Understanding Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

This video contains a visual explanation of diverticular disease, diverticulosis and diverticulitis, aimed at helping students of medicine and healthcare professionals prepare for exams.

Zero to Finals Surgery book:

Zero to Finals Surgery Questions book:

Zero to Finals Medicine book:

Zero to Finals Medicine audiobook:

Zero to Finals Paediatrics book:

Zero to Finals Paediatrics audiobook:

Zero to Finals Obstetrics and Gynaecology book:

Zero to Finals Obstetrics and Gynaecology book:

Flashcards:

[williamhenry]

This is THEE BEST simple explanation I have seen. I am a 75 yo male that has not been to a doctor in 55 years except 2 colonoscopies (no polyps). Yesterday I had my second colonoscopy and they said I did have the "pockets". I have never had any medical issues. No aches, pains, acid reflux, bloating, or constipation. The information on this subject is all over the map. Yes you can have fiber no you can't have have fiber. Yes you can have nuts no you can't have nuts. Don't know what to do I do NOT have symptoms so I'll just do what I have been doing.

[BunnyFoooFoo]

My CT scan showed this when I was 28 yrs old. Diet poor on fiber due to gastroparesis, change my diet and have been better. Thanks for the video!

[jaimealexander]

Currently in the hospital with this condition, this video was extremely helpful for me to understand what’s going on in my body. Thank you for content 🙏🏼

[NannyOggins]

This is nice and clear and not overly verbose. Many thanks.
I lost my mother to sepsis caused by diverticulitis and I have recently been diagnosed with diverticulosis when my routine feces test apparently showed blood in my feces. It must have been microscopic because It wasn’t visible. After a colonoscopy, during which a polyp was removed I have still had no symptoms after three years. I have vastly increased my exercise from zero to daily walking on a treadmill and took up golf (great fun). I will be 70 next year so losing weight us a challenge, I could do with shifting around 15 to 20 lbs but it’s stubborn!

[ikeforshort]

Thank you. After my colonospy then said it was all good. Then a week later they sent a letter saying they found this, but didn't explain anything. So I greatly appreciate it!

[artisticvision]

Im a nursing student in the second lvl of my program, and the GI content has been a real struggle due to the amount of info, but this was a fantastic breakdown! Very impressive layout of this subject matter, super helpful, thank you!! Definitely subscribing!

[haiske]

I think it's important to add that lower abdominal pain can also be felt in the middle and just to the right of the middle abdomen. It's less common, but can still occur. If you rule out lower right abdominal pain, then you might miss it initially. (Patient might feel like they have a bladder or kidney infection, but it could be diverticulitis.) Of course, a CT scan will show if a patient has diverticulitis to confirm it. Also, I'm glad you said to treat with the amoxicillin-clavulonate because it really works well and fast without feeling awful, generally, whereas other patients who have been prescribed other types that made them feel awful.

[pierrerodrigues]

33 years old. Not obese, active sports every week. Smoker and diet poor in fiber .
1 day at the hospital, only find the problem by a contrast CAT scan. Antibiotics and good diet I am fine.
Still waiting for the colonoscopy. Great video

[yvonnewiggins]

My husband was diagnosed with this without a colonoscopy and months later it turned out to be stage 4 bowel cancer. Insist on a thorough investigation including reference to family history.

[gerardine]

A high fibre diet is highly inappropriate for gut problems because it makes them worse. Fibre makes the stool too bulky for the colon to push out. What is needed is eating healthy, omega 3 rich fats which lubricate the stool and enables it to slide out easily. Drinking about 30ml EVOO is the laxative to use which soothes, not irritates the gut. When I changed to a low carb diet, I had withdrawal symptoms when my intestines were getting rid of all the high fibre rubbish I'd been putting into them for years. After one day of diarrhoea, my belly deflated and all bowel discomfort went with it. Now I pass a smooth, greasy stool without any difficulty and it doesn't have to be daily. High fibre for bowel problems is the worst possible advice. Back in the 1950s and earlier, it never occurred to anyone to do such a stupid thing. When constipated the normal remedy was castor oil, now its olive oil.

[annieg]

Very well explained - easy to understand. There must be exceptions to eating a high fibre diet. All the people I know that have this disease, ALL were on a high fibre diet and have had to lower their fibre content after diagnosis. I know a lot of people that do not consume high fibre and they have no issues. I used to eat a lot of fibre and was in the worst health of my life. Make me curious.

[markchodroff]

I was ok my whole life, one day I had pain in my stomach the next morning it was so bad had to, go to the hospital, 4 hours later they removed almost 20” of my large intestines and was fitted with a colostomy bag, about 5 months later they reversed the operation and removed the colostomy bag and Reattached my intestine, they had to cut some more away also, from the CT scans they found I had lung cancer, 7 weeks chemotherapy and 45 treatments of radiation I am doing ok but my breathing is not so, good, new PET scan coming up this week again, pray for me and hope it’s OK for the next few months ! Don’t play games have your check ups yearly or more !

