Diverticulitis?

[Bill Stock]

I 'd been having some pain/discomfort after eating, so the doc scheduled a 1st Colonoscopy. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but the resuts showed Diverticulitis. Sounds like something else they can't cure and only gets worse with time. My symptoms don't seem to fit the standard ones, but it might explain why I've felt like sh*t for a couple of years. I must admit I felt better after the cleansing than I have in a while.

I've seen a couple of others talk about having it; what's your preferred diet/treatment. I've already been on antibiotics off/on for what was supposed to be Prostatis, but apparently never was. Did an MRI help with your diagnosis or was it just the Colonoscopy you had?

TIA

[chopnhack]

Bill, from what I know, the diets vary by the individual. It really depends on what you can digest and tolerate. Some people have to avoid milk and dairy some folks cant tolerate heavy fatty or oily foods. There are some universal no-no's with diverticulitis - for instance staying away from nuts and foods with small seeds. These tend to get stuck in the diverticula and cause the flare ups. Read what the Mayo clinic has to say, its an easy read and dead on - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/div...s-diet/MY00736

[Richard in Smithville]

Hi Bill. I landed in hospital last year with diverticulitus. Fortunately it was treatable with IV drugs. Another 24 hours would have ended up with a ruptured bowel and surgery.

On leaving the hospital I was given doctors orders to keep my diet high in fiber. As you already know, the only way to cure diverticulitus is to have the section of bowel removed, so you want to keep your colon as healthy as possible.

I avoid hard to digest things. These include nuts, seeds, corn, and red meats. I havn't discluded these from my diet, but I minimize the intake and what I do eat is well chewed.

Now I eat more fish and chicken, fruits and vegetables, and I take a fibre suppliment like Metamucil. I also drink a lot more water to help flush the pipes. There is a wealth of internet information on diverticulitus.

I was told by the surgeon that after the fisrt attack I had a 20% chance of a second attack. After my second attack( I was kept in hospital overnight for that one) I was up to a 50% chance of a third attack. I'm not there yet but if make the next plateau, there's a good chance that it will mean surgery. That includes 5-6 months of a colostomy bag while the bowel heals, then a resection. I wish to keep things in good shape.

Just thought of this: Exercise, like walking, is helpful too.

[Bill Stock]

Hi Bill. I landed in hospital last year with diverticulitus. Fortunately it was treatable with IV drugs. Another 24 hours would have ended up with a ruptured bowel and surgery.

On leaving the hospital I was given doctors orders to keep my diet high in fiber. As you already know, the only way to cure diverticulitus is to have the section of bowel removed, so you want to keep your colon as healthy as possible.

I avoid hard to digest things. These include nuts, seeds, corn, and red meats. I havn't discluded these from my diet, but I minimize the intake and what I do eat is well chewed.

Now I eat more fish and chicken, fruits and vegetables, and I take a fibre suppliment like Metamucil. I also drink a lot more water to help flush the pipes. There is a wealth of internet information on diverticulitus.

I was told by the surgeon that after the fisrt attack I had a 20% chance of a second attack. After my second attack( I was kept in hospital overnight for that one) I was up to a 50% chance of a third attack. I'm not there yet but if make the next plateau, there's a good chance that it will mean surgery. That includes 5-6 months of a colostomy bag while the bowel heals, then a resection. I wish to keep things in good shape.

Just thought of this: Exercise, like walking, is helpful too.

Thanks Richard, I think it was your post I'd seen before.

Mine seems chronic rather than acute. I'll start avoiding nuts, corn, seeds, etc to see how that goes. I've read that Psyllium is not the best choice of fiber, you may want to look into Bran/Flax.

The red meat will be a tough one, but I guess it's time for an improved diet.

[Richard in Smithville]

Bran cereal and flax breads are in my diet. I really notice a difference when I "slip" on my eating habits, things just don't "flow" as well and I feel bogged down. I usually takes a few days to get things feeling right again.

As a double whammy, LOML is diabetic so we really eat healthy.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Same Problem

I have had the same problem since last April. Had three "attacks" spaced about a month apart. Last one was with a 4 day hospital stay, of course they always seem to erupt on Friday night which means a visit to the ER and then weekend in hospital. Doc told me that the nuts and seeds were kind of an old wives tale; if you tolerate it then its OK. He also told me that after 3 attacks this close together it was time for surgery. Fortunately he is a new Dr. and uses orthoscoptic (sp) surgery exclusively which is fine with me. He was very detailed in what will go on: three or four small holes and then a 2 or 3 inch incision to take out about a 6 inch piece of the colon. No special problems except the healing process. He told me that probably a three or four day stay and then a month should be back to normal. Not looking forward to it but this is better than emergency surgery after a rupture. We will see!

[Bill Stock]

I have had the same problem since last April. Had three "attacks" spaced about a month apart. Last one was with a 4 day hospital stay, of course they always seem to erupt on Friday night which means a visit to the ER and then weekend in hospital. Doc told me that the nuts and seeds were kind of an old wives tale; if you tolerate it then its OK. He also told me that after 3 attacks this close together it was time for surgery. Fortunately he is a new Dr. and uses orthoscoptic (sp) surgery exclusively which is fine with me. He was very detailed in what will go on: three or four small holes and then a 2 or 3 inch incision to take out about a 6 inch piece of the colon. No special problems except the healing process. He told me that probably a three or four day stay and then a month should be back to normal. Not looking forward to it but this is better than emergency surgery after a rupture. We will see!

Thanks LD,

Sorry to hear about your problems, it seems I still have time to mend my ways.

I've read that the whole seeds-nuts-corn thing is still up in the air.

[Uncle Cracker]

...three or four small holes and then a 2 or 3 inch incision to take out about a 6 inch piece of the colon.

So, this will leave you with a semi-colon???

[cork58]

Say goodby to pits, seeds and nuts. That includes popcorn, crunchy peanut butter and anything that taste's good. I gave them up about 5 years ago after my buttwreaktame. The pain is just one of the side affects, my doc told me that if I was on the table and he was going in for it and it burst before he got there I'd have a 50 50 chance at making it. Other than watching what I eat like no "good" bread and anything I really like I've been just fine. I think he said one in five have it but don't know it! Sometimes it sucks to be getting old.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Good one Uncle Cracker. LOLL (lots of LOL). My Doc told me that the colon has very thin walls and being surrounded by blood vessels it's is pretty prone to problems, plus the fact that we all eat way to much red meat. Not too much of a problem for us as we eat very little red meat; the treat being lamb! And yeah, as I've always said, "Youth is wasted on the young".