeping infected waste inside your bowel and allowing the infection to become more severe.

These tips and tricks may be able to help you rest the bowel before medical treatment is required. However, if your symptoms become worse or do not subside, it’s important to seek advice from a medical professional.

If it turns out antibiotics are required, there are a number of things you could be prescribed. For example, common antibiotics include: Ciproxin, Flagyl (metro), Co-amoxiclav, Augmentin and several others. However, Ciproxin and Flagyl are the ones most suitable for those with a penicillin allergy. Please note that some of these antibiotics have some significant side-effects and you should make yourself aware of these by reading the leaflet or discussing it with your doctor before you take them.

In a more severe situation, you may even be admitted to hospital to receive treatment for diverticulitis. Here, they will usually give you antibiotics, fluids and pain relief intravenously. You can read about what I like to pack in my hospital bag here.

What symptoms do you experience before a flare up? Have you managed to treat a flare up without antibiotics? How did you do it?


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Diverticular Disease/ Diverticulosis Vs Diverticulitis

Posted in Diet, digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, General health, IBD, IBS, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

Is there a difference between diverticular disease/ diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

Yes, quite an important one, too and here’s what it is…

DIVERTICULAR DISEASE/DIVERTICULOSIS

The condition of having diverticula or ‘pouches’ along the wall of the large intestine.

This disease is thought by most medical professionals to be symptom-free. However, lots of Diverticular disease (DD)/Diverticulosis sufferers will tell you differently. The truth, really is that it’s not a condition that is very well known and the symptoms of it appear difficult to record and monitor since they vary so much from person to person and can be confused with other digestive tract problems such as IBS.

Generally, it is thought that those who have a diet lacking in fibre or who live an unhealthy lifestyle are more likely to develop diverticula in their bowel over time. However, there are suggestions involving a genetic predisposition to develop them, too.

DIVERTICULITIS

When one or more diverticula becomes infected and/or inflamed.

A lot of medical terms or parts of them come from either Greek or latin origins and diverticulitis is an example of this. The –itis suffix comes from greek and means inflammation or infection. We see this with lots of other words too, for example, tonsillitis, arthritis, etc.

Diverticulitis is an infection or inflammation of one or more diverticula in the bowel. The reason for diverticulitis is not well understood, but it is thought that living a healthy lifestyle and keeping stress to a minimum can reduce the likelihood of it taking place. However, there is no guaranteed magical fix-it that will work to keep you free of infection. It is often detected by the use of blood tests and CT scans. However, some doctors use X-rays as a fast way to check for perforations of the bowel, too.

Diverticulitis can vary from being mild to severe with complications. For the very mildest episodes a clear liquid and low residue diet will help you get through. However, for other cases antibiotics may be required or even in some cases hospitalisation and even surgery.

It’s worth mentioning that the overwhelming majority of those with diverticular disease/diverticulosis never get diverticulitis! And, out of those who do get it, only a few get repeated episodes and/or surgery.

So, remember, the diverticular disease/diverticulosis is the presence of diverticula or pouches in the intestine whereas diverticulitis is an infection or inflammation of one or more diverticula. It’s important to know whether a diagnosis of diverticular disease/diverticulosis or diverticulitis is given to know how best to deal with it is.  

Do you have Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis? Have you ever had diverticulitis?