Diverticulitis - and a long wait

[Spurdog1]

Up to this year (2024 -67 yo) all has run smoothly, then in April a large bleed in my poo. I had had a few droplets before and advised "if larger or longer - say a week, dont worry"

The bleed was dismissed by reception of GP, and so i rang nhs, and had a callback from a GP in my practice, same day. I was given a steroid cream (trimovate) due to redness on my buttocks and the redness went away after a week. I don't know what that was

since then my bowel routine has collapsed from twice daily, to an absolute mess. Feeling of anus on fire "needs to go" 4 times daily.

A recent colonoscopy has diagnosed diverticulitis and two polyps removed, nothing more than that.

I have suffered excruciating pain, cramps and soreness. I am using baby wipes and alldays, for mucous and smear protection, but this last weekend of flare-ups have been tough. The consultant is six months away, so I wrote my GP on Saturday, and now have a Thursday appointment. Surely antibiotics could be considered. redness still there, although reduced.

Any suggestions pls. Is this what OAP is about, not a happy bunny here.

[Jakidog]

I am really suffering, I am seventy four female, like you a six month waiting list, using wipes like you. The pain is so bad, my life is ruled by this condition. I find the GP'S are hopeless. My daughter is a Nurse Practitioner and wanted me to make a face to face appointment with the GP'S but they have nothing available till the 14th October I really feel for you, you don't say how old you are. I have worked all my life and now going out of the house is a nightmare. Do take care of yourself

[Spurdog1 in reply to Jakidog]

Thanks for sharing. I am 67.

[Jackie1612]

sorry to hear you are going through this, Spurdog1.

I was diagnosed with diverticular disease a few years ago and I also had a polyp removed. Although I have had IBS for nearly 20 years, the pain and cramping I have now is worsening and I suspect it is the diverticulosis. Reading the symptoms online , if it is diverticulitis – that is an infection - antibiotics are needed and you could go to A and E. It seems though, if it is “just” diverticulosis (not infection with a temperature etc) there doesn’t seem much can be done. 😫

[Minty00]

Liquid diet for bowel rest try and get antibiotics once cleared start to introduce bland foods like mash potato then gradually increase fibre intake plenty of water

[lowraind in reply to Minty00]

I agree. I find that if I am stressed, I have to be very careful with what I eat, so liquids are in order. I almost died from a bad case of diverticulitis, so I would advise not to ignore it.

From Cleveland Clinic: What to eat during a diverticulitis flare-up

“When you have diverticulitis, those pockets in your intestinal wall are upset, inflamed and maybe even infected. So, we want to reduce traffic in your gastrointestinal tract so that nothing else irritates them,” explains Taylor. “Decreasing the fiber in your diet helps with that.”

During a diverticulitis flare-up, your provider may recommend rest, antibiotics and either a clear liquid or low-fiber diet so your colon can rest and recover until the flare-up has passed.

Clear liquid diet for diverticulitis

If a diverticulitis flare-up is severe or requires surgery, your doctor may recommend a clear liquid diet. “After a day or two, you progress from clear liquids to a low-fiber diet,” says Taylor. “Even if your pain doesn’t subside, you still move toward regular food. You can’t be on a liquid diet long term because you can become malnourished.”

On a clear liquid diet, you can eat:

Clear broths (not soup).

Coffee and tea without milk or nondairy creamer.

Clear, pulp-free juices like apple and cranberry juice.

Clear sports drinks or sodas like ginger ale or lemon-lime soda.

Jell-O®.

Popsicles.

Plain water or pulp-free flavored water.

Low-fiber diet for diverticulitis

For milder cases of diverticulitis flares, eat a low-fiber or GI soft diet. A low-fiber diet limits fiber intake to between 8 and 12 grams of fiber, depending on the severity of the flare-up.

Good low-fiber food options include:

Grains: Lovers of white pasta and white bread, rejoice! These are good low-fiber options, along with white rice and white crackers.

Low-fiber starches: Get your peeler out. Potatoes without skin can be on the menu. Mash, roast or bake them. Certain low-fiber cereals also get a thumbs-up, including cornflakes and puffed rice cereal.

Proteins: Choose eggs and egg whites, tofu, and meat or seafood. “It should be tender, so shredded chicken, lean ground turkey and soft baked fish work best,” Taylor recommends.

Fruits: Use caution, as fruits have lots of fiber. Good options include canned fruits such as peaches or pears, applesauce, ripe bananas, and soft, ripe cantaloupe and honeydew. “It’s not a lot of fiber because you’re not eating the skin,” clarifies Taylor. “The skins are the source of insoluble fiber, which can irritate inflamed diverticula.”

Dairy: “Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are real winners if you’re recovering from a flare-up. They’re high in protein, calcium and other nutrients and don’t have any fiber,” says Taylor. “They’re also soft, moist and easier to get down if you’re not feeling well.” You can also have milk and cheese.

Foods to avoid with diverticulitis include high-fiber options such as:

Whole grains.

Fruits and vegetables with the skin and seeds.

Nuts and seeds.

Beans.

Popcorn.

You’ll want to follow this low-fiber diet until your diverticulitis symptoms subside. “Usually, someone starts to improve after several days of being on antibiotics,” Taylor says.

If you do, your provider will have you gradually increase your fiber intake over several days to weeks to avoid constipation and bloating.

“The goal is getting back to a high-fiber diet to decrease your risk for future bouts of diverticulitis,” she adds. “But if you’re not feeling better within a few days, talk to your provider.”

[Minty00]

yes i had diverticulitis late 2017 into 2018 i wasnt sure what was going on at first it was so bad my abdomen blew up like a balloon and all what came out was pellets i ended up guessing it was diverticulitis id never hesrd of it by the time i went into hospital for virtual colonoscopy it had healed and ran its course i was lucky it was uncomplicated and no damage however i had to completly change my eating habits ive had no more attacks since but i do have ibs that runs alongside the diverticular disease its all about managemenr

[lowraind]

"A recent colonoscopy has diagnosed diverticulitis and two polyps removed, nothing more than that." If it is diverticulitis, you should be on antibiotics. If diverticulosis, there are dietary changes you can make.