Liz the Squeak: Thanks for clarifying the difference between diverticul-osis and -itis. I always get them confused, myself. I've never experienced the more serious infection, just the chronic-discomfort condition.

Roughage is not the problem per se. Bran, lettuce, etc, are entirely beneficial. The problems arise only with foods that not only contain cellulose, etc., but also nuts and seeds. Anything that remains solid (i.e., has not not turned entirely to mush) by the time it reaches the problem area (the very end of the lower intestine) will trigger the undesirable reaction. And it doesn't matter how tiny the solid bits may be ~ strawberry seeds, miniscule as they may be, really raise havoc. Of course, they're little, but there are lots of them, even in a small serving (even in a single strawberry).

I'm not sure how exact a diagnosis "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" may be. Before I was ever told about diverticu-whatever, I was told I "seemed to be" suffering from "some kind of" IBS. Well, the kind I have is different from various other kinds, and the appropriate treatment/regimen for my condition is completely different than the right answer for a person reacting to a different cause (such as, say, artificial sweetener).