BS: Diverticulitis

Subject: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 07:25 PM

Ever since last April, I have had diverticulitis to one degree or another. It is a pain in the guts, and, although I have stopped eating nuts, seeds corn and all, it still wont go away. Today I had another CAT scan, and it is now joined by Duodinitis!
I'm taking the friggin' meds, so the doctor gave me more meds. I know that some of you have had this problem, any thoughts?

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: MarkS
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 07:39 PM

Diet like you mentioned and a week on antibiotics worked for me when I was diagnosed with the same problem some time ago. Trouble is that when you get it, you never really loose it and you have to be careful with your diet. If you are careful, you can manage it with very little problem.
Best of luck
MarkS

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 07:48 PM

During a flare up, ONLY clear liquids until the pain goes away. NOTHING in the diet that does not digest completly. There are other things than nuts and corn that cause problems. Cheese for the diahrrea. No applesauce during a flare up.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 08:14 PM

clear liquids during a flareup. Now, that makes sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 08:29 PM

Super Simple ... Stop putting ANYTHING in your mouth. This will solve a host of problems! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 09:15 PM

Coffee? Tea? Alcohol? Anyone know?

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 01:20 AM

If you have the opportunity, experiment to see which foods are your trigger. It isn't always the ones the doctors tell you to avoid.

It will be nasty and painful in the short term, but once you've found your triggers, as with so many illnesses, it's much MUCH more easy to live with afterwards.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Mudlark
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 01:49 AM

Also, timing can be important. Gravity rules. Don't go to bed on a full stomach whatever you eat. And try raising the head of the bed.

Small bites, keep track, no scarfing of anything, until you know it's ok...the less of troublesome stuff you put in your body the less trouble you'll have.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: open mike
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 01:51 AM

i seem to remember my grandma having that and
even the tiny seeds in banana raised havok
with her intestines.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Peg
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:54 AM

Sorry to hear you are not doing too well Kendall. As the ancients said, let your food be your medicine...in other words, don't assume the meds will completely solve this problem. They are western medicine's answer to symptoms, but do not always address the underlying problem which is subtle and probably took years to settle in.

I try to watch my habits with food etc. because I seem to have a somewhat delicate constitution that goes out of whack once in a while. According to Ayurveda (an ancient Indian system well worth following), one's "doshas" go out of balance due to various things like improper food, stress, fatigue, and various stimulants (including coffee and television). When I feel kinda lousy and like nothing I eat is what I want, I look at the last few days and try to figure out how to get back in balance. In Ayurvedic terms, I have a tendency towards a Pitta imbalance, which can be aggravated by hot humid weather, spicy food, alcohol, stress and staying indoors too much. If you are curious about how this system may help, I recommend the book Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra. There are also many websites dealing with Ayurvedic principles, most of which are very easy to implement.

One thing many people forget (because it becomes so ingrained over the years) is to chew food very thoroughly. Most of us don't. (I know I don't) This can be a very important variable with digestive complaints, and it is worthwhile to make a new habit of chewing very well and eating slowly.

Drinking cold liquids during meals also disturbs digestion. A glass of wine is okay. Follow a meal with a hot drink, preferably herbal tea. Fennel, chamomile or peppermint are all very good for digestion. Food combining may also help immensely. (No starches with meats; green veggies with meats or protein, or with starches. Fruit alone or before a meal)

I would guess that giving up coffee and tea for a time might help (it gave my guts a nice rest when I did it for four months); try decaf or green tea.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 12:13 PM

Thanks, Peg. Very helpful info. As you say, the pills help to heal the damage, but I need to find out what is causing the damage in the first place so the pills wont be necessary.
This getting old is really getting old.

Last weekend I travelled to Hampton New Brunswick, (750 miles round trip) and threw my system out of kilter with un accostomed foods and beer. That must have had something to do with it.

It looks like I must give up everything I like to avoid another flareup.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: KathWestra
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 06:00 PM

Diverticulitis is an infection of the colon ("gut" covers a lot of parts. Diverticulitis is a colon thing.)It's something that happens when you have a condition called diverticulosis--"pockets" that bulge away from the colon wall. The tendency to have this is inherited; my mom also had it.

Diverticulosos becomes diverticulitis when undigested bits of stuff--the aforementioned corn, seeds, nuts, etc.--get trapped in one of the pockets and start to fester and cause an infection. Antibiotics are the ONLY way to cure it. Don't play with that. You could land in surgery otherwise, having a bit of your colon removed. Not recommended! Clear liquids ABSOLUTELY until the antibiotics make the infection go away. You need to give your colon a complete rest while the antibiotics do their stuff. When you've got the infection, it's very important not to eat fiber, which will aggravate the inflammation. NO salads (or fruit, or cooked veggies, or other "roughage").

HOWEVER, once it's gone, scholars really differ on what you can and can't eat. You may not have to give up "everything you love." I stay away from sweet corn, which triggered my initial attack a couple of years back. I also avoid raspberries, and poppy and sesame seeds. The Mayo Clinic website has a good section about diverticulitis. They say that the nutritional and fiber benefits of eating nuts and seedy fruit and whole-grain breads with sunflower seeds and wheat berries far outweigh the risks of those things "causing" an infection. Everyone agrees that you MUST eat lots of fiber--fruits, vegetables, whole grains--and much less fat. Most docs recommend a daily dose of Metamucil (or FiberCon or another brand with the same purpose). Everyone says get more exercise. Everyone says drink LOTS of water (8 8-oz. glasses a day). All that stuff is good for more than diverticulitis, so it has broad benefits. I don't EVER want to experience the pain I had in June & July, so I am following this advice to the letter. Check out the Mayo website, Kendall. That and the Johns Hopkins site have very clear discussions of various conditions with consumer-friendly recommendations.

Other than antibiotics, which are critical to clear up the infection, I don't know what drugs are given for this. My doctor didn't prescribe anything, nor did he mention any long-term therapy other than the nutritional stuff mentioned in the previous paragraph.

I had a particularly vicious attack in late June/early July. I was on clear liquids for about 5 days, antibiotics for almost four weeks. Since it cleared up, I'm back to eating (and drinking) normal stuff. This includes caffeine and alcohol in moderation. Roasted almonds. Whole-grain bread with sunflower seeds. Raw and cooked veggies. Less fat. More fish. Less meat.

Good luck, Cap'n. I have lots of empathy for your situation. All this and a missin' cap, too. Life is tough!
XO Kathy

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 06:09 PM

why would they say less fat and meats? Sounds like the grains and seeds are more of what is causing the problem? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:20 PM

Kathy is saying what works for her. And she was in vicious pain a short time ago.

Question: How do you define "when the infection is gone"? When the pain passes? When the prescription is finished? Five days after the last dose?

And what other options besides clear liquids? How about some nice soft mashed potatoes? Or plain pasta in the broth?

Do you keep a diary of what you have eaten so that you can eventually relate an attack to a food?

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 08:01 PM

I can't live on clear liquids. To me that means water.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 08:17 PM

I just went to the Johns Hopkins site. They recommend, to ease the discomfort of divertiulitis, eat cooked veggies, refined bread, cereals.
Fruit and veg. juices, without skin or seeds. tender or ground meats, low fat milk products, eggs, low fat cheese/ broth/ creamed soups, with cooked vegetables, white rice and refined pasta.
Now, that I can live with.

