My husband, who is 82 years old and managing his health, is having sudden pain when he has the urge to defecate, he says he feels a sharp pain in the lower intestine, sharper than one feels during occasional bowel cramps. He does not feel any pain in the direct anal area, but higher up in the lower intestine. He has had the symptoms since early this morning. We are wondering if the symptoms of diverticulitis could be what he is experiencing. Currently he is awake and lying flat - he says he doesn t have the symptoms in this position, unless he begins to feel the urge to defecate.