Diverticular Disease

[kalex]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with this three years ago, think it is quite bad as i can't eat without going to the toilet. Went for a walk earlier today and had fish and chips for lunch as a treat, i usually eat quite healthy. Went to the toilet about 15 minutes later, then as we were walking home i had a very embarrassing accident 30 yards from my house. This has never happened to me before and i am really concerned my Diverticular disease is getting worse. Probably going to have to pluck up courage to see the Doc if it happens again. Might just be a one off because of the greasy lunch i had. Does anyone have any thoughts on this. Sorry it's so long, thanks

[Buenchico]

It might be worth reading through the pages of the NHS website here:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
(The 'Prevention' section might be particularly relevant).

However a single 'embarrassing accident' may well be nothing much to worry about. I suspect that most people will have had one or two such accidents in their adult lives; I know that I have! (Gary Lineker even managed to do it, in front of millions of television viewers, while playing for England against Ireland).

[Sqad]

Diverticulosis is not pre cancerous, so let us get that out of the way at the outset.

I presume that the diagnosis of diverticulosis 3 years ago was made by colonoscopy and no mention was made of colonic polyps.

Yes, this episode may well be a "one off" but yes, you will have to pluck up courage to see your GP.

[kalex]

Thanks Sqad, yes had a very unpleasant colonoscopy after i did the bowel screening test which came back positive for blood in my stools.
Am going to give it a couple of weeks to see how it goes then book GP appointment. Reassuring to know its not cancer though

[kalex]

thanks Buenchico, think i must have read everything about Diverticular disease yesterday.i will be going to doc's if it happens again Think the fish and chips played a part, not used to greasy food

[Sqad]

kalex....I didn't quite say that it wasn't cancer, I said that diverticular disease was not pre-cancerous i.e it wouldn't turn into cancer.
However a patient with diverticulosis can develop a cancer of the colon as well as anyone else.
It would be bad luck having two unconnected diseases co-existing.

[jennyjoan]

Kalex - I too have had diverticulitis maybe 10 years. I have had many many embarrassing accidents - absolutely horrible. It is true, however, that after eating food whether be it light, heavy, greasy etc you will need to go to the toilet.

But, I don't know the answer to it - I haven't had an accident for the past 3 months - in fact a little bit of constipation which I can cope with. I am stumped why it has stopped cos I am still eating the same way.