[chrisfagan]

I am 33 years old. Have had several outbreaks of Acute Diverticulitis... one of them nearly killed me, 1, 5 weeks ago. Getting my sigmoideum removed now.... looking forward to be rid of sicknesses

[Miss-an-thropic]

At last - I now have understanding. 2 years ago I became very ill. Pain in lower left abdomen, fever, vomiting, mucus and blood in my diarrhea, headache and confusion. This went on and got worse over 3 weeks. I was ignored by 111 services, 1st trip to hospital and my GP. Constantly told to drink water and take paracetamol. I was bedridden and towards the end I knew I was going to die.
I went to hospital for a 2nd time where a blood test revealed high markers - I was given a CT scan which showed that my bowel had perforated - this resulted in an emergency colostomy. I was very poorly and was in ICU for 2 weeks due to Peritonitis and abscess.

[sstg]

Nearly died from a burst pouch and a Hospitol bacterial infection. Was in renal failure a month after the surgery. Of course my military insurance would not let me stay in Hospitol until I was at deaths door. The penny wise pound foolishness of American health care kills people.

[WallaceLivingFree]

Had it, and no one has heard of it, 5 days in hospital

[brainstormingsharing]

Absolutely well done and definitely keep it up overall, but especially for this topic!!!

[marcd]

Hello, thank you for this video. I am hoping either someone at this channel, or someone reading this can shed some light on my situation (I apologize for the lengthy message ahead of time, but a lot has happened):

1. July 7th, 2023: Severe lower back pain, right side, getting worse by the hour; wife drove me to the ER.
2. First two hours (this is the US after all) everyone at the ER suspecting Kidney Stones from pain and symptoms.
3. Total Blood Panel run, CT scan of the Abdomen and Pelvis performed.
4. CT scan revealed liver, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder and appendix all normal; kidneys also normal with no kidney stones present; no free fluid in the Pelvis; Bladder and Seminal Vesicles normal.
5. What the CT scan DID find; Scattered Diverticula throughout the Colon with NO evidence of Diverticulitis.
6. Blood Panel was normal for all tests run, no high White Count; No acute disease in the Abdomen or Pelvis.

This seems pretty straight forward on paper, however, here is the strange part I would like to find out answers for many questions:

1. The first part of any description for this condition is if there is pain, it is in the LOWER LEFT ABDOMEN. I had (and still have, 6 days later) pain in my LOWER RIGHT BACK. I have never had pain on the left side.
2. I have not had constipation (have never had it, actually) over any time in the past 10 years, never mind when this started.
3. I do not have any rectal bleeding.
4. I did, and do not, have a fever.
5. I am a 60 year old male that is 5' 9" tall and weigh approximately 160 pounds. I just finished my annual physical with my primary doctor 2 DAYS PRIOR to going to the ER. My doctor's exact words were, "You are the epitome of health, all of your labs are excellent, and physically you are in excellent health.

A note here, if I may: My wife and I are very active, we exercise regularly, stair climb on weekends, and have just started hiking with our local Sierra Club. My current resting heart rate averages 54 to 56 beats per minute, my blood pressure as of last week was 123 / 66, my cholesterol is 136 (Total). I have a pretty healthy diet (with my only vice being a diet soda 4 or 5 times a week), I don't drink, I don't smoke, and overall I have been in excellent health for many years.

The reason I stated all of that in the note above is because in this video (and everywhere else I've researched), it states this condition is caused by:

1. Low Fibre diet
2. Overweight
3. Sedentary lifestyle

Of which NONE of these apply to me. So the only "symptom", or condition, I have that fits the diagnosis of Diverticulosis is that I am 60 years of age. NONE of the other information given to me from the ER doctor, or that we have found online, points to me having Diverticulosis.

Also, this is now Thursday, July 13th (6 days post ER), and I STILL have pain on my right side, and I was on a liquid only diet until yesterday (5 days), and have lost 4 to 5 pounds since last Friday because of that. The symptoms change daily, to sometimes the pain is when sitting, sometimes when standing, but it seems to be fine when lying down for the past couple of days.

So, in closing (couldn't resist): Has anyone at this channel, or anyone reading this far (and thank you if you have) ever seen or heard of a case of severe lower back pain on the right side only being diagnosed as Diverticulosis?

Thank you,
Marc

[Joeythegoats]

Perfect timing… pls keep uploading I’ve exam in few days

[barbaramarriott]

My husband has it on both left and right sides. One of our sons was diagnosed aged 30, after we told Dr's what his systems were. Was told he's to young. Then he had an episode in hospital