diverticulitis anyone?

[Stephanie78]

My husband has had a rough week! Little background... Dx with WG in March. Seeing a local rheumotologist who specializes in WV however we have referrals to John Hopkins as well as Chapel Hill just can't get in until July and August.
Saturday we were told to go to the ER. He had been having issues all week with ruptured ear drums exhaustion, stuffier nose, and constipation. Friday night he could barely stand it. He was on an antibiotic for the ears. He had not had a BM since Tuesday. On Saturday he was in so much pain with his stomache that he could not walk. The rheumy sent him to the ER where he had chest xrays and CT done. The dx was diverticulitis. They put him on 2 more antibiotics and vicodan. He is also on fiber pills and doing fleet enemas...still no BM.
Anyone else have these issues? The rheumy says it is not related to WG but I can't say I'm convinced yet. I mean my husband has always been super healthy so to have this during his battle with WG seems kinda related to me, I could be wrong.
Again, we do have spots set for other specialists at Chapel Hill and John Hopkins. This rheumy is a "help us until then" dr.
Thanks!

[Sangye]

Wegs doesn't cause diverticulitis. I suspect the antibiotics might have aggravated an existing asymptomatic diverticulitis and caused it to enlarge. They should not have put him on vicodin-- it's constipating and will wreak havoc with diverticulitis.

It's possible that it's due to Wegs involvement in the colon. I don't know if that would look like diverticulitis on CT, but I do know it is often misdiagnosed.

[Jack]

I have diverticulitis, but it is hardly surprising as I seem to have everything else too! :rolleyes1:

[Rose]

I was told I had diverticulosis 10 years ago following a colonoscopy. Diverticulosis was just noted at the time. This year I have had 2 bouts of diverticulitis. Keep away from popcorn!! I am pretty sure today that I had wegs involvement of my gastrointestinal tract as before diagnosis 3 years ago I suffered for many years with gastro problems which have improved since starting treatment for WG.

[delorisdoe]

well at least I was not suffring alone. I was admitted to the hospitol Saturday with this as I had an infection as well. I stayed 5 days because I also had a blood infection.

I also had to rest my bowels and eat only ice for 2 days, clear fluids moving to full fluids, and finally solids on the last and then was relesead when they were sure I could tolerate it.

Maybe they are sending him home too quickly.

[pberggren1]

What exactly is diverticulitis?

[delorisdoe]

lol...i dont like talking about my bowels...jack maybe :), thanks for the facebook message by the way.

[Rose]

Below is a good link which will explain Diverticular Disease better than I can. Hope it is helpful



Diverticulosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulosis)

[Jack]

Yes, a good article. Interesting that one of the causes is connective tissue disorders, something I am always having trouble with and may well be common amongst Wegener's patients.

[pberggren1]

I even got to see my own bowels a few weeks ago.

[delorisdoe]

I even got to see my own bowels a few weeks ago.

im looking forward to this...mine not yours.

[vdub]

one of the causes is connective tissue disorders
Steroids erode callagen, right? (the reason for the pot belly) And, calagen is the primary protein in the connective tissue of the muscles. Could steroids then be a factor in getting diverticulitis?

[pberggren1]

Good point vdub. It very well may be.