Aspergers and Chronic Diverticulitis

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pamplemousse
Butterfly
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Joined: 22 Jul 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 11

25 Aug 2009, 10:14 pm

Have anyone ever heard of a possible link between Aspergers and intestinal complaints, particularly chronic diverticulitis?

I'm a self-diagnosed 45-year-old Aspie who is truly struggling with diverticulitis. My first attack (severe, w/o microperforation of colon) came when I was 37. The perplexed specialists I saw told me that diverticulitis is typically a geriatric disease, rare in patients under 50. Moreover, when it does trouble younger patients, the latter are typically obese. I, however, have always maintained a normal weight and have been a health-conscious vegetarian to boot.

In any case, over the past eight years, I have had five moderate to severe attacks (with two hospitalizations), one major prophylactic surgery (partial colectomy, last year), then, to my great dismay, another severe attack and hospitalization very recently. (OK, I was just discharged from the hospital today).

Seeing as how I am otherwise perfectly healthy, I have absolutely no idea what gives. Neither does my surgeon, or my specialist, or another other doctor I've talked to. I was thinking that if there was some kind of link to Asgerger's I might have some kind of explanation, if not a cure.

Ideas?



barbedlotus
Pileated woodpecker
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Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Female
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02 Sep 2009, 12:34 am

I don't know if there is a link, but I've dealt with diverticulitis since I was about 16. First time I got sent to the ER because the school nurse thought I had appendicitis. I get gout too, but according to my doctor the type of diet I have should prevent it, even if I was the right age to get it. :wall: Ever get the feeling aspie bodies just decide to age backwards in random ways?