I have recently been diagnosed with diverticulitis, on CT scan. Was due to have a colonoscopy but had to defer it due to a flare up. I'm 61, slim and thought I had a good diet. I am now terrified of another "do" - so painful. Conflicting advice on Google - don't do this, do this. I'm so confused. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Currently on antibiotics. Dreading completing the course. Daren't eat anything but cheese on toast! Help, please.
1st things first! Go on a Liquid diet for several days. You then have to experiment with what foods (and amounts of same) that cause your flare ups.
Hi Wendy
While you are on antibiotics suggest you stick to a mainly liquid diet. As the pain subsides suggest you try bland low residue diet (no fibre) ie mash, steamed fish, boiled white rice/pasta, grilled chicken, broth, yogurt (no added bits), white crustless bread, eggs, clear apple juice, jelly, tea/coffee. Small quantities, well cooked and chew well. Then slowly introduce small amounts of fibre (soluble). DiviDiners on this forum is a good source of food tips.
There's no quick fix for this - the antibiotics and illness will leave you feeling rough for a few weeks, and it will take longer for the pain to subside. Also will take time for your bowels to get back into a normal rythym. Lack of input = lack of output and lack of fibre = constipation, but antibiotics = the runs. So you will be up and down. Advice is conflicting because everyone is different, and what suits one does not suit another. Suggest you keep a food diary and note of foods that upset you.
Most people on their first attack feel just as you do, but it does get better. This forum is a great source of information - much better than the vague doctors. Best wishes.
I felt like you on my first flare I listened to what falinia and other people on this forum told me and I got through it. I think what helped me most was the food diary. I was able to see what upset me so I stay clear of these foods. I haven't had a flare ( touch wood ) for months. I can't eat eggs tomatoes stew red meat sprouts. The only fruit I eat are pears and the odd banana. I have fybergel and a probiotic tablet every morning and mabevarine before meals Stick to a bland diet for awhile and plenty of fluids. I hope you feel better soon
Hi,
Follow Felinas advice she is spot on. Yes DD is miserable hopefully you won’t have too many flare ups. Best wishes
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.
Thank you. I take on board what you say. I'm hoping that I get into a routine. The pain has been so bad I almost passed out.
Thank you, Susan.
Wendyann,
bless your heart! Sorry to hear you're in the "club" ... absolutely understand.
Liquid diet is the first thing to do. In July 2017, I went to the hospital w/ horrific pains. Was in ICU for two (2) days. Total of six (6) days in hospital - antibiotic IV for five (5) days, no food or drink during that time. Was offered 2 T of ice chips every four (4) hours ... YIKES!
I was so afraid to eat Anything. I was on a liquid diet for three (3) weeks - dropped 17 lbs. Slowly progressed to soft foods. I'm 61 and a little on the chunky side.
Hugs
Thank you Kerry. I'm finding this forum very helpful. I think I was expecting too much too soon. Liquid diet it is then! 😊
Thanks Angela. Funny how it hurts more, once it has a name!
Felina. I'm into my third week of a flare up and you are quite right , re the getting back to normal rhythm as i am finding out. The pain is also still present, and I was beginning to worry, as I haven't had a flare since my surgery 6 years ago and had forgotten how bad it is, so thank you for the reply to Wendy as it has helped me also.
I hope you feel better sooner rather than later and by following the advice given here I'm sure you will be. Into the 3rd week of a flare up and still not stable so I know how hard it is and I hope knowing you are not alone will help.
Hi Wendy, all the advice is good and should help but no one's mentioned pro-biotics. The antibiotics you're on are to kill off all the bad bacteria that are causing the trouble but your gut needs the good 'flora' as they are what actually sorts your food out for you. Without replenishing these good guys you run the risk of the bad ones taking over again.
Other discussions here have recommended taking two probiotic capsules a day (maybe ones that contain different good bugs, there are generally about 5 types in each capsule). Also, try to eat live yoghurt but don't add any sugar, jam or other sweetener (Greek-style natural is delicious on it's own!). Maybe a little honey if you can tolerate it but I would stay right off any sugar as it's basically a poison. Some of the flavoured ones like yeo or rachels are live but check the sugar content.
You can also get kefir (in sainsburys) which is a fermented milk drink similar to yoghurt, and (if/when you can tolerate it) a good sauerkraut has lots of friendly bugs in it too. Your main aim should be to get your gut thriving again with good flora which will keep any bad bugs in check. You also need to try to find out why you got the problem in the first place so have a good look at both your diet and your lifestyle as stress often plays a big part. I found the book by michael mosley called cleverguts very helpful as he explains all about what the main groups of good bacteria are and what they do. The last thing you want is to take another course of antibotics - these damage a lot more of you than just the bit they're targeted for. Which one were you on?
Look forward to completing the course and getting your gut back to good health!
Good luck!
Hi Miriam. Thank you very much for your reply. It's such a minefield, not knowing what to eat etc. I'm on amoxycillin, and paracetamol for pain. Had to defer my colonoscopy as I had a flare up and they wouldn't do it. It's actually draining me. Hope I learn to manage it soon.
Go to DIVI DINERS forum,, tons of advice from lots of people, about sorting your D.D One piece of advice you would benefit from,, taking a Probiotic ,it's a capsule full of bacteria bashers,,lots of us take it ,'cos it works,, and ,,we need all the help we can get. Don't stress about it ,it can be sorted xxx
Hi Wendy
I have been diagnosed just over 10 days and I totally understand your confusion , I did not get any advice from my doctor only a note to say what I had as a condition and look it up on the website! Once you do its a bit shock to the system (no pun intended) , some things say High Fibre diets others say Low you just don't know what is best.
What I would say is try things slowly and don't try and eat too much in one sitting , I made that mistake last week and suffered so I have been eating chicken , fish , rice , eggs and 50/50 bread and things seem to be settling down a little. I thing I have concluded from reading all the posts on this site is everyone seems to be helping each other which can cheer you up when in the first few days I felt very low but can see a bit of light now by experimenting slowly.
It will get better , I wished I could eat cheese on toast that would certainly set me off.
Thanks Rusty. Yes, it is confusing! The only "medical" advice I received in hospital was " no red meat" and to google it for dietary advice. I eat similar to you, and tend to keep to soft foods. I seem to be OK with cheese on toast, for now anyway. I find it very helpful reading all the comments on this site.
I agree it is soooo confusing. I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago and luckily have only had 3 flare ups. My consultant who is one of the top specialists of Diverticulitis told me to eat whatever I wanted. He said they used to think that certain things could cause a flare up but it has now been dispelled! I am not in agreement with this as although I seem to be able to eat anything I know by reading these posts how many people have flare ups after eating certain foods. Everyone is different so just go by what works for you!
Eat what you want? That sounds wonderful, maybe it works if you have small portions. I think once you have a diagnosis, fear kicks in. When I thought my pain was a water infection, I never considered what I was eating. Now it's got a name, it hurts more! Very strange! 😖