Then, when the flare up is past, resume a diet high in fiber and low in fat.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:58 PM

Kendall, when we talked about this before, I think I said that the word "some" is really operative. Some foods, some people.......All of us who have this are often affected by different foods which is why that so many Docs are now saying, "It's all up to you." I have been fortunate enough to isolate a few problem foods and avoid them. For me it seems that the small, hard, seedy-like things are the worst. I have had no problems though with well chewed nuts....but I gotta' tell ya' that I rarely eat them. One good attack that leaves you in the hospital with surgery being contemplated makes one very careful. Hulled veggies and fruits like corn, peas, amd grapes have so far not been a problem although I have a friend who can't do any of them.

You can generally feel an attack coming on well before it gets serious if you tune-in. THEN is the time to go back to the liquid-white-mashed diets and progress back to normal. For "some" of us, that works quite well. I find that if I stretch the times for each step just a bit longer, I heal faster and can get back to fiber faster and without pain.

Every once in awhile you may feel an attack coming on and it's important to be able to go back and see what might have been the trigger.....if you can't remember, start keeping a journal. Some can get by with eating anyhing in moderation but that doesn't work for everyone. I can do well chewed nuts in moderation but I will guarantee that the seeds from one sesame bun or breadstick will cause a flare-up. Take the time to find out what you can and cannot eat and life will be a lot simpler. Just be sure you know what you eat.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:02 AM

My sympathies Kendall! I can tell you that besides being stung by a sting ray and having a caesarean section without anesthetics. ...the pain of diverticulitus is the worst! That is when it festers to the point of bursting! When that happens you are only inches away from having a bowel resection or a bag! The only remedy for the infection is antibiotics ( perferably the kind they treat antrax with)and that is on a a drip in the hospital for 10 to 14 days! The only way to manage the disease is to pay attention to your diet. Do not eat seeds, nuts ,grains or insoluable fiber for a year.. believe me it takes that long to heal your colon. I cannot eat berries ( including jam) rhubarb, peas, corn, cornmeal, tomatoes, cucumber, whole grain breads, brown rice, beans of any sort, potato skins ( especially new potatoes), or nuts of any kind. When you are experiencing pain, do not eat solid food. Water, tea, apple juice, clear soup and jello is about it. Usually during a flare up you'll notice very little bowel activity,,, when things start to move again and the pain is gone you should maintain a diet of refined foods for about a week. This includes white bread, rice, pasta, eggs, cream soups, cream puddings, plain yogurt etc. Once you feel better, you should introduce fibre slowly into your diet. Start your day with a high fibre cereal, drink lots of water and avoid the nasty things that can bring on another attack. Please remember Kendall that if you've been in pain for this long.. it means that your body has been suffering with a low grade infection for along time. Most people over the age of 40 have some degree of diverticulosis... because of our western diet. BUT diverticulitus is when the colon is inflamed. This is serious stuff.   Diverticulosis can be managed with diet... diverticulitus requires medical attention. When this is brought under control... I promise... you will feel so much better. Good luck Kendall.

LL

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:46 AM

Oh great, thanks for reminding me it's heredetary!

My mother has this (along with about 20 other things - enough to fill an A4 sheet), so I guess I better start watching out for symptoms.

Mother has false teeth, so doesn't eat things with seeds in much. Her problem foods are fatty meats esp. pork, salty biscuits and certain acidic fruits (sharp apples and citrus). Her attacks have put her in hospital several times because like so many other people, she cheats on her diet - when out with people she says 'Oh I mustn't have that', but at home when no-one is watching, she'll eat it. I must read that list again and see if 'self-harm' or Munchhausens' Syndrome is mentioned.

It is interesting though, that the stomach acid can dissolve a gold crown, tooth enamel and small bones, but sweetcorn passes through entirely unscathed.....

Good luck finding your triggers Kendall, I hope it's not too long a search.

Peg - any more info on that book and method please? I've not been able to find/keep a link open to anything about it on the Web.

Cheers.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:47 AM

Thank you LL...Barb knows of what she speaks Kendall! She and I were hospitalized at the same time and bad as I was, she was much worse. In the aftermath, both of us went through about the same thing, but note how many foods trigger a response in Barb versus the number that trigger a responce in me. I think if we were to make actual exzct lists, hers would be 8 or 9 times greater than mine.

The post attack diet she refers to I call "Liquid/White/Mashed" as that gives the general idea and when I said above that I stay on this at each stage longer as it helps me to get better faster, to be specific, I maintain each phase for about 10-12 days before moving on. I think there is also the "Fear Factor" involved with me because I think back to that night I went to the hospital (and the days preceding and following) and I will do damn near anything to avoid that in the future!!!

Barb makes a good point as well with the time you seem to have had this would indicate that you have never really healed from the first attack. You never truly "heal" this problem without surgery, but you can go along at a managed level as many of us do but it's important to clear up the problem as best possible or you'll continue as you are now and eventually wind up in really bad shape!

My advice would be to go on the LWM Diet for 4 to 6 weeks and then slowly move toward the high fiber goal while watching for triggers. I know this seems a long time, but in a lifespan of eating, it's pretty short. Your guts didn't wind up in the shape they are in overnight.....and they won't get better overnight either. Do the LWM thing and don't cheat for a month or so (and drink the hell out of water) and you'll be glad in the long run.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Peg
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 08:17 AM

re: Ayurveda, when describing this to a friend online, he found this website:

http://www.vaidya4u.com/b_char.html

I thought it provided an excellent introduction.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Amos
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 08:42 AM

Clickamos aqui:    http://www.vaidya4u.com/b_char.html

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Wordless Woman
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 10:47 AM

If you're taking antibiotics, which will wipe out all the bacteria - both good and bad - in your gut, you might want to consider taking probiotics (acidolphilus) to bring the flora back into balance. You may also find papaya tea helpful.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:10 PM

I'm starting to think you all know more than my doctor.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 04:53 PM

I forgot to mention Kendall, that another common trigger,for me anyway, is dried fruit, raisins, currants,apricots and especially dates...so watch out for those in muffins etc.
I tend to agree with you about the doctors not knowing too much about this disease. Diverticulitis is a common complaint with older people, and people tend to suffer from it in varying degrees. The longer you suffer without healing the initial attack, the more of your colon can become affected. I went many years trying to treat this on my own ( affeared of the dreaded cancer diagnosis!) I now have three feet of my colon which may have to be removed if I don't take very good care of self. I received the greatest amount of help and guidance from the nutritionist. I have only had one attack in the past year and a recent colonoscopy has shown that my colon is looking pretty good considering. Knock on wood! Take care!

LL

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 07:24 PM

Kendall I read somewhere that Llama milk is good for that particular problem. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 09:23 PM

Hey Doug, what happened to your cookie?

No one has mentioned it, but what about alcohol? I assume that is a no no.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Peg
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 09:32 PM

maybe until your current flare-up is better, Kendall, eliminating all poisons is the best bet. That includes caffeine, sugar, heavily-processed stuff, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 08:05 AM

No drinking at a bluegrass festival? I'll stick out like a skunk in the fog!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Peg
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 09:08 AM

think about it, there are plenty of people who are teetotalers, either because they are in recovery or simply haven't a taste for it. It could be a fun diversion for a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 11:09 AM

is it ok to have alcohol,

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 11:22 AM

It is a disease vegetarians suffer less from than meat eaters. It is virtually unknown in countires with a high fibre diet.

