Most individuals over the age of 60 harbor diverticuli in their colon. Commonly spastic diverticulosis will respond to antispasmotic medications. Unfortunately surgery is usually needed to correct this problem. Patients can sometimes experience passage of large amounts of blood and blood clots from the rectum. Unlike hemorrhoidal bleeding, bleeding from diverticuli is often massive.
Medical attention is needed immediately.
Gastroenterologists generally proceed with emergency colonoscopy shortly after admission to attempt to localize and stop the bleeding so that surgery will not be needed. Gallstones are a common occurrence in our society. Like diverticuli, they generally produce no symptoms. These episodes can last from minutes to hours but generally resolve spontaneously. Patients with such symptoms require removal of their gallbladder.