Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
Diverticular disease
SMALL BULGES IN YOUR INTESTINE LINING
If you're experiencing pain in your lower stomach, you may have diverticular disease — we can help
What is diverticular disease
Diverticular disease is a digestive condition where small bulges (diverticula) form in the lining of your intestine and lead to problems, like stomach pain. The older you get, the weaker your intestine becomes. As a result, harder stools can irritate the lining of your intestine, causing diverticula to form. Diet and genetics may also play a role.
Need to know
More often than not, these bulges won't cause any problems. If they do, your symptoms might include:
- occasional pain in the lower left side of your tummy
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- bloating
- mucus in your faeces
Sometimes, the bulges can become infected and inflamed. This is called diverticulitis. As a result, you may experience constant tummy pain, a high temperature, blood in your poo and vomiting
Divertiular disease can have similar symptoms to other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease and bowel cancer. So it's important to rule these out. Your GP will discuss your symptoms with you to make a diagnosis. They may also carry out tests at a later date, including:
- blood tests
- colonoscopy (inserting a camera into your back passage to examine your bowel)
- CT scan (creating detailed images of your bowel)
Quite often, the symptoms of diverticulitar disease can be eased by eating more fibre and drinking more fluids. In other cases, your consultant may prescribed laxatives to help with constipation or diarrhoea.
If you've been diagnosed with diverticulitis, your GP or consultant may prescribed antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Surgery is rarely required with divertiular disease.
If it is, your GP or consultant will discuss your options with you. This might include a colostomy (which involves removing the affected part of your large intestine) or a colostomy (which involves diverting one end of your bowel).
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.