Google for diverticulitis+vegetarian to see some of this.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Old Guy
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 01:43 AM

I don't think alcohol is bad for diverticulitis.

If you eat plenty of fiber you won't have a problem.

Highly refined flour where the fiber is ground into dust is the culprit. No one had diverticulitis until highly refined white flour started to be made.

Some people say to avoid nuts and anything with seeds. that theory has been disproven. The only food to be avoided is popcorn because of the hulls.

The disease was first noticed in the United States in the early 1900s. At about the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many processed foods contain refined, low-fiber flour. Unlike whole-wheat flour, refined flour has no wheat bran.

Diverticular disease is common in developed or industrialized countries—particularly the United States, England, and Australia—where low-fiber diets are common. The disease is rare in countries of Asia and Africa, where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets.

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body cannot digest. Some fiber dissolves easily in water (soluble fiber). It takes on a soft, jelly-like texture in the intestines. Some fiber passes almost unchanged through the intestines (insoluble fiber). Both kinds of fiber help make stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber also prevents constipation.

Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. This excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula become infected or inflamed. Doctors are not certain what causes the infection. It may begin when stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Mikey Q.
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:57 AM

What is diverticulosos?

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 11:26 AM

Little pockets in the lining of the gut where food can get trapped. 'Osis' is the disease, 'itis' is a flare up.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 11:41 AM

Think about trying some cooked oats-- although it is fber, it is soft, water-soluble fiber that dissolves in the gut without leaving little bits that get trapped in the pockets. Many people find that the oat approach soothes the whole gut so that the pockets can heal.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 12:18 PM

I was told that the pockets never heal. You just have to cope with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 02:16 PM

I once had a 'colonoscopy' (is that the right word?) during which a TV camera was pushed up my rear end (not one of those big old BBC jobs, I hasten to add - that would have required rather a lot of vaseline - probably more than the National Health Service could afford!). Anyway, the doctor found these little pockets in the lining of my bowel - and even showed me on a TV monitor (a bit too much information, but I'm sure he mean't well).
Over the last few years I've had some problems with my health - only occasional pain - but I can feel generally lousy for weeks at a time. I'm not sure whether these episodes are related to the diverticulae, or not, and the medics don't seem to know either. Nevertheless, there are foods that I have learned to avoid (not too much bread and no cheese, for example). On the other hand I have found that eating porridge (ie. oatmeal) for breakfast does help. I put half a cup of oatmeal, in a deep ceramic bowl. I then add a cup of skimmed milk and half a cup of water. After stirring I microwave it for 4 minutes and then add a couple of teaspoons of honey - it tastes quite good as well (although I never would have believed it until I tried it).

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 02:25 PM

A friend of mine in NYC has been without health insurance since the events of 9-11. His business went almost belly up and he can't afford it, so he has to be very careful to catch his diverticulitis before it flares into something that needs treatment. He swears by a product called "Colon Cleanse" (a drink--we've discussed this elsewhere at Mudcat--it is bulky psyllium and tends to fill those pockets and when it passes through it takes everything that was in those little pouches with it.) He also said he eats peaches when he feels it coming on. Sometimes he mixes the fruit in with the Colon Cleanse.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Morticia
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 03:24 PM

I can't eat eggs or any protein on it's own and I have to avoid coffee when I have a flare up. It really does seem to be about each individual and triggers, I'm afraid.I've talked to so many people who have different triggers.

Usually though, I can eat anything that doesn't eat me first.....getting older isn't for sissies, is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Old Guy
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 08:34 PM

You are supposed to have a Colonoscopy at 55 and every 5 years after that. I had one and was diagnosed with Diverticulosis.

The only cure is to have the last 18" of your colon. the Sigmoid colon because it s S shaped, removed.

I refused to do it and I have been eating a high fiber, low carb diet. I have lost 60 pounds and I have had no more flare ups.

It is caused by straining for a BM when constipated. Eat more fiber and you won't get constipated to begin with and avoid the disease altogether.

Colon Cleanse is bullshit. Eat fiber like you were intended to eat.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:22 PM

Hey, Old Guy, to each his own. I'm just passing along something a friend says works.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Old Guy
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 12:03 AM

So does eating fiber and it probably works better than colon cleanse.

I also have IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It causes general cramps and loose stools or constipation. Once you have it, there is no cure.

It can't be associated with any particular food. It just comes and goes. Fiber helps that too.

There are all kinds of snake oil for IBS too but they help very little or not at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,. gargoyle
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 11:06 PM

An herbal "cure" is "capsicum" (red-pepper, cyan-pepper)

I know this from my long departed father; he suffered from the problem.

To get the capsicum into his gut, he "concealed" a 1/8th teaspoon full in a Tablespoon full of sour-cream....twice a day.

The condition is created by a small (enlarged/epanded/blown-up) section in the intestines (a "bubble" in a long tube - a "weak spot") and the offending digestive material "slips" into the pocket and (molders, ferments, putrifies) the capsicum "cleans the area." For my father, the most offending food was NUTS, (high in fiber, oil, protein) which seemed to pocket themselves, in the intestinal-spot, like a chipmonk's-cheeks.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 03:23 AM

I had a shuftiscope examination for bowel cancer a few years ago. You've never seen anyone so pleased to be told that they've got diverticulosis. At least it wasn't cancer. Now I know what the symptoms are caused by, and how a reasonably high- fibre diet can control the condition, I can forget about it. The only danger is if one ruptures, as happened to someone I know. A week or two in hospital saw him all right, bowel fixed and intact.

But they did tell him that he mustn't hold back- and he doesn't. World champion petomane.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 05:00 AM

Capsicum? That's chili, isn't it?

Eat plenty of curry - that's obviously the answer! And, of course, curry usually contains turmeric - not only an anti-bacterial but also, I believe, rich in anti-oxidants as well.

Nevertheless, I would imagine industrial strength vindaloos are probably inadvisable if any sort of inflammation is involved.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 06:43 PM

I am another victim. Hatefull stuff but I was relieved that it wasn't cancer. In fact the IBS and diverticulitis may have saved my life as a colonoscopy turned up a polyp that was removed in time. I still often have the pain but I am still kicking.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Old Guy
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 09:04 PM

WYSIWYG:

What is this cure for IBS?

My doc prescribed Dycyclomine which does very little for it. Usually I just sit down and rest for an hour or so and the cramps go away. They might come right back or they might not come back for a week or a month or two. It is unpredictable and not seemingly linked to any food. The cramps might result in loose stools or constipation. Mine are usually loose stools but some times not accompanied by anything, just cramps

Diverticulosis is a completely different matter. It is the existence of little balloons extending from inside your sigmoid colon into your abdominal cavity. Hard feces gets trapped in them and causes inflammation. It left alone they can rupture and give you peritonitis, infection in your abdominal cavity.

One study found that seeds and nuts would get trapped in them but this has been disproved my later studies. The only thing to really be avoided is popcorn because the hulls can get stuck in them like fish scales.

