Thanks for all the good wishes. Obviously I'm out now but it wasn't painful as it wasn't diverticulitis but I do have diverticulosis and this is the suspected cause of the bleeding which pronpted me to go in (a simple test showed it wasn't piles!). Fortunately the bleeding didn't persist and they kept me in an extra night as they transferred me to the gastro-urinary team who wanted their own diagnosis. I suspect the problem was brought on by a week's holiday diet and possibly some pine nuts. The dietician has suggested I spend a few days on a low fibre diet to rest the bowels. In general I should be on a high-fibre diet ie lots of fruit and veg, wholemeal bread and pasta etc. Oh, and lots of liquid to keep things moving.

For those of you who don't know diverticulosis is when small pouches form in the walls of the colon. These can sometimes trap food such as seeds and pieces of nut and become irritated and inflamed and can develop into diverticulitis. Surgery can resolve the problem but the doctors currently favour avoiding surgery which could be more risky than the condition, especially if it can be controlled (not diminished mind) by diet. It's a condition about a third of people in the 'West' will suffer from in their lives due to the lack of fibre in 'Western' diets.

Thanks again,

Paul

PS Kendall the diet sheet I have been given says that uncooked bran can stop you absorbing minerals and vitamins. Plus it tastes like cardboard.