The fatigue and chills came first in mid-June 2011. When I saw my family doctor, he pressed on my abdomen and located the area of diverticulitis. Because of that, I knew what it was when the pain hit that night. I am allergic to Flagyl, so my doctor treated it with large doses of antibiotics. It took three rounds of strong antibiotic pills, with a "booster" shot of antibiotics the second week. It took 3 weeks for me to recover and get back to work. I actually eat pretty healthy, take fiber supplements, and exercise, but that's no guarantee that I will be free of episodes. I've discovered that rich foods (e.g., like real ice cream or things that contain a lot of butter) will cause a round of painful diarrhea and nausea.

I had low abdominal pain for about 3 months but since I am 48 years old and premenopausal I thought it was just from that. On Valentine's evening 2012 I had such low left and right abdominal pain I couldn't stand up straight, the nausea was awful, chills, fever. I thought I had a stomach bug. My husband finally convinced me to go to the Emergency Room and after a CT Scan and pelvic ultrasound I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and admitted. I spent 3 days on IV only (nothing by mouth not even ice chips) and strong antibiotics Cipro and Flagyl and yes morphine for such extreme pain I couldn't stand it. I improved and was given soft foods and sent home with instructions to eat low fiber diet, decaf only, no alcohol, no spicy foods and no heavy lifting. I was fine for almost a month but now have had my first flare up (severe pain, cramping, diarrhea, gas and low grade fever) so it's back to soft foods for me. I have yet to see the Gastric Doctor as it takes time to get an appointment but I'm going soon. Don't wait to see someone, don't try to sneak foods you can't have, keep a diary of what you eat and how you react to it. This is no disease to play around with. If it gets out of control the poisons released into your body can kill you (peritonitis). Be safe and well.

In April 2004, I was sitting in my living room and all of a sudden, I had the worst pain of my life on the lower left side of my abdomen. The pain lasted only about 15 seconds. The next morning, I had a slight fever, dry heaves and mild pain. I never had symptoms of diverticulitis before and mine had perforated. I went to the emergency room after seeing my primary doctor. I was rushed into surgery and spent 15 days in the hospital - including 3 days in the ICU. I had a colostomy for 6 months. Since the colostomy was reversed, I have made sure to eat better. Lots of fresh fruit and veg. plus 1 dose (or 2) of metamucil per day.