The best way to keep any feces from getting stuck in the diverticulii is to keep the feces soft by eating lots of fiber. We were designed to eat more fiber than we do. Modern, highly processed food with not enough fiber is the culprit. When white flour was invented, it created the disease which virtually did not exist before.

Some snake oil mongers show you photos of god awful things that look like roots that came out of somebody s butt. Then they tell you "that is what is caked inside you" The roots are psyllium powder or clay or something similar that somebody ate and it took a "set" like Jello and retained the shape of their intestines. It's a scam.

Your intestines are slick and slimy and nothing can get caked to them. However they can get clogged with digested food that does not contain enough fiber to retain moisture and keep it soft. That can get stuck in the diverticulii, cause them to get infected and cause a flare up of diverticulitis. Read about it here.

Eat lots of fruit, veggies, whole grain products, less sweets and starchy baked goods and you will do fine.

A polyp was removed from my colon but they do not necessarily always turn into cancer. I changed my diet perminantly and I have never had a flare up since. Plus I have lost 60 pounds in the process and my weight is still going down.

IBS continues to be a separate problem for me but not a chronic or debilitating one.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Old Guy
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 09:06 PM

PS:

I eat all the greasy red meat, bacon, sausage etc I want and I still loose weight. My cholesterol is 152.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 09:29 PM

My viewpoint is that IBS is a dysfunctional pattern of peristalsis, when the normal waves of action that move material from mouth to potty become spasmodic and when food is ejected before the small intestine has fully digested it. It can include sensitivity to trigger foods, but the syndrome has far more to do with learned patterns of eating/elimination and being physically agitated over things. Eating for IBS need NOT be bland-- it isn't the heat of any spices that sets it off, and some spices actually help.

IBS is not food allergy. It is very important to move beyond the mindset that you "just can't" eat certain foods, unless they have been individually and specifically determined to be true allergies. In a true allergy, even a small amount is dangerous. IBS is sensitivity, not allergy. When you have IBS, you are not a forever-victim. You're more likely to be a healthy person who needs to resolve a stuck habit that's inadvertently been reinforced by countless repetitions. That is not to say that ithe problem is all in your mind-- but it is important to know that much of the solution is in your mind, at your disposal. You CAN change the phenomenon.

A happy gut, in recovery from IBS, is a gut comfortably full of soluble fiber-- so the muscle walls can have something to hold into, and a happy mass that will absorb the spasms at the site where they occur, and not be passed down along the gut forcing ejection. Like a tunnel full of fluffy pillows would absorb shockwaves.

IBS can debilitate you fast, and severely. I ended up chairbound, as a result of IBS in combination with being over-medicated for high blood pressure. (At the peak, my worst trigger was water, so imagine the dehydration!) It took 2 years' agressive rehab to get a grip on being alive again.

It is very worth treating, and for many people, getting it handled reveals a whole lot about your life that is very good to explore. Treating it, and recovering from it, requires that we drop almost all of the conventional wisdom about dieting, so do not try to do both at the same time!


What I did for starters (I call it Level 1)

Increase water-soluble fiber:
<> Oats in any form;, rolled and cooked are best.
<> Oat bars (if low in sugars)
<> Oat bread (it will be oat/wheat flour, but NOT whole wheat flour)
<> Oat bran (look in the cooked cereals dept. where the cream of wheat is), added to anything
<> Boiled/baked potatoes, mashed potatoes (no butter)
<> Sweet potatoes-- baked till very soft, plain with salt optional, no butter. Pumpkin (low-sugar pumpkin pie is GREAT for this medicinally)
<> Oat/sweet potato bread is great, so is pumpkin bread.
<> Black beans
<> White rice, basmati rice, jasmine rice
<> Pasta, cooked well; small varieties like orzo or couscous are best to start
<> Spinach
<> Corn chips, corn tortillas

Small amounts to start, chewed slowly. Be sure to sip water as these are eaten, and between. Dried-up stuck poop is not going to help, a bit. Picture the inside of your gut holding a nice bowl of somewhat firm oatmeal-- that's what you want in there. That's why it has to be water-soluble fiber, not just "fiber."

Increase digestive-aiding spices:
<> Cumin (a powerful anti-spasmodic)
<> Mexican food (avoid fats)
<> Indian food (avoid fats)

Increase helpful forms of dairy:
<> Yogurt
<> Cheddar cheese

Increase helpful habits:
<> Keep half a loaf of oat bread in the car.
<> Eat a slice of oat bread before each meal, chewing slowly, and sipping water to keep up with the starch.
<> Eat a slice of oat bread about 20 minutes after each explosion, chewing very slowly and sipping water.


Decrease trigger foods:
Varies by individual. For some folks it's tomatoes, coffee, milk, SUGAR, vinegar, fats, fried chicken-- often, it's just what we crave. You will know your triggers when you feel good on the oat bread but then add something else and explode in short order. I started with just oat bread and weak tea for several days, and then reintrodiced foods one by one till I could spot the triggers and say goodbye to those dear old friends for awhile.)

Decrease trigger habits:
<> Don't eat fast.
<> Don't eat too much at a time.
<> Don't get empty-- keep nibbling plain oat bread between meals.
<> Don't rush around after eating.
<> There are trigger SMELLS. Avoid them!

In general, settle the hell down.


Go to Level II when the above is not enough:

Use Immodium as directed and preventively, but not exceeding specified dosage.

Carry a small bottle of cumin (grocery spice shelf) and sniff at it when things start to feel uneasy down there. A vial of Essential Oil of Cumin ($5-10) is better but pretty smelly-- you can get it at the health store's aromatherapy dept. You will FEEL the tense gut relax like a string has popped, and avoid a lot of nasty explosions. (Look in aromatherapy research-- it's a powerful anti-spasmodic) Any explosion you can head off is one more brain cell retrained that you need not explode every time you eat.


Level III

When the above approaches are not enough, document everything you have tried and take that to the doc, and request a prescription anti-spasmodic to add to the above.

If all of that doesn't work, it's time to consider stress medication to interrupt this terribly debilitating cycle.

Whatever level one is at, this can resolve amazingly quickly if you follow the above regimen. It's also possible to slip on the regimen, especially at first, and be right back where you were-- till your brain learns a new set of signals to send your gut.


AVOID till you're well:
<> Whole wheat bread
<> Brown rice
<> Wheat germ
<> Fibrous greens & veg



Once you feel you have it managed--

Here is the amazing truth: Once you are doing really well you can even start adding back in some of the trigger foods and habits, as long as you keep the oats and other water-soluble starches coming in. If you have retrained your gut and the connections in the brain to trust the eating process again, you absolutely should be able to add back in small amounts of your favorite foods, unless they are true allergies for you.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Old Guy
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 10:12 PM

WYSIWYG:

I never had any explosions. I guess everybodys IBS is a little different.

Mine only gives me cramps that rarely dibilitate me to the point that I have to sit back and recline for an hour or less and they go away.

No particular food starts the cramps although I thought tomatos started up the cramps once.

The doctor said it was spasms and prescribed the Dycyclomine which I rarely take. Even then it does not help much. It really dosn't bother me that much or restrict my diet.

