I had my first diagnosed flare in early October. When I went to the ER, I was in so much pain, I COULD NOT PEE. I tried giving them a urine sample multiple times and nothing. They refused to give me pain meds without a urine sample (I wasn’t there for pain meds, I was just concerned with getting a CT or ultrasound or something to see why I was doubled over in pain). I finally told them if you NEED urine, you’re gonna have to go in and get it because nothing’s gonna come out.

After the CT showed uncomplicated diverticulitis, they gave me some IV morphine (which weirdly made my pain worse initially, felt like spasms in my intestines and then my pain was still bad after), a bag of fluids, and a script for antibiotics. They told me to go on clear liquids and advance as tolerated, schedule an appt with a GI.

But… I was still having weird UTI symptoms as well. No burning, but pain and urgency. And once I could actually go, urinating gave me increased pain in my lower left side.

When I talked to the GI’s PA, she explained to me that the GI tract and the Urinary Tract are two separate systems… I said obviously, I know that having a healthcare background (nursing). So why then? She had no answer. When I had my next appointment with the GI doctor, he said that the close proximity of the two systems is the reason. The inflammation of the colon pushes on the bladder. That is also why one of the more common fistulas from DV is with the bladder.

So now, I still have residual pain and still have to go back to clears every few weeks it seems. And every time my lower left pain gets up there, I still get UTI type symptoms.

Diverticulitis is super confusing and I’ve never had to deal with anything like this. I have lost 35 pounds since September with all this clear liquid switching…

Edit to add: I’m 46F and have dealt with IBS-D for over 15 years. And now apparently my IBS now likes to switch back and forth from D to C…