Update Diverticulitis diary.

[Spurdog1]

Been suffering since october, started trials this last fortnight.

Peppermint oil

No significant benefits. Capsule a bit large for me. Will give another few weeks. The reason I started on this was recommendation, and my grandmother long passed - used to have whisky peppermint at bedtime. She made it to 100.

Buscopan started a week ago, cramps certainly less. I had envisaged buscopan as a "fix all", sadly it only looks after the cramps.

I still get these ordinary days, and then the bad day (was every 5 days but last wave was a fortnight ago, hence my false hope on buscopan).

Due to the bad day yesterday I consulted with the pharmacist, who kindly pushed me to take the Mebeverine that I was supplied by GP. I had held back as I heard rumours of costipation and any withdrawal difficulties.

I am not coping very well and wish I could find that magic formula quickly

[userotc]

Personally I dont think that bouncing around from one drug to another is helpful for any disease. So Id recommend seeing a qualified Nutritional Therapist specialising in gastro.

[Spurdog1 in reply to userotc]

My thoughts precisely. One at a time

[userotc in reply to Spurdog1]

Unsure what you mean by "One at a time" but Ive got lists of qualified NTs from which one can be selected. I can send if youre committed to Nutritional Therapy rather than drugs.

[Spurdog1 in reply to userotc]

Yes please to the list.

I am trying peppermint first. I wont try any others until i have ruled peppermint out. They are rather big...?

[userotc]

A list is shown below but NT is not about hopping from one supplement to another. Whilst a qualified therapist may include supplement(s) in a plan, there's much more nutrition science involved. For improved health, you should be committed otherwise don't consider. Good luck.

practitioner-search.bant.or...

[xjrs]

Please do not employ a nutritional therapist. They made my condition far worse and there are many others who have suffered at their hands like I have:

ibsresearcher.com/my-journey/

You'll waste £100s if not £1000s on their treatments and be worse off for it. They are not medically trained. This practice should be banned or at least regulated.

By the way, they hardly ever talk about diet - they just give you dietary hand outs from the internet and push supplements like there is no tomorrow. In many cases, they also get kick backs from the online supplement suppliers. I tried more than one therapist, scoured the whole market in the UK - checked qualifications etc., thought I was using the 'best', but there is no 'best' in this field of practice.

You may also find some help in the Bowel Disease Support forum:

healthunlocked.com/bowel-di...

since diverticulitis has its own specific challenges. There are also other support groups:

facebook.com/groups/4755700...

facebook.com/groups/4533069...

[userotc in reply to xjrs]

Qualified NTs are registered by CNHC and regulated by BANT. I can send further info, if you wish. If you pm me details of the practitioner you used, I can check if he/she is an NT (or nutritionist, dietician) and properly regulated etc.

[xjrs in reply to userotc]

Thanks for the info. I have done a lot of research into this. I actually researched every practitioner in the UK and looked into their backgrounds etc. and spoke to a few before employing one, who I had no faith in and then another with the same result. All these people were registered. I have also done research into 'functional medicine' which many nutritional therapists practice, which can involve some dangerous practices only based on a few studies. My story (which is very detailed and recorded) is akin to many others I have come across who have had very bad experiences. Nutritional therapy is not regulated by law. I am afraid that every time you mention nutritional therapy I will have to mention this, to help people avoid the terrible time that I and others have had with them, so they can make up their own minds. We will have to agree to disagree. My position on this will not change.

Further info here:

healthunlocked.com/theibsne...

[userotc in reply to xjrs]

Thanks but I have addressed your key NT regulation inaccuracies in the other post here healthunlocked.com/theibsne...

I am certainly not trying to change your opinion. Its understandable that you are anti-NTs based on a personal experience and/or purported, anecdotal evidence of others. Whilst it's right to share that with someone on here, it's wrong to discredit all professional NTs that meet registration and regulation requirements.

Personally, along with many others on HU and friends & family, I have had very bad experiences with medical doctors (GPs and secondary practitioners) and dieticians, yet Ive had an excellent experience with a registered NT. So it would equally be wrong for me to discredit ALL medics and dieticians, despite a temptation!.

Since youve chosen not to share details of the practitioner you used, I must assume that he/she is either an unregistered/unregulated nutritionist, dietician or NT. Alternatively registered but inappropriate or unsuccessful for your case - which can happen in any of the above professions, including medics. Adequate care in selecting any such professional is key.

[xjrs in reply to userotc]

Both were members of BANT. I spoke to several others on the phone. They all said that I had SIBO just from my symptoms. They are all jumping on the SIBO band wagon. I did not have SIBO. The tests for it are inaccurate and there are many false positives. Both relentlessly pursued destroying my microbiome, made me extremely unwell, destroyed my self confidence, made me lose 1 stone in weight I couldn't afford to lose to the point where my family were very worried about me. I had to do my own detailed research to get me back to health and through the NHS got a proper diagnosis.

More evidence here:

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

sciencebasedmedicine.org/fu...

independent.co.uk/life-styl....

There was no standard in the way that they treat people. Each had a different approach based on their own 'beliefs'.

I understand that from previous posts you have admitted to being one or had been one previously, so there is a bias.

The reason why people turn to nutritional therapists, is that they have come to the end of the road with the NHS and nutritional therapists have identified a gap, whilst making money from it. This is because IBS is still under research. The issue is that more research is needed and more clinically proven treatments are needed.

[Spurdog1 in reply to xjrs]

Gentlemen or ladies (maybe). I had hoped my comments were a personal diary as to trial of various medications and to see if an answer is available without nhs medication.Sadly this hss ɓecome a "you say this, i say that". With the last word being argued ad infinitum.

Can we let this go as "we agree to disagree"?

Unlike some, i have no vast amounts of money, so cannot afford BANT (wish i did).

I am just trying to help all.

[xjrs in reply to Spurdog1]

Well said and apologies. I should have taken this offline.

[userotc in reply to xjrs]

I dont need to expand on or compare my bad experience with the NHS because:

1. It's outlined in my personal bio on HU. It has lasted 8.5 years with some existing symptoms albeit most others alleviated by NT as NHS unable/unwilling to help.

2. It detracts from the purpose of the thread here

But I believe I have addressed the key points with no further comment needed.

I am sorry that youve had a bad experience with someone and trust that you are also sorry about mine with NHS, primary and secondary medics.

[Spurdog1]

Subnote. I am trying to go down a list of products that are NON NHS prescribed, very difficult to know if you chop and change. Sometimes i cannot describe what i am feeling (EG spasm) so how can i pass this information to a third party.

I therefore continue my journey, to try to help others. I have seen very little "personal experience" on this forum, though I am happy to be corrected

I welcome any proven (You had success with) products.

[Alpinelover]

Sorry to hear you’re suffering; I’m sure you will find the right combination for you eventually. What works for me ( and believe me I tried many products before I had any success) is: Ferrocalm probiotic tablets to sort out my gut, charcoal tablets for wind and bloating , and peppermint oil capsules for spasm pain. Google the Ferrocalm; I have tried many other probiotics without success, but these have really helped me. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

[Spurdog1 in reply to Alpinelover]

Thank you for your suggestions, much appreciated.

[KJ13]

Have you tried intermittent fasting to give the bowel healing time and possibly probiotics , works for me .