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by Christina BlanchardMore than half of North Americans over 50 will, at some time in their life, suffer from the colon condition known as diverticulosis.
Jean, 58, a wife, mother and grandmother decided that after three days of fever and excruciating pain in her stomach that enough was enough. As much as she hated going to the doctor, she knew that her body was giving her signals that something was wrong. This wasn't the flu. She hadn't felt like this before and she was worried.
The examination wasn't any different than any of her others. The doctor asked the usual questions and Jean casually commented that her bowel movements had been loose over the last three months. She had decided that it must be because of her blood pressure medication. Her doctor asked her if there were any other abnormalities and she admitted, for the first time, that she had noticed some blood in one of her stools. Jean knew there was cause for concern when the doctor ordered a series of tests to confirm where her problems were coming from.
Jean completed all of the tests suggested to her and now it was time to wait for the results. That was always the worst part. The waiting game. She remembered how she routinely went for her yearly physical and how stressed she got herself waiting for the results of the blood and urine tests. But, this time, it was different.
A few days passed and she still had yet to hear from her doctor. She shrugged it off and thought that if something was wrong then she surely would have heard from the doctor's office by now. Then, the phone rang and the nurse told her that the doctor wanted to talk to her about her test results. Jean's heart sank. As she hung up the phone, she felt a tight knot in her stomach. Her appointment was now scheduled for the next day and she knew she wouldn't be getting much sleep because all she could now do was think about the worse possible outcome.
Diagnosis
Jean was diagnosed with a disease that will affect nearly 50 percent of North Americans aged 50 or better at least one time. The severity of this disease will vary. Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches in the colon bulge outward through weak spots in the colon (large intestine). The pouches can become inflamed or infected and this will then cause pain and tenderness around the left side of the stomach. These are some of the symptoms that Jean had explained to her doctor.
Many diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome or stomach ulcers, have similar symptoms to diverticulosis. Some of the symptoms you should watch for are: left lower abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea/vomitting, cramps and bloating. Seek health advice from your health care provider.
Treatment
Antibiotics will be used to treat any infections caused by diverticulosis. Bed rest, liquid diet and pain relievers may be suggested to rest the colon and control any further spasms. In extreme cases, surgery will be needed to remove the affected part of the colon to repair any damage that may have been done.
It was also explained to Jean that a change in her diet was needed. Fiber is a key element of a healthy diet, for it allows stools to easily pass through the colon and takes pressure off the colon itself. Eating more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and cereals can alleviate the problems created and prevent other problems from occurring. Suggested foods include apples, broccoli, spinach, carrots and beans. In some cases, fiber-drink products such as Metamucil are suggested. For most, this is the only treatment required for this disease.
Other treatments for infection may include antibiotics, bed rest, a liquid diet and pain relievers. This will rest the colon and control any such spasms. In extreme cases, surgery will be needed to remove the affected part of the colon and to repair damage that had been done.
Many others who, like Jean, suffer quietly from this disease, that, at times can be a painful and unbearable.
If you think you may have diverticulosis, contact your health care provider. Medical professionals warn not to self-diagnose; other conditions may masquerade as diverticular disease and must be ruled out by diagnostic studies.
Helpful web sites:
Medbroadcast.com
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
Christina Blanchard is a freelance writer. She has been published in The Edmonton Journal, Canadian Living Online, The Source Magazine, Edmonton Woman magazine and Two Roads e-zine. She is currently working on several stories that will be published in the next several months. Her research on diverticulosis began after a loved one was diagnosed with this disease. If you are interested in her work, please contact Christina here.
