I am so fucked

[The Seer]

Went to the Doc. He said congrats, you got diverticulitis. Prescibed Cipro - 500mg....And Flagl - 500mg (ten day supply).

The flagyl is like antibuse - so absolutely NO alcohol for 10 days + 72 hours....

I am so fucked.

[WhatsMyName]

My advice is to join Alcoholics Anonymous. Really.

Unless by "fucked" you really meant "mildly disturbed."

[Fat Bones]

diverticulitis?

That sounds like some awful bad shit.
Get well soon...couldn't the Doc at least prescribe some recreational vicodins?

[ChargerMike]

...Seer, the good news is, the Cipro will knock the divertiwhatever right out. The other good news is, your liver says THANKS :wink:

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

Went to the Doc. He said congrats, you got diverticulitis. Prescibed Cipro - 500mg....And Flagl - 500mg (ten day supply).

The flagyl is like antibuse - so absolutely NO alcohol for 10 days + 72 hours....

I am so fucked.

[sarcasm] I really hope you pull through. [/sarcasm]

[Diogenes]

Less than 2 weeks?

Wimp.

Been taking Methotrexate for almost a year now (RA), the only way I go near alcohol is if I want to end up starring in Leaving Las Vegas II.

[Roofer]

What are diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Pouches (plural) are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis.

When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.
Illustration of the colon (large intestine) and an enlargement of it showing diverticula.

[Top]
What are the symptoms?
Diverticulosis

Most people with diverticulosis do not have any discomfort or symptoms. However, symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling symptoms.
Diverticulitis

The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation may occur as well. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection and complications.

[Top]
What are the complications?

Diverticulitis can lead to bleeding, infections, perforations or tears, or blockages. These complications always require treatment to prevent them from progressing and causing serious illness.
Bleeding

Bleeding from diverticula is a rare complication. When diverticula bleed, blood may appear in the toilet or in your stool. Bleeding can be severe, but it may stop by itself and not require treatment. Doctors believe bleeding diverticula are caused by a small blood vessel in a diverticulum that weakens and finally bursts. If you have bleeding from the rectum, you should see your doctor. If the bleeding does not stop, surgery may be necessary.
Abscess, Perforation, and Peritonitis

The infection causing diverticulitis often clears up after a few days of treatment with antibiotics. If the condition gets worse, an abscess may form in the colon.

An abscess is an infected area with pus that may cause swelling and destroy tissue. Sometimes the infected diverticula may develop small holes, called perforations. These perforations allow pus to leak out of the colon into the abdominal area. If the abscess is small and remains in the colon, it may clear up after treatment with antibiotics. If the abscess does not clear up with antibiotics, the doctor may need to drain it.

To drain the abscess, the doctor uses a needle and a small tube called a catheter. The doctor inserts the needle through the skin and drains the fluid through the catheter. This procedure is called percutaneous catheter drainage. Sometimes surgery is needed to clean the abscess and, if necessary, remove part of the colon.

A large abscess can become a serious problem if the infection leaks out and contaminates areas outside the colon. Infection that spreads into the abdominal cavity is called peritonitis. Peritonitis requires immediate surgery to clean the abdominal cavity and remove the damaged part of the colon. Without surgery, peritonitis can be fatal.
Fistula

A fistula is an abnormal connection of tissue between two organs or between an organ and the skin. When damaged tissues come into contact with each other during infection, they sometimes stick together. If they heal that way, a fistula forms. When diverticulitis-related infection spreads outside the colon, the colon's tissue may stick to nearby tissues. The organs usually involved are the bladder, small intestine, and skin.

The most common type of fistula occurs between the bladder and the colon. It affects men more than women. This type of fistula can result in a severe, long-lasting infection of the urinary tract. The problem can be corrected with surgery to remove the fistula and the affected part of the colon.
Intestinal Obstruction

The scarring caused by infection may cause partial or total blockage of the large intestine. When this happens, the colon is unable to move bowel contents normally. When the obstruction totally blocks the intestine, emergency surgery is necessary. Partial blockage is not an emergency, so the surgery to correct it can be planned.

[Top]
What causes diverticular disease?

Although not proven, the dominant theory is that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease. The disease was first noticed in the United States in the early 1900s. At about the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many processed foods contain refined, low-fiber flour. Unlike whole-wheat flour, refined flour has no wheat bran.

Diverticular disease is common in developed or industrialized countries—particularly the United States, England, and Australia—where low-fiber diets are common. The disease is rare in countries of Asia and Africa, where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets.

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body cannot digest. Some fiber dissolves easily in water (soluble fiber). It takes on a soft, jelly-like texture in the intestines. Some fiber passes almost unchanged through the intestines (insoluble fiber). Both kinds of fiber help make stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber also prevents constipation.

Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. This excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula become infected or inflamed. Doctors are not certain what causes the infection. It may begin when stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning.

[Top]
How does the doctor diagnose diverticular disease?

To diagnose diverticular disease, the doctor asks about medical history, does a physical exam, and may perform one or more diagnostic tests. Because most people do not have symptoms, diverticulosis is often found through tests ordered for another ailment.
Doctor talking to patient.
The doctor will ask about medical history.

When taking a medical history, the doctor may ask about bowel habits, symptoms, pain, diet, and medications. The physical exam usually involves a digital rectal exam. To perform this test, the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to detect tenderness, blockage, or blood. The doctor may check stool for signs of bleeding and test blood for signs of infection. The doctor may also order x rays or other tests.

[Top]
What is the treatment for diverticular disease?

A high-fiber diet and, occasionally, mild pain medications will help relieve symptoms in most cases. Sometimes an attack of diverticulitis is serious enough to require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.
Diverticulosis

Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis. Fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. The table below shows the amount of fiber in some foods that you can easily add to your diet.
Amount of Fiber in Some Foods
Fruits
Apple, raw, with skin 1 medium = 3.3 grams
Peach, raw 1 medium = 1.5 grams
Pear, raw 1 medium = 5.1 grams
Tangerine, raw 1 medium = 1.9 grams

Vegetables
Asparagus, fresh, cooked 4 spears = 1.2 grams
Broccoli, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2.6 grams
Brussels sprouts, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2 grams
Cabbage, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 1.5 grams
Carrot, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2.3 grams
Cauliflower, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 1.7 grams
Romaine lettuce 1 cup = 1.2 grams
Spinach, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2.2 grams
Summer squash, cooked 1 cup = 2.5 grams
Tomato, raw 1 = 1 gram
Winter squash, cooked 1 cup = 5.7 grams

Starchy Vegetables
Baked beans, canned, plain 1/2 cup = 6.3 grams
Kidney beans, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 5.7 grams
Lima beans, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 6.6 grams
Potato, fresh, cooked 1 = 2.3 grams

Grains
Bread, whole-wheat 1 slice = 1.9 grams
Brown rice, cooked 1 cup = 3.5 grams
Cereal, bran flake 3/4 cup = 5.3 grams
Oatmeal, plain, cooked 3/4 cup = 3 grams
White rice, cooked 1 cup = 0.6 grams
Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 15. Available at http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl. Accessed April 5, 2004.

The doctor may also recommend taking a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil once a day. These products are mixed with water and provide about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, mixed with 8 ounces of water.

Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds such as tomatoes or strawberries because they believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, it is now generally accepted that only foods that may irritate or get caught in the diverticula cause problems. Foods such as nuts, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds should be avoided. The seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries, as well as poppy seeds, are generally considered harmless. People differ in the amounts and types of foods they can eat. Decisions about diet should be made based on what works best for each person. Keeping a food diary may help identify individual items in one's diet.

If cramps, bloating, and constipation are problems, the doctor may prescribe a short course of pain medication. However, many medications affect emptying of the colon, an undesirable side effect for people with diverticulosis.

[Top]
Diverticulitis

Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the infection and inflammation, resting the colon, and preventing or minimizing complications. An attack of diverticulitis without complications may respond to antibiotics within a few days if treated early.

To help the colon rest, the doctor may recommend bed rest and a liquid diet, along with a pain reliever.

An acute attack with severe pain or severe infection may require a hospital stay. Most acute cases of diverticulitis are treated with antibiotics and a liquid diet. The antibiotics are given by injection into a vein. In some cases, however, surgery may be necessary.

[Top]
When is surgery necessary?

If attacks are severe or frequent, the doctor may advise surgery. The surgeon removes the affected part of the colon and joins the remaining sections. This type of surgery, called colon resection, aims to keep attacks from coming back and to prevent complications. The doctor may also recommend surgery for complications of a fistula or intestinal obstruction.

If antibiotics do not correct an attack, emergency surgery may be required. Other reasons for emergency surgery include a large abscess, perforation, peritonitis, or continued bleeding.

Emergency surgery usually involves two operations. The first surgery will clear the infected abdominal cavity and remove part of the colon. Because of infection and sometimes obstruction, it is not safe to rejoin the colon during the first operation. Instead, the surgeon creates a temporary hole, or stoma, in the abdomen. The end of the colon is connected to the hole, a procedure called a colostomy, to allow normal eating and bowel movements. The stool goes into a bag attached to the opening in the abdomen. In the second operation, the surgeon rejoins the ends of the colon.

[Top]
Points to Remember

* Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches, called diverticula, bulge outward through weak spots in the colon (large intestine).

* The pouches form when pressure inside the colon builds, usually because of constipation.

* Most people with diverticulosis never have any discomfort or symptoms.

* The most likely cause of diverticulosis is a low-fiber diet because it increases constipation and pressure inside the colon.

* For most people with diverticulosis, eating a high-fiber diet is the only treatment needed.

* You can increase your fiber intake by eating these foods: whole grain breads and cereals; fruit like apples and peaches; vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, spinach, carrots, asparagus, and squash; and starchy vegetables like kidney beans and lima beans.

* Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches become infected or inflamed and cause pain and tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen.

Have fun with that.

[Trampis]

Sounds like an ugly fat American thing

What causes diverticular disease?
Although not proven, the dominant theory is that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease. The disease was first noticed in the United States in the early 1900s. At about the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many processed foods contain refined, low-fiber flour. Unlike whole-wheat flour, refined flour has no wheat bran.

Diverticular disease is common in developed or industrialized countries—particularly the United States, England, and Australia—where low-fiber diets are common. The disease is rare in countries of Asia and Africa, where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets.

Oh man,get a LOAD of this tid bit

Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. This excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

[Diogenes]

I skipped everything after 'small pouches in their colons that bulge outward'.

I wish I would have skipped that.

[Gunslinger]

Less than 2 weeks?

Wimp.

Been taking Methotrexate for almost a year now (RA), the only way I go near alcohol is if I want to end up starring in Leaving Las Vegas II.

I can garuantee the "rapid cell growth" isn't occuring in your brain.

It's a positive sign that you may meet someone on a message board for this shit and you won't be able to reproduce.

[Diogenes]

Actually the drugs work by weakening the immune system. If I was to knock up a chick, she would have an excelent chance of miscarriage, and great hopes for a kid birth defects if that didn't work out.

[The Seer]

Less than 2 weeks?

Wimp.

Been taking Methotrexate for almost a year now (RA), the only way I go near alcohol is if I want to end up starring in Leaving Las Vegas II.

Hey, you made me feel better. I kinda feel bad dragging you through the accumulated dirt in the Hoops forum.......well not that bad....

Hope your RA works out....

[PSUFAN]

When JSC is posting X-Ray pics, I have to excuse myself.

[Mister Bushice]

I have a hangnail, and it hurts like all hell has broken loose under me fingertip.
They gave me this stuff, Nopitetal (nopitynabandaidoreight is the science type name).

Side effects include pain in the fingertips, and occasional crying jags.

Can I join in?

[BSmack]

Actually the drugs work by weakening the immune system. If I was to knock up a chick, she would have an excelent chance of miscarriage...

Best news of the day. Have a drink on me.

[The Seer]

Actually the drugs work by weakening the immune system. If I was to knock up a chick, she would have an excelent chance of miscarriage...

Best news of the day. Have a drink on me.

[Dinsdale]

A close friend had some abdominal pains. Went to the doctor three times bitching about it. Each time, they pretty much told him he had indigestion. A few days later, he was just about dead, and they sliced him open. Pulled out a grapefruit-sized abscess from his large intestine. A freaking grapefruit.

But if it makes you feel better Seer, that was about 5 years ago, and dude says he hasn't taken a decent shit since, often spending much of his morning grunting it out, often several times per morning. And apparently, the doctors tell him that he shouldn't look for it to get better...ever.

So, at least you've got that going for you.

[Risa]

how the hell did that happen?

[Derron]

You gotta love looking at an X ray of someone's asshole before 9 in the morning. Kinda puts a crimp in the anal sex thing eh??

Diverticulitis or what ever is listed as a secondary cause of death on my old mans death certificate. Guessing you don't want to fuck around with it.

[the_ouskull]

No, you don't. I had a version of it earlier this year. I say "a version of it" because it was so rare that they couldn't give me an actual discharge sheet for it, and diverticulitis was the closest sheet that they COULD give me. The doc, once he found out from a senior medical advisor in another state, what I had, said, "well, the good news is these antibiotics should clear you right up. The bad news is that you're in a lot more pain than someone with diverticulitis... so, these Lortabs should help."

First time in my life I was given a Lortab scrip with a refill.

Good luck, and if you're into those things, God bless.

the_ouskull

[PSUFAN]

First time in my life I was given a Lortab scrip with a refill.

JESUS GOD - SAVE ME FROM DEMON ENVY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you know whooooooo

[Uncle Fester]

I just finished two weeks of Cipro for prostatitis and possible diverticulitis, both of which went away. Now I've got something worse going on, but I'll spare the details.

Being middle-aged kinda sucks lately.

[jtr]

this whole thread reads to me like a renew your gym membership ad.

[BSmack]

this whole thread reads to me like a renew your gym membership ad.

Nah, it's more like a sign from God to stop eating pork rinds, pringles and In and Out Burgers.

[missjo]

Actually it's time to cut all white & processed flour from your diet & eat more vegetables & legumes.
& no, the pickle on your burger does not count towards a vegetable intake!

[Diogenes]

Best news of the day. Have a drink on me.

Like I didn't know that was coming.


If I knew we were comparing pics I would have kept the xray of my pleural effusion.

[BSmack]

Actually it's time to cut all white & processed flour from your diet & eat more vegetables & legumes.
& no, the pickle on your burger does not count towards a vegetable intake!

That's where I'm at. It's amazing how the body will find it's proper metabolisim once you start treating it right.

Oh, and excercising it regularly as well.