u/ShaneKainoa1982

I'm seeing my GI doctor next week because I've been feeling like crap for almost a year since my first DV diagnosis. I was on vacation 2 weeks ago and my Colon flared up pretty bad (didn't go to the ER or anything) but I know it was the start of a DV flare, so I took it easy and it basically ruined my trip.

I'm home now and I've had UTI like symptoms for weeks now and they won't go away. It "comes and goes"...and I know I don't have a true Fistula because I had a CT before my trip and it didn't show anything.

Is it normal to have these Bladder / UTI sensations after a flare up for a while? I'm getting worried this is the start of a Fistula and I really do not want that.

I also have very bad bloating and side pressure daily. Regardless of the food I eat. I am having daily bowel movements but never feel empty

thanks

My GI doctor keeps telling me I have "post infectious" IBS from Diverticulitis and that I'm fine. However it's been 9 months and I never feel good. It's daily, low grade pain, inflammation and I my gut feels so bad. Regardless of what I eat, Low Fiber, High Fiber, etc.

Anyone have this experience after 9 months?

I posted that I may consider surgery at this point but I know my GI doctor will push back because I am not in the ER or have had any serious complications. But my daily life sucks and I feel like shit.

thanks for any advice

I did an experiment where I didn't eat anything for 24, 48 hours to see how I felt. I'm always dealing with some level of lower left side Inflammation & Pressure, so I figured why not do the liquid only diet to see if I feel better. I've always eaten some food when I didn't feel good and wanted to go to Zero Food for a bit.

At first I felt better, but then I noticed around 20 hours with no food, I had pain in my Colon. I went to a movie with my son and I couldn't even sit down...so I ran out, got some food and felt 100x better. Which I can't make sense of.

This isn't Stabbing Diverticulitis ER pain, but more severe IBS like pain. Never did I have this prior to my DV diagnosis though.

I really don't know what it is but it's almost like eating moves Stool through my GI and that eases the pain vs. fasting makes my GI slow down and then I feel a lot of pain in my lower left side.

I like fasting and want to try it again but curious if anyone else has felt this because we have Diverticulosis pockets that are easily inflamed.

A little background on me. I'm 43M and have never been hospitalized or had a serious case of Diverticulitis. I had mild pain and was diagnosed Nov 2025 and my GI doc said I should be fine in a few weeks. I've never felt good since and had a follow up CT and Colonoscopy - both were "good and normal". I've had tons of bloodwork done, CRP, etc...all is normal.

My issues are mainly lots of left side Pressure, Mild Pain, now I'm developing what feels like "an early stage fistula between colon & bladder, UTI feeling", burning and I just feel like crap all the time. My gut never feels "empty" and I am always severely bloated during the day.

I recently went on vacation with my son and friends and was in misery the whole time. I'm not able to keep up with basic demands (being a Dad & Husband) or even get thru a day without feeling horrible. I'm operating at 20% of who I used to be.

I've been trying to eat clean and avoid bad things like Alcohol, Dairy and even gave up Coffee. My diet is pretty good, similar to Paleo but I eat White Rice, Sourdough or Potatoes. I have to eat out with my family so I tend to order healthier stuff.

But here I am, it's almost a year and now I'm getting worried that this is just my life and I need to consider Surgery to finally feel better.

When I first got my diagnosis in Nov 2025, I never in a million years thought surgery would happen for me, but I feel like my daily symptoms only get worse and not better.

Any advice on this?

I really think my GI doctor won't allow it yet because I haven't been in the ER a few times or had a real hospital stay. But I'm not living life like I used to... :( really sucks.

thanks

I like my morning coffee but had to cut it out for a month hoping it would help ease my bloating and left side mild pain / tenderness. I find it helps me poop but it can also irritate my colon. So it’s a trade off

Not sure it matters (as my experiment goes on) but do you all still enjoy coffee after a flare is over?

Recently been dealing with this pretty much daily for the last 2 Weeks. Something irritated my Colon, not sure what at this point. My Doctor said it's just IBS and nothing to worry about and I posted earlier that I even went and got a CT Scan and there was nothing, not even "inflammation" which is crazy because my left side is super inflamed, puffy and tender. Also felt UTI symptoms, but CT and Blood showed nothing.

Is this just part of the healing process and it comes and goes?

Any advice on how to get it down?

I leave for a trip in 1 week and really want to feel good.

Been battling through post- Diverticulits daily side pain, pressure and just feeling like crap. Been going on for me for like 6 months. I was in so much pain I went Friday, they did a CT and said I was all normal. Not even inflammation in my Colon. Are these CT's very accurate if you're in the "early stages" of a flare? I swear on my life I had a ton of Swelling, Tenderness and pain that is like 5/10.

Does anyone have these intense bouts of IBS that feel like a DV is coming on but it's just IBS?

Ideas on how to best manage it and get past?

I’ve had constant lower left pains, swelling and feeling sick so my primary doc gave me the Antibiotics to see if it’s going to help. I had CT and bloodwork which didn’t show an infection, but I’ve been miserable and my colon feels super inflamed

Do you all experience bad side effects or should I give it a try?

Hello -

Looking for some advice. My Diverticulitis was case very mild, back in Nov. 2025. I've had a Colonoscopy and it was all good too. No major inflammation or colon problems.

BUT....

Since then, I've had very bad bloating, lower side pressure / tenderness / some pain. It is always on the Lower Left Side. My GI doctor said this is now IBS and that there is nothing to worry about it. But I feel like crap daily, I have 4 young kids and it's been really hard to keep up with my life demands.

I'm having daily bowel movements without any need for Miralax or Fiber supps. But I never feel totally empty. 90% of my diet is healthy food, Oatmeal, Fruit, Veggies, Lean Organic Meats, etc. My diet has been really good the last 6 months but yet I still have the same issues.

Has anyone experienced this and how did you get your Gut to function normally again?

I've tried some supplements (Probiotics, etc) but not sure they really do much.

Really hoping for some advice from those who have been here, because I really don't know what else to do...I still have like "mini pain flares" if I'm off my Diet or Eating out, etc. But this is no way to live.

I don’t have a fever or sharp pain, but this feeling won’t go away. Does it go away with rest?

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking for some advice for those who have healed their Diverticulitis and now live life symptom free and feel pretty good.

Nov 2025, I had mild pain and my GI doctor (via colonoscopy) said I had a minor case of Diverticulitis and should be fine. I've never had an infection or been in the Hospital...my pain was pretty mild tbh.

Since then, I fee like I cannot fully recover. I've had moments of feeling OK but then I go right back to left sided Pressure, Pain, Tenderness and overall feeling miserable. My bloating is really bad, pretty much all day.

I'm lucky that I have regular bowel movements each morning but never feel "fully empty". I am no fully accepting that I have to give up Alcohol, Coffee (for me its a trigger) and keep my diet super clean.

Is it normal it can take months and months to feel good again?

I will also say that I think I got into this mess from Daily Alcohol consumption (5 years) and taking too many antibiotic's in the past for various infections.

My doctor's make me think I'm crazy and I should be fine by now but it's been such a long journey.