Good luck with yours.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 10:35 PM

I'm done with mine, thanks, and BTW-- next time someone PMs you, it's considered polite to reply via PM, not in a public post.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,jezzybel
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 01:38 PM

Has anyone out there ever had an adverse reaction to the antibiotics they put you on to clear up the infection? I was taking Levaquin and have had a terrible reaction to the medicine. The left side of my face is numb and my tongue feels so swollen that it's hard to talk sometimes. The Docs say it just has to go away on it's own?!?!? It has been about a month now with no relief.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:18 PM

Did it at least have some impact on the diverticulitis? How long after those symptoms started did you continue taking it?

You might do a Google search on the drug. I found some very useful information on a medication I had an adverse reaction to--it confirmed my reaction, for the most part, helping clarify that it was indeed the culprit.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:25 PM

READ THIS THEN DO SOMETHING.....Like go to the ER!

What are the possible side effects of Levaquin?

• Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using Levaquin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
· seizure (convulsions);
· confusion, hallucinations (seeing things that are not there);
· a red, blistering, peeling skin rash;
· urinating less than usual or not at all;
· tremors or shaking;
· easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
· unusual thoughts or behavior;
· nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
· sudden pain or swelling near your joints (especially in your arm or ankle);
· numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling; or
· diarrhea that is watery or bloody.
• Continue using Levaquin and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
· feeling restless or anxious;
· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
· headache, drowsiness, dizziness;
· sleep problems (insomnia);
· vaginal itching or discharge; or
· mild skin itching.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:34 PM

Geez. This falls under the heading of the cure is worse than the disease. . . (almost)

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,pandmr1
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 11:56 PM

Just found this site. Great info everyone! I got a severe case of Diverticulitis for the first time a few weeks ago. Thought I had food poisoning. Spent 5 nights in the hospital. I can honestly say that it was the WORST experience in my life. No food or water & just an IV full of antibiotics the whole time. I also have a fractured ankle & running to the toilet every hours hopping on one foot & tugging and IV along was not fun. It's a great diet plan though. I lost 20 pounds in just 3 weeks. My Doc says the same what evryone else mentions. Lots of fruits & veggies and a high fiber diet. It's a whole new lifestyle for me now. Going from 1 lb. T-Bones to salads. I would not wish Diverticulitis on my worse enemy. (Well, maybe I would.) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:44 AM

Levaquin did a number on my joints for over a year.

Hey has anyone mentioned the severe bloating from diverticulitis?

The worst I ever had was a 10 expansion of my waistline in 24 hours.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 22 Feb 07 - 07:46 AM

Dicyclomine has been a boon for me. Haven't had an attack since I went on it.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: ard mhacha
Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:52 AM

Some really good advice, after reading this Thread I am now on hunger-strike, water only.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Help needed
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 01:46 AM

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis last week. My symptoms were just a pain in my lower left side, exacerbated with movement and severly sensitive to pressure. After 4 or 5 days on antibiotics the pain cleared up. The Doc says that we still need to do a colonoscopy in a month or too to make sure it wasn't colon cancer though. He's fairly sure it was diverticulitis, but just to be 110%.
So now I'm very nervous, especially as although the pain is gone my bowel doesn't seem to have recovered. I have some constipation and when I do have movements (usually in the morning) my movements are narrow and runny - could this be from the diverticulitis?
And so, how do I get them back to normal after the diverticulits? If I had one solid movement my fear of colon cancer would go as without the pain and the narrow movements I'd have no symptoms. But how do I get this? Do I go to fiber straight away? or do I wait until the bowel has recovered and then then do it? How long after a flare up of diverticular infection does the bowel retuen to normal movements?
Any help would be hugely appreciated! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: kendall
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 06:58 AM

In my case it wasn't long. Give it a week or so.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 07:44 AM

Here are some recommendations from the Mayo Clinic.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Help needed
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 11:26 AM

Thanks for the info, was that a week after the infection cleared up? or a week after you started taking the meds before the movements were back to normal?

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,shipdog556
Date: 20 May 07 - 09:14 AM

Old Man ! My brother at 58 years old was told by his doctor he was the postor boy for someone who would not have a heart attack.Low cholesterol,ate red meat. Consumed anything he desired.Two months later he had a heart attack.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 May 07 - 09:19 AM

If I had one solid movement my fear of colon cancer would go as without the pain and the narrow movements I'd have no symptoms. But how do I get this?

Oat bread. THIS may help.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST
Date: 20 May 07 - 09:33 AM

Mebeverine and an Actemel each morning works for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: mg
Date: 20 May 07 - 05:08 PM

GOod luck but don't try to diagnose cancer yourself..let the doctors do that...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: john f weldon
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 10:28 AM

Huh? An hour ago this thread was at the top, so I looked up this great recipe for preventive health. When I got back it was gone.   Works for me.

Applesauce-Date Muffins

1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 whole-wheat flour
2/3 cup bran ceral, such as Bran Buds or All-Bran
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup finely chopped dates
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 TBS canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 425 . Coat 12 muffin cups with nonstick spray.
2. Spread walnuts in a shallow pan and bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Let cool.
3.In a large bowl, whisk flour, bran cereal, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in dates and walnuts. [I omit the walnuts and mix the dates in by hands, breaking up the dates which clump together and making sure each bit is covered with flour]
4. In a bowl, whisk applesauce, brown sugar and oil until smooth. Make a well in the dry ingredients and mix in the wet ingredients until just combined. (Do not overmix.)
5. Divide batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 12 to 15 m inutes, or until tops spring back when touched lightly. Loosen edges and turn muffins out onto a wire rack to cool.

[5 grams of fiber per muffin!]

from Eating Well, January/February 1998

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 10:41 AM

uh, John.......nice preventative it is, but for anyone who has even a mild form of diverticular disease that muffin is a complete disaster! LOL.......I can't imagine eating one at all!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: bobad
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 10:54 AM

A differentiation should be made between diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Becca72
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 11:20 AM

What are diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Pouches (plural) are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis.

When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 01:37 PM

In simple form, think of one as the chronic (osis) and the other the acute (itis) phase of diverticular disease.

Spaw....Careful about the osis 'cause I sure hate the itis.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: bobad
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 01:50 PM

John's muffins would be indicated for people with diverticulosis but contra-indicated for those with diverticulitis.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 03:42 PM

This disease is kinda' strabe and the medicos change their minds a lot. Classic thinking was that nuts were an absolute no-no for anyone with the basic problem as nuts tended to plug the "sacks" and become infected. Now they say nuts are fine! But I can intro you to loads of folks with diverticular disease who will tell you they can't eat ANY nut...period! In my case I try to avoid them unless they are ground as fine as powder. I love a lot of nuts so I do that occasionally. Also I have been known to chew up the things and spit them out.....very sad.

I can't eat popcorn at all even though current medical thinking allows it. I know its a sure way to have an attack. So when I really can't stand smelling the stuff while everyone eats it, I chew it up and spit into a cup. Karen won't let me do this in public (thank god).

Corn and peas are also classic no-nos but I have thankfully never reacted to either and I would have to kill myself rather than miss sweet corn season.

And some sufferers can't do bran when baked or cooked and have to use supplemental stuff to get any in their diet. The best thing you can do is to trey small amounts of all the old bad stuff and see how you do. At the first sign of a problem jump right back on the straight and narrow for a few days rather than risk an attack. There ain't nothin' funny about one of those at all!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 11:38 PM

Amen,Spaw...right on!
Barb

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: john f weldon
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 08:53 AM

Oops. Well, I wasn't trying to kill anyone. I asked my wife for the recipe and that's what she gave me. When I told her about the negative reviews, she said "Oh, I leave out the walnuts!"

