I have had a constant pain in the left side for a couple of months.

My doc thinks it's probably just IBS, did blood test which seemed OK.

I'm now wating to see a gastro to get some more tests done hopefully.

One thing, my doc said it's unlikely I would have Diverticulitis as I'm too young.

I'm male, 33, fairly healthy if not that fit! Is age an important factor? I realise it's generally diagnosed in older people but I can't imagine that I just couldn't have it due to age!

OHHH believe me you ARE NOT to young...My son turned 15 years old two weeks before he had his first attact with diverticulitis.. While in the hospital the doctors werent sure what was wrong with my son since they said he was "far to young to have diverticulitis" Well after the fourth day in the hospital his white blood cell count shot way way up and he was running a fever. This forced the doctor to run more test, barium enema,, the CT Scan didnt catch it the first time. and he deffinetly had diverticulitis and his colon had perferated leaking fecal matter into a abcess... He spent 2 weeks in the hospital came home for 2 weeks and went back to the hospital for 17 more days with the same thing that I mentioned above... He came home March 17,2003 after a Colon Resection surgery...He got very very sick...he is much better now..So if I were you I would DEMAND some test be done to find out for sure...Like I said The doctors said he was far to young to have diverticulits and he almost lost his life over it...The doctors that took care of my son said he is by far the youngest person they have ever heard of with this disease..So demand to have the test and remember you may want to try a few test cause the first time the CT scan didnt show it...You can email me if you like, and see if your symptoms are similiar...Hope you feel better.


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Moderator4

[This message has been edited by moderator4 (edited 04-26-2003).]

Despite your age, it is definitely a possibility. People are getting it younger and younger these days, but many doctors still haven't really caught on to that fact yet. I was 44 but can't quickly count the number of people I know in their mid-30s who have had it. I have heard of one person 17.

Hopefully the gastro will do a colonoscopy. That will tell you for sure.

Good luck!

May be this is all linked to poor diet at an early age that produces diverticulitis at such as young age? It is said that it is due in a large part to not enough fiber in the diet and poor diet generally.

You are never too young for anything..

I started having bowel problems in the 1st grade (6 years old), then had a colonoscopy in the 6th grade (11 years old) and was diagnosed with UC when I was a sophomore (15 years old) in High School.

I am now 25 and everything seems cool, like I do not have anything wrong with me.
But I would have never thought I would be dealing with something like that at such an early age.

anyway, just thought i would throw my 2 cents in
fj

Doctors dont believe my sons condition was linked to a poor diet..He was having bowel problems since a very young age, then when he turned 15 they got even worse..He didnt have the usual symptoms as others with diverticulitis and his Dr and Surgeon said it would be ridiculious to think that at such a young age diet could play any role in him having this disease... My son always ate a balanced diet with fruits and vegatables and was never constipated like so many others..This is a disease that affects much older people not teenagers, even our Doctors say this was probably a congenital defect considering his age...