A few more questions about what I could have, etc.

[silverstanger]

Q1: My stool has been light brown to yellowish brown, is that bad?

Q2: What would be the "appropriate treatment" IF I have diverticulitus?? My doctor just put me on tetracycline, nothing more.. shouldn't I diet or something else?

Q3: Is tetracycline strong enough for the job, and why didn't they give me anti-inflammatory?

Q4: I started taking antibiotics Thursday, which makes this morning 4 days.. I still feel pain, but I do feel a little better, on the other hand.. I have had my better days.

Yesterday I ate vegetable soup.. and that's it.. that seemed to help for some reason.

It seems like when I feel a "build-up" of bowel, and need to go soon, the pain is aggreivated more.. and also when I have to urinate, the pain is also aggreivated more..

Q5: If it is complicated diverticulitus, would I be running a fever if it is infected?? Again, no fever, no blood in stool.

Q6: Would any other diseases pain stay in one spot like mine.. or would they move around. My pain is constantly in one spot, to the left of my naval and at my wasteline.

Thanks for your replies before doc, this board is great!! I found out a lot just from your answers!!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.  

I cannot diagnose you over the internet.  I strongly suggest you see your personal physician or gastroenterologist.  

Antibiotics should be active against gram negative rods and anaerobes.  If tetracycline does not help, stronger antibiotics may be needed.  If the case does not respond to antibiotics, then surgery would be the next option.  Anti-inflammatories treat the pain - it does not play a role in the healing of diverticulitis.

In terms of dietary advice, you'll also temporarily need to avoid all whole grains, fruits and vegetables, so your colon can rest and heal.

Other diseases such as irritable bowel, inflammatory bowel, or gastroenteritis can also cause left low quadrant pain.  Their presentations are variable - they can either move around or not.  

If your condition is not improving - further tests such as a barium enema or CT scan is warranted.

Again - feel free to address issues I did not cover here in seperate questions.  There is only a limited amount of time I can spend on each question.

I strongly suggest followup with your personal physician for possible further testing.

I stress that this answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

Links:
Medline Plus - Diverticulitis
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diverticulosisanddiverticulitis.html

Mayo Clinic - Diverticulitis
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00070

[wishingyouwell]

hi,i had colon surgery  for diverticulitis disease a little over a year ago nothing seemed to help but the surgery .my question is have they done a colonoscopy if not(WHY) i would sugest asking your gastro specialest to schedual one. if you have diverticulitis this is only way that i know of that it can be properly diagnosed.the good thing about the scope it will find just about anything that could be going wrong with your lower digestive system. mine was not a cure all but i wouldn't change having the surgery for nothing .i still have diverticulitis disease they took the worst part out .i have a great many digestive probs .(but that's another story)IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FILL FREE TO ASK .GOD BLESS,WISHING YOU WELL

[Emily102]

A related discussion, diverticulitus was started.