I don't know what causes an attack. The most likely culprit for me seems to be super-sour lifesavers.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: iancarterb
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 02:28 PM

I have an old friend who has been hospitalilized twice with severe diverticulitis, and he already ate a very spartan and healthful diet. He has been able to stay free of further inflammations by just chewing everything endlessly, similarly to "grinding nuts to a powder" as mentioned as Catspaw described. I think this is the ultimate 'be careful and be lucky' disease, and lucky is good.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 02:34 PM

John,
That recipe is ideal for diverticulosis sufferers. When diverticulitis hits, the pain is excruciating and most prefer to eat nothing. Nothing in nothing out.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 02:53 PM

I looked back to see if I had contributed to this discussion any time in the past. Apparently not ~ although I am sure that I have addressed this subject in other threads.

I've got diverticuli; I usually get "osis" and "itis" mixed up and say the wrong word. My case is chronic and fairly mild; I've never gotten infected and really sick, but I've been miserable with a condition that can only be described as combining the worst of constipation and diarrhea. Read on only if you dare; you've been warned!

It took a long time for me to get a correct diagnosis and then to learn from internet sources ~ not from a doctor! ~ to avoid nuts and seeds. Before that, I had been going out of my way to eat "roughage," and therefore ate plenty of stuff that had actually been making my condition worse!

As soon as I stopped eating the offending items, I became absolutely "regular." I just wish it hadn't taken so long.

I had undergone multiple scopings that turned up no results ~ that is, no cancerous developments. It was only after the second intrusion, after I demanded some explanation for the symptoms I had been experiencing, that the examing doc said, "Oh, yeah, well, you do have some diverticuli in there..."

Sure, I was glad not to have colon cancer, but that's not the only problem a person could have, and I needed to learn about my condition, cancer or not!

With my condition, anything that gets through the digetive system and remains solid all the way to the colon (lower intestine) can wreak havoc with the, ahem, eliminative function. Tiny seeds (as in strawberries, unfortunately, among other things) can be the worst, which makes me reluctant to even try fine-ground nuts. Well, completely ground down to nut "butter" is OK.

This is my theory: when solid objects are still in the mix when digested food gets to the colon, and when the inner walls of the colon are lined with "potholes" (diverticuli), the bits stick in the perforations. I believe that the body somehow "senses" this as the colon being full of completely processed waste matter, when it is not. The person then feels the unmistakable sense that he/she needs to defecate, but either (a) little or nothing is there ready to be excreted, or (b) there is a bit of waste matter, but it has not yet become normally ready-to-go ~ it'll be more acidic or corrosive than normal, often more liquid than solid, etc. Nasty!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 04:19 PM

Hi Kids: I've been following this thread for a bit, but didn't jump in until now. Under the banner of "what works for me" I suggest looking into Qigong(Chi Kung), Tai Chi, and Yoga too. While I won't attempt to get too elaborate with it in this thread, as you can easily search the subject if you so choose.
The method I use is like self-massage. Simply taking one hand and massaging the abdominal area in a clockwise motion to the count of 100.(Counts may vary, do 20 if you like, as long as you balance between one hand and the other.) Then using the other hand, the same circular motion in a counter-clockwise direction, again to the count of 100. The process brings "Chi" to the area, and seems to help liquify, or better digest food. Constipation may be alleviated by placing your hands behind the back and with the backs of your hands, gently tap both sides of the spinal column up and down.
I find Chamomile Tea, pineapple and papaya help.
Eating say, 5 small meals throughout the day, helps. And exercise, exercise, gentle excercise...
As a word of caution, and since I am not a Doctor, your individual cases might be so serious that what I've suggested should be applied with discretion and common sense. Don't want anybody getting hurt. I also use Goji berries, which can be brewed like a tea, or added to soups, muffins, etc. Highly nutritive. Search YouTube to view cleansing effects. Probiotic Yogurt is also helpful. Ginseng.
Further, you might want to investigate EFT, a sort of self-acupucture if you will. Stimulating the meridian points of the body by tapping.
And while it may seem strange, I recommend that you guard your thoughts, and try to the best of your ability, to keep a focus on "health" rather than "I'm diseased".
And please, moderation in everying, you might be your own best doctor by assessing what works and what doesn't. Not to go overboard by taking EVERYTHING mentioned in this thread. Balance works wonders..
Thanks for your posts. They have helped me educate myself...
Hope that you all feel better...bob

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 10:08 PM

Thanks to Bob and the rest who have come along in the past few days. Moderation is always a key.

Lyrical Lady and I both wound up in the hospital (2500 miles apart)at the same time with severe attacks, both close to surgery and in LL's case as I best recall, she was almost or was comatose for awhile. After we both passed the critical stage and returned home we found out we'd both gone through the same thing........I was going to say soulmates but bowelmates might be more appropriate...LOL.

Neither of us has had anything nearly as severe since but we both have very different foods we can and can't eat. Many ARE the same, but a lot are very divergent. I don't think LL will eat corn on a bet, but I might be wrong now. But at the time her attack was brought on by, basically, cornbread!

I think all the medical types mean very well but its the nature of this disease to affect us all somewhat differently I think and as I said, trying out tiny quantities of many foods and watching carefully for any reaction is just about all you can do to both be safe and also to have any kind of varied diet at all.

Earlier I clicked on one of our Google links adverts for a Diverticulitis Diet and found several things I am at odds with. Like I say.............To learn what your body can do you have to learn from your body.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 07:08 PM

For your consideration...EFT
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=9nRY3UtTHvo&feature=related
bob

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,spursfan
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 11:34 AM

Diagnosed with diverticulitis 1 week ago am i supposed to increase fiber intake now or wait, am supposed to have colonoscopy in 6to8 weeks. what is ok to eat, very nervous around food! 44 F

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 05:06 PM

What works for my wife is Bife Chorizo con papas fritas, washed down with a glass of Norton red, followed by flan con dulce de leche - never better than at El Palacio de La Papa Frita in Buenos Aires.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 05:46 PM

spursfan,

Fiber/roughage is good, but be careful ~ many foods that are high in fiber (and especially many that appear to be extra-desirable, such as coarse dark bread products) contain seeds and nuts, which will make your problem worse. Eat whole-grain products without added nuts and seeds, plus lettuce and other greens, for your fiber needs.

I'm surprised you're being asked to wait two months after diagnosis to have your colonoscopy. I received my diagnosis immediately after being scoped, as a direct result of viewing the results.

