First off, I just want to say that I am VERY HAPPY to have found this group once typing into google my symptoms. I have read all of your comments, and I have to say that I am so happy to not be the only one with this condition-other folks who I can talk to! WHEW!!!! I was JUST diagnosed this past Monday after a visit to the ER. I thought I was DYING! I actually thought that maybe I might have had kidney stones or a UTI-both of which I have never had before. After blood/urine test, CAT scan etc. was told by the ER Dr. that I have DV and an infection.I was like "?" He put me on Levaquin 500 mg and