Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Most patients with diverticulosis have few or no symptoms. The
diverticulosis in these individuals is found
incidentally during
tests for other intestinal problems. Twenty percent of patients
with
diverticulosis will develop symptoms related to
diverticulosis.
The most common symptoms of diverticular disease include:
These symptoms
are related
to difficulty in passing stool through the left colon, which is narrowed by
diverticular disease.
More serious complications include:
diverticulitis,
collection
of pus
(abscess) in the pelvis,
colon obstruction,
generalized
infection of the
abdominal cavity (bacterial peritonitis), and
bleeding into the
colon.
A diverticulum can rupture, and the bacteria within the colon can spread into the tissues surrounding the colon causing diverticulitis. Constipation or diarrhea may also occur. A
collection
of pus can develop around the inflamed diverticulum, leading to
formation
of an abscess, usually in the pelvis. On rare occasions, the
inflamed
diverticula can erode into the urinary bladder, causing
bladder
infection
and passing of intestinal gas
in the urine. Inflammation in the colon
can also
lead to colonic bowel obstruction. Infrequently, a diverticulum
ruptures freely
into the abdominal cavity causing a life threatening infection
called
peritonitis.
Diverticular bleeding occurs when the expanding diverticulum erodes into a blood
vessel at
the base of a diverticulum. Rectal passage of red, dark or
maroon-colored
blood and clots occur without any associated abdominal pain.
Blood
from a diverticulum of the right
colon may be black in color.
Bleeding may be continuous or intermittent, lasting several
days.
Patients
with active bleeding usually are hospitalized for monitoring.
Intravenous
fluids are given to support the blood pressure.
Blood
transfusions are
necessary for those with moderate to severe blood loss. In a
rare
individual with brisk and severe bleeding, the blood pressure may
drop,
causing dizziness, shock, and loss of consciousness. In most
patients,
bleeding stops spontaneously and they are sent home after
several days in
the hospital. Patients with persistent, severe bleeding require
surgical
removal of the bleeding diverticula.
Diverticulitis (Diverticulosis) - Symptoms at Onset of DiseaseQuestion: The symptoms of diverticulitis (diverticulosis) can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Night sweats are severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.
Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
E. coli is the most common cause of bladder infections. Bladder infection symptoms and signs include frequent urination, burning urination, and foul smelling urine. Mild bladder infections may go away by increasing one's intake of fluid. More severe infections may be treated with a few days of antibiotics.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Duodenal diverticula (extramural or intramural), or duodenal diverticulum, is a pouch that is attached to the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The cause of extramural diverticula is not clear, however, it may be congenital. Complications caused by duodenal diverticulum include rupture, gallstones, or pancreatitis. Extramural duodenal diverticula has no symptoms. Treatment is generally surgery.
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