Diverticulitis Symptoms

Are these Diverticulitis symptoms?

I've been told for +20 years I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Over the past few years the symptoms have changed and I've had sigmoid, colonoscopy, barium enema/x-ray, whatever. The last time I was told they removed a polyp, but that's all. Over the past months I've had:

every 5-6 weeks bouts of extreme pain, fever, associated with passing
MASSIVE strings of mucus

last week: extreme pain in the upper left quadrant, immediately under
the breast in the ribcage which then spread to the entire gut area.

a feeling of bloatedness with much discomfort

very dark stools, either "puddles" or fairly normal

I saw a different physician last week as my regular one was not
available. She told me that diverticula were detected in the tests 3
years ago and she suspected diverticulitis. (now they tell me!!) I'm on
2 antibiotics, and thankfully off the painkillers.

My question is: does this sound like a form of inflammoratory bowel
disease? our province is in the midst of "health reform" and it's
extremely difficult to get into a specialist. Normal wait is 8-12
months, unless it's supremely urgent. The docs are having rotating
strikes this month to emphasize their concerns. How this helps patients
is another question so we won't go there!

Response 1:

I guess there are some, albeit few, benefits to the American medical system.

Forget about IBD, your more immediate concern is the possibility of a
perforated colon. With your symptoms and history of diverticulae, this is a
strong possibility. The good news is that a simple X-ray should be able to
rule that out. Talk to your doctor about it.

Otherwise, your symptoms are consistent with diverticulitis.