Why not go online and do a google search for diverticulitis? You'll find more info than I can provide, but this is some of what the info I have says:
Quote:
The colon is home to many beneficial bacteria -- helpful as long as they stay in the colon. However, these bacteria can seep through the thin wall of diverticuli and cause infection. This infection around diverticuli is called diverticulitis. It can be mild with only slight discomfort in the left lower abdomen. Or it can be quite extreme with severe tenderness and fever. Treatment is usually needed for diverticulitis. It requires antibiotics and resting of the bowel by avoiding food or, at times, even liquids. For severe cases, the patient must be hospitalized.
It is not uncommon to see this occur in people who are in their 30s.
The chance of developing diverticula increases with age, so that by the age of 50, about 20-50% of all people will have some diverticula.
I didn't have a fever either, ironically, but that could be because my case wasn't too severe. It sounds like, if that's indeed what you have, yours is not severe at all; otherwise, you'd be reaching for the phone to dial 911.
8-hour wait in the emergency room? Good grief, a person could expire in that time! What is it about the word "EMERGENCY" that the hospital doesn't understand?!
Keep us posted.
Bev
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