Diarrhoea since November

[Shertur]

Hi I have diverticular disease and since November I have had loose bowels about 6 times each day. Had bloods done, all OK, Fit test was positive. Had Colonography last month which showed partial diverticular stricture in the sigmoid. My GP hasn't actually spoken to me at all, any messages are passed through receptionist. However, today he messaged me, but didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I'm seeing Colorectal Dr at local hospital on 14 March to discuss this. In the meantime, what should my diet be, high fibre or low? I keep reading different answers. Thanks everyone x

[b1b1b1]

You should double check on the fiber question with your doctor. We are not qualified to give medical advice.

[Becca88w]

I see have exactly the same, they diagnosed me then left me to figure it out myself. Ive been told by other people high fiber, to avoid certain foods. Anything with seeds or pips or skins that can get trapped and cause infection. Id ring your doctor again and ask them to explain. I take fiberogel.

[Shertur in reply to Becca88w]

Thanks Becca, actually I'm going to ask the pharmacist what she recommends. It's a rotten problem to have isn't it. Take care x

[Fernsmum]

Hello ,I imagine your feeling pretty low , but I was just wondering if you may have started any new meds or simular about the time this started ,I ask because something simular happened to me when I started a new med for diabetes . Hope you get sorted soon it makes you feel so awful dosnt it , and you might want to consider changing you gp if poss , good luck 🤞

[Shertur in reply to Fernsmum]

Hi Fernsmum, no I hadn't started any new meds, but yesterday my GP suggested I stop Lansoprazole for a month, as this can cause diarrhoea. I'll give it a go, but in the meantime I have my hospital appt, so may find out more then. You're right about making us feel awful, although i'm grateful to normally have a few hours respite during the day, before it starts again late pm! Look after yourself x

[Fernsmum in reply to Shertur]

Oh dear well let's hope the hospital will be useful ,I really hate this awful complaint but at least when you come on here we have back up so we don't feel quite so alone ,please let us know how your getting on ,good luck

[CEDAR0902 in reply to Shertur]

Hi. I'd been on lansaprozole for a year and had explosive diarrhoea for last few months so I decided to discontinue it myself and thank goodness the diarrhoea stopped.

[Shertur in reply to CEDAR0902]

Good, I must admit I stopped taking it myself on 2 occasions, but only for a week. Didn't make any difference so I'll do it for a month. How long before you noticed the difference?

[CEDAR0902 in reply to Shertur]

I think around 4 weeks and all was back to normal..

[Shertur in reply to CEDAR0902]

OK, thanks. Maybe my GP is right 😅. I'll give it a month with fingers crossed. Take care.

[Yani_1012]

I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with loose bowels and diverticular disease. I can understand how confusing and frustrating it can be to receive conflicting information about what to eat and how to manage your symptoms.

During this time, it's important to focus on eating easily digestible foods like cooked vegetables, lean protein, and low-fiber grains like white rice and white bread. It's also a good idea to avoid foods that can irritate the digestive tract, such as spicy or fatty foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

In the meantime, I recommend keeping a food diary to track what you eat and how it affects your symptoms. This blog might help! casadesante.com/blogs/low-f...

[Shertur in reply to Yani_1012]

Thak you for that. I spoke to Pharmacist yesterday & she printed out a sheet of recommendations from the NHS. Amazingly it was contradictory!

[Ettspicer in reply to Shertur]

I’ve recently had a diverticulitis flare up with a small colon perforation and was hospitalised for 2 days on IV antibiotics. Fortunately the perforation started to heal itself but I wasn’t allowed to eat and only drank water or black tea. I was discharged with instructions to follow a ‘soft diet’ for 4 weeks. But as you say the NHS diet sheet has conflicting advice. I was told by consultant at this stage not to eat any fruit or veg and only eat things like white bread or white rice. I’m on the 4th week and am eating lightly scrambled eggs, steamed fish, home made pureed veg soup. I’m still drinking a lot of water and have introduced a small mashed banana which seems to be ok. I’m sure you must be like me and almost frightened to eat. Consultant told me that normally small amounts of roughage is good for digestion but with a flare up cut out all roughage and stick to soft diet. It’s very confusing. I had always a very healthy home cooked variable diet and have never been constipated but my GP explained that a small unlucky percentage of people do have IBS-D and diverticulitis problems and was very sympathetic. I think mine is affected by stress too. I hope you get sorted soon. Best wishes.

[Shertur in reply to Ettspicer]

That's all very interesting. I have yet to speak to any doctor about my problem, first contact will be at end of the month ( previous appt cancelled due to Dr strike). Have to say my bowels are quite a bit better now, although not exactly normal. Hope things improve for you. Stay well.

[Beau63]

I was put on a low residue low fibre diet for my stricture things improved I do miss a salad though.

You can google low residue diet sheets are available. Good luck

[Shertur in reply to Beau63]

Thank you. What was done about your stricture? My GP mentioned a possible operation.

[Beau63]

I’ve had two surgeons look at my mri scans and they say it’s too tricky as I have 50cms of scar tissue so they’d have to remove too much small bowel I’m also 65 and under weight so that’s against me unfortunately. The low residue diet isn’t great though I now have SIBO I think due to lack of fibre and fresh fruit and vegetables and also slow gut motility.

[Shertur in reply to Beau63]

Oh you poor thing. Hang on in there. Take care