PS: I think your team will probably whup Phoenix, but Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets are this year's Team of Destiny!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: PoppaGator
Date: 01 May 08 - 02:22 PM

'03 or '08, diverticulitis, or diverticulosis, is a BITCH!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,David Murray
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 07:07 AM

Hi all, I am 33 years old. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis yesterday because of abdominal pain. I was given two different antibiotics to take. About 24 hours has passed since first taking them, but there has been no improvement. I'm curious how long it takes for the pain to go away. Now, I'm not in excruciating pain. it is just an irritating pain mostly when I move, cough, etc. Any pressure on the lower left abdomen hurts a lot. But generally while i'm laying still there is no pain. So I'm not sure how severe my case may be compared to others I've read about here. The doctor wanted me to return in two days to re-evaluate so I was hoping to be cured by then. Not sure when I'll be returning to work.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 07:21 AM

Your bowels will be inflamed and this won't go away immediately. It's like waiting for a bruise or swollen finger to go down.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Paul Burke
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 07:39 AM

Guest David Murray: tough luck, diverticulitis is a bit of a bind. You're probably inflamed because of a slight blockage or even a small perforation, but it will pass. You'll get repeats of this (though hopefully not as severe) for the rest of your life. It can be controlled by (often quite minor) adjustments to diet. One important point is don't let the pressure build up, think of those little balloons, and let it fly regardless of your reputation.

That's the bad news. The good news is, it's not bowel cancer. That's what I was convinced I had when I went for the tests a few years ago. You've never seen a bloke who's just been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition beam so much!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 11:34 PM

My advice is to give your system a break and don't eat any solids until the pain is gone. The antibiotics will kick in and you'll feel better soon. PM me if you want/need any more info...been there, felt that! This is the season of all the wonderful things that can give you trouble, hopefully your Doc has filled you in. Be careful what you eat for a while.
Barb

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 11:57 PM

Oh Oh, I should have added that you probably shouldn't have anything alcoholic for a few days. Alcohol can be a real irritant and depending on what kind of meds you're on, it can make you feel rather ill.
B

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 08 - 12:23 AM

Good advice Barb......and SHE KNOWS of what she speaks......and she's right. I do too as Barb and I had simultaneous attacks a few years ago where we both wound up hospitalized. She was in worse shape than I was and I can't imagine how bad THAT was.

Go back and read through this thread and look for some good advice and some good links. When you are under an attack go to a full liquid diet and then a soft/semi-liquid diet as you improve. This could be for up to two weeks at least. The longer you can rest your bowels the better your result as you get into the high fiber end of things. Let me give you one additional piece of advice here regarding antibiotics and gastric disorders.

Antibiotics kill bacteria and even at their best they can be pretty non-discriminatory in what they kill. Digestion in the large intestine relies on many "good" bacteria. Your infection is from bad bacteria......and the antibiotics sometimes just kill off everything including the good ones. UNFORTUNATELY-----There is a really nasty badass bacteria known as "C-Diff" which is impervious to many antibiotics and takes over as the good guys die. The result is more pain and digestive problems including extreme diarrhea. C-Diff is killed (of course) by antibiotics but only a very narrow band of the drugs and if that doesn't do it, you are literally going to be in deep shit for the rest of your life.   Read some about it. Clostridium Difficile is not your friend.

I had this little bugger as well and I still take pearl form probiotics which supply good bacteria to the gut as well as eating yogurt. And that is what I would suggest for anyone on a heavy antibiotic regimen......yogurt. It can at least provide some additional good bacteria as you are taking the drugs. C-Diff has become a major problem throughout the country.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: David Murray
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 03:03 AM

Kind of an update on my condition:

Last Sunday I started feeling pain in my lower-left abdomen along with fever and nausea. The pain just felt like a gas pain that never went away. It was never "severe pain" but I knew it wasn't right, so I went to the doctor the next morning and he proscribed cipro and flagyl. I took them as I was supposed to. The pain got worse the next day but started getting better by Wednesday. Despite the pain getting better, I kept having hot flashes. I was supposed to return that day to check my white blood cell count anyway. It had actually gone up instead of down so he told me to come back the next day (thursday) and check it again. By thursday, the white cell count was normal and I was feeling much better. By this weekend the pain was gone completely. I started eating some more solid foods on Sunday. Unfortunately, tonight (or should I say early Monday morning) I have been having hot/cold flashes again but not reading any fever on the thermometer. I took my last pills last night. Theoretically, both antibiotics should still be present in my system. There is still no pain, but I fear something is wrong.

Incidently, I have had diarrhea for a week now. Not normal diarrhea, it is more like really soft peanut butter. I figured that was due to lack of solid food and the antibiotics (both say diarrhea as a side effect)

I suppose I'll call the doctor when they open. But I thought I'd find a forum like this and see what other people's thoughts are.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 06:19 AM

Secondary infection? Antibiotic resistant strain? (See C-Dif)

Best idea? See a Doctor and not a folk forum(;<))

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: David Murray
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 11:30 PM

I went to the doctor on thursday. He examined me and told me it would just take a while for things to get back to normal. It turns out my hot flashes and nausea are the result of anxiety over this issue so I've been taking Xanax as needed to help reduce anxiety attacks. That is why I would feel like I was running a fever, but wasn't according to the thermometer. Also I would have rapid heartbeat and the feeling of adrenaline. So at least I know the cause of all of that.

Unfortunately, today my lower left side has hurt almost all day. And I've had diarrhea. However, it wasn't the same type of pain I had with the infection. today the pain comes and goes. It will come for about 10 seconds at a time and disappear for minutes at a time. Walking and doing a lot of movement seems to make it happen more often.   So I am not sure exactly the cause of this pain. I hear people on here talk about having little "attacks" every now and then that don't require treatment. And some people associate it with certain things they ate.

I'm wondering if I've been eating too much fiber. Every since I went back on solid foods I was determined not to be constipated anymore since I spend 6 months out of the year constipated. So I've been eating high fiber foods. Well, I certainly haven't been constipated. My stool has been the softest it has ever been... but today is a bit too soft, more like diarrhea but without the actual liquid.. Not sure if that could be the cause of the pain or not. anyway, obviously I'm still worried about this.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,RDog
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 02:05 AM

Hi all,

Wow great information guys. I just got diagnosed today after having a CT scan of my lower abdomen, I was supposed to have a colonoscopy a month ago and chickened out. I highly recommend that anyone unsure take that route vs CT to avoid the radiation, I am going to have to have a scope done anyway, I could have saved allot of time. I originally was diagnosed with kidney stones, which was incorrect. And the feeling of bursting in my lower left side, with all the gas and bloat I new it had to be my intestine.
Anyway It seems really hard to eat with allot of your recommendations. Especially to eat enough protein to make sure no loss of muscle mass.
I still don't know the cause of mine, especially considering I am a health freak and try to eat allot of fiber, lean protein and drink allot of water. So I am kind of at a loss, I know that wheat and bread has been a trigger in the past for me. I thought originally it was a gluten thing, but I am not so sure. I have read allot about how hard it is to digest with all the new genetically altered wheat. Its funny if your read everything you eat, wheat is in almost everything. I think wheat bran is a killer for me, I just found out that one of the Zone bars I was eating had it in it. I'm not positive thats the reason yet.
One thing I have noticed is that no one is discussing supplements. I agree with the stress thing and the Tai Chi as I think stress is a partial culprit! Stay away from it if you can, powerful bad chemicals change many things in our body. But I have found that many vitamins in moderation help a great deal. The best ones are:
1.) Magnesium 400MG Daily / Calcium 500MG out of 1000 MG Daily 2/1 ratio, Citrate forms being the best (Magnesium is essential for relaxing muscles, nerves and chemical reactions in the body) I have been reading also this is helping allot of people. Make sure you are getting more Magnesium than calcium as we do not get enough Magnesium in our diets
2.) Fish Oil, Pharmaceutical Grade - Key Omega 3's for the brain and good for the heart
3.)Good Multivitamin with B-Vitamins not in excess, too much B6 is bad on your nerves, no more than 500% of your daily (Moderation)

These have helped my nerves greatly and helped to alleviate Anxieties that cause allot of stress!!
After that its excercise and diet! I am going back to the drawing board with my diet after this scary episode!! I was scared like many of having to go through a serious operation! Thank God for the Antibiotics!!
Blessings to you all!

RDog

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: David Murray
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 05:33 AM

Hey guys.. I don't have diverticulosis at all. Turns out it was a mis-diagnosis. I had a CT scan done today and the problem is a "fat pad torsion" Essentially little fingers of fat are connected to the outside of the colon. One of mine is twisted around cutting of circulation. The doctor said this is unusual, but not unheard of. He said it will resolve itself without further treatment other than antibiotics.

However, I suppose i should take some of the things i've learned here in mind to prevent myself from ever getting diverticulosis since i do have chronic constipation. I'm going to eat more fiber from now on anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Rumncoke
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 05:47 PM

I used to have mysterious pains and intermittent constipation with rather explosive and very painful resolutions of it. I thought I was eating a healthy diet, though I was putting on weight all the time. My doctor just said 'indigestion' when I asked about it - but the antacids did nothing at all.

Then I started Atkins - and no it isn't all fried foods.

You start off eating about one pound of vegetables a day and then increase it.

Since stopping eating flour and other grains my insides have never been happier. No more screaming, no more bleeding.

Our 'natural' diet included lots of vegetables. It might not help anyone with the diverticuli already - the damage is done, I suspect, but it might help the 'genetically predisposed' or those in the same household eating the same foods to avoid the problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:37 PM

100

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:44 PM

Well David I'm sorry to chuckle about it, but what a great name for a blues singer.

Fat Pad Torsion sings the Blues.



G ¦¬]

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Sawzaw
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 05:14 PM

There are three things you can do about Diverticulitis and/or IBS:

#1 Eat more fiber.

#2 Eat more fiber.

#3 Eat more fiber.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: David Murray
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 01:22 AM

I'm getting confused. 3 weeks ago I was told I had diverticulitis and
given 7 days of flagyl and cipro. Pain and fever were gone after 2
days but still felt little twinges of pain every now and then in that
one spot. I finished all the antibiotics and a week later my fever
returned but not the pain like I had the first time. I went to the
doctor and they did a blood test and my white count was sky high.
They said I probably had an abscess and to go to the ER. So I went
and they did a CT scan and said there was no sign of diverticulitis
but said I had a twisted fat tissue in there. They gave me 5 days of
leviquen and sent me home. After 48 hours, the fever went away. I
went to see a gastroentenologist two days ago. He told me I probably
did have diverticulitis the first time and the reason it came back was
because 7 days of antibiotics isn't enough and prescribed me 10 days
(in addition to the 5 days the ER prescribed me) and also added flagyl
back too. He said the thing about the fat tissue is just what the
radiologists say when they see inflamation but don't know why. He
also said that just because diverticuli didn't show up on the CT scan,
doesn't mean I don't have them.

The thing is, even though my fever returned I never really had that
pain like I did the first time. So did I even have diverticulitis the
second time? And secondly, if the leviquin that the ER prescribed had
been effective and my fever disapated after 2 days, why did the
gastroentenoligist add me back on flagyl too?

He wants me to come in 5 weeks from now for a colonoscopy. I guess
that is fine. My concern is that after I stop taking the drugs my
fever will return again. Maybe the infection isn't in my colon? Most
of the twinges of pain I feel are when food is being digested, not so
much when passing stool. Maybe the problem is somewhere else?

Anyway, it is frustrating being told one thing by the ER and something
else by a specialist. Who do I believe? Do I have diverticulosis or
a twisted fat pad? Obviously the colonoscopy will tell me the answer
to one of the questions next month.. But that is assuming I don't wind
up in the ER again.

I am having trouble eating much. I've lost 9 pounds because I've been
force feeding myself about 1,000 calories a day. But I should be
eating double that. I have little or no appetite. help!

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,gloria
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 09:27 PM

Just diagnosed with diverticulitis a week ago. Dr. said take these antibiotics and that will knock it out (cipro and flagyl for 10 days.) She wanted to do a catscan but knowing my financial situation agreed to try this treatment. A low grade fever and uncomfortable left side is the only thing that sent me to her in the first place.
Pain is left side near waist and above. Also in the back.
Anyone else have the pain there?
And diet. No one really explained a thing. Had a week off but no have to go back tomorrow.
Right now I don't know what to do. I have to work. Like most of us that is not an option. I am sixty two and have a lot of trouble with arthritis in my knees and spine too.

Any ideas will sure be appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: olddude
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 09:30 PM

I have battled chron's disease since I was 18 years old. clear liquids during flare up, prednisone, asacol and a lot of rest

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 11:57 PM

Guest Gloria......I'm not being a smart-ass, but read this thread. There is a lot of good info and helpful links on it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: olddude
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 04:04 PM

Kendall
anytime you want to talk you can take it off line to me I would be happy to share any info since I battled IBD (chrons)my entire adult life. The docs told me that is why all the arthrisis and all the back and neck surgeries. There are so many side effects on the body with these things. Any advise I can give you have it

Dan

Subject: RE: BS: Diverticulitis
From: GUEST,Spunky
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 07:13 AM

Hi,

After dealing with 3 bouts of diverticulitus attacks in less than one year, maybe i can add some information. I went to the show with my husband and ate popcorn. My first bout with diverticulitus came about two days later (which I'm going to attribute to eating popcorn). I was given medicine cipro and flagyl and it went away. About two months later, my mom was diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumor (no hope) and at the same time my brother was in hospital for a reoccuring cancer with a slim chance. I'm telling you this because while running back and forth in the same hospital (literally they were on floor 2 and 3 in the same hospital, I was becoming stressed out mentally and physically. That's when i got my second bout with diverticulitus. Stress, stress, stress. I always push off going to bathroom when things are important, constipation is not good. Two weeks without going for me was normal!!! Who knew? I never asked how many times people went to the bathroom, I thought my husband was weird for going so much! Took the medicine again and learned about fiber, water, fruit. About two months later, Oh 3rd time is the charm!!! This steak on the grill looks so good. (I really shouldn't eat this)but i was depressed. Two hours after eating a nice big juicy steak off the grill, I was in hospital. I had it again!!! Took the medication and it cleared up. Surgeon said "that's it folks we operate and take the left side of your colon out" and i said no! I'm going to beat this. Well, it's been four months now. I eat physillium, spinach, water, peaches, oatmeal, soups, water, water, vegetables, chicken, fish (did i say water?) and take stool softeners occassionally. No more carbinated "gassy" pop, no POPCORN, no red meat and no seeds. No heavy meals, cut down on the dairy. No cheese or chocolate. I have lost 35 lbs in four months and feel pretty darn good. Women are care givers to everyone it seems but themselves. My mom passed away, but my brother is much better and in remission. And me, I'm going to eat healthy and take care of myself for a change! One day at a time! Be good to yourself! Spunky