New to diverticulitis

[Nobby21]

Newly diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Still getting pain. Is this normal?

Any diet advice?

Any other tips, please?

Thanks.

[Mrdd]

I’m in the same boat. Diverticular disease . All I keep hearing is fibre fibre fibre

[dordle in reply to Mrdd]

That’s annoying isn’t it. I also have IBS so there are lots of fibrous foods I can’t eat.

[Mrdd in reply to dordle]

I seem to be struggling with fibre. Not eating to much of anything at the mo

[dordle in reply to Mrdd]

I have spells of not eating much except soft things, like eggs, porridge and soup. Advice seems contradictory. Have insoluble fibre, some say more fibre some say less. I did find online some useful info and food suggestions, from my local nhs hospital trust. It is uhsussex.nhs.uk.diverticulitis It should be the first result that comes up. Do hope you start feeling better ❤️

[Mrdd in reply to dordle]

Guts uk website has some info on but like you say it’s all contradicting

[Nobby21 in reply to Mrdd]

Thank you. I'd not heard of this.

[Nobby21 in reply to dordle]

Thank you for this. Much appreciated.

[Nobby21 in reply to dordle]

Thank you. That was fairly clear.

[Nobby21 in reply to Mrdd]

Thank you. So it's not just me who has found it confusing.

[Nobby21 in reply to Mrdd]

Yes. Same here.

[one-n-den]

Hi,

I’ve had a diagnosis about 2 years. I get mild pain occasionally, but that could be my IBS or one of two hernias which showed up on a scan!

I am 73, so not particularly surprising.

The good news appears to be that the previous advice to avoid seeds and nuts etc seems to have been discounted. This was confirmed by my consultant recently.

I can only suggest not stressing your colon with large meals, very spicy meals or late meals. Drink plenty of water, too.

Although I was told to avoid getting constipated, this is easier said than done!

On the advice of the same consultant and my own previous experience, I use Fybogel when necessary to ease constipation gently and naturally.

I hope that helps.

[SueCats in reply to one-n-den]

I developed (a mild case of) diverticulitis last year after being constipated due to lots of pain relief after an operation. This was treated with antibiotics. I was advised to follow a Low Fibre Diet for a few weeks. This meant white bread, white pasta, no seeds, no skins, no berries, no peel, and the lowest fibre foods. After a couple of weeks I gradually introduced these back into my diet until I was eating normally.

People who develop more acute diverticulitis are usually advised to follow a liquid diet for a few weeks. These diets are to allow the bowel to rest.

Once the bowel is rested, you should gradually return to high fibre foods, which are good for the system, if your system can tolerate it.

So far, I seem to have been OK. You are right about the advice on seeds etc changing. I was only told to avoid them (and all the other things) for a few weeks. Speaking to other sufferers, this is what they do if they get a flair up. We too are in our 70s.

[Scentedcandles in reply to SueCats]

I have IBS and diverticulosis When I get pain in my lower abdomen I take buscopan that can be bought over the counter and use a hot water bottle over my pain area. I find this helps after a couple of hours.

[Nobby21 in reply to SueCats]

Thank you. Hospital never mentioned low fibre diet - just eat more fibre.

[SueCats in reply to Nobby21]

My understanding was to just be low fibre for a couple of weeks to rest everything. But yes, normally high fibre is recommended to prevent constipation which can exacerbate everything.

[Jayjayvee in reply to one-n-den]

I follow all the same advice as you. I've felt well on gluten free. I made a mistake yesterday because I ate some milk chocolate buttons. I had the familiar pain in my side this morning. I had my gall bladder out 2 years ago and was fine until 4 months ago when I ended up in a and e with severe pain. Bizarrely sausage meat makes me ill. So does the peel on various fruit. I advise keeping a food and drink diary. It can be very revealing.

[Jayjayvee in reply to Jayjayvee]

Sorry. My reply related to one on Den

[Nobby21 in reply to one-n-den]

Thank you.

[linedance12 in reply to one-n-den]

That's interesting that they no longer say to avoid seeds and nuts etc. I have been trying to do this but don't always manage to. So, if I eat tomatoes, for example, I'm always a bit worried that it might aggravate things and am then on tenterhooks for a few days. I shan't worry about it so much now. It seems that not getting constipated is more important. I have IBS D and C as well, so it's always a fine balancing act.

[one-n-den in reply to linedance12]

I have IBS D, but this seems much improved since my last colonoscopy, at which several polyps were removed.

I guessed, and the consultant confirmed that this improvement is much more likely to be the result of the cleansing of my colon during the prep for the colonoscopy, than the colonoscopy itself.

The colon gets a chance to ‘re-set’ with a new colony (pun intended) of bacteria. I take a probiotic capsule each morning, in the belief that this also helps.

As I mentioned before, I can recommend Fybogel, to ‘regularise’ your bowel after bouts of D or C. I only take it at such times, using slightly less water to mix it after diarrhoea (see, I can spell it!) and slightly more when constipated.

A bit ‘ad hoc’ I admit, but it works for me!

Hope some of that helps!

[Nobby21 in reply to one-n-den]

Interesting. Thank you. Now trying probiotics.

[lowraind]

I have diverticulosis and have an episode of diverticulitis which almost killed me and which resulted in a colostomy and then a reversal. This is what I found when I researched diet:

The following list shows various categories of foods that are high in dietary fiber. The examples given for each category are not all inclusive and similar foods may be substituted. You should try to include foods from each group in your daily diet:

Grain Products: high fiber breads, buns, bagels, and muffins made from whole wheat flour Bran Flakes, All Bran, Shredded Wheat, Shredded Wheat ‘n Bran Brown rice, whole-grain pastas

Fruits: dried fruits (apricots, dates, prunes, raisins), blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, pears, oranges

Vegetables: broccoli, peas and beans (e.g. kidney, lima beans, chick peas, lentils and soybeans), corn

My episode was many years ago, so recommendations may have changed. When I am looking for information, I generally go to Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and/or Johns Hopkins for reliable information.

[Nobby21 in reply to lowraind]

Thank you for the recommendations.

[Minty00]

i had diverticulitis in 2017 into 2018 luckily uncomplicated started with fybogel but ive stopped using it in favour of milled flax seeds which are much better in my experience i also have IBS so it can be tricky

The main things are not to get constipated drink lots of water and a mixture of both fibre groups

I would stay away from white bread and i can no longer tolerate spicy foods or rice that just bloats me up

However everyone is different so its all trial and error

[Jayjayvee in reply to Minty00]

I also put flax seed on my cereal. I don't take things like all bran which I think are too strong

[Nobby21 in reply to Jayjayvee]

I never thought of that. Thank you.

[Nobby21 in reply to Minty00]

Thank you.

[Minty00]

just make sure the flax is milled and not whole

[Jayjayvee in reply to Minty00]

Yes. I agree. I've just discovered Waitrose sell it ready ground in a sealable pouch. I take a large desert spoon full every day, with lots to drink

[Minty00 in reply to Jayjayvee]

Sounds bit like me but ive reduced my amount and mix it with smoothies get mine from holland and barrat . Seems to stop some of abdominal pain of which fybogel didnt. What a life eh!!!!

[Nobby21 in reply to Minty00]

Thank you for that. I've discovered fybogel hasn't helped, and pain is worse.

[Minty00]

Yeh fybogel is a bit counter productive it may reduce constipation but doesnt seem to relieve abdominal pain and can make it worse lots of doctors have stopped prescribing it

[Nobby21 in reply to Minty00]

Thank you for that. It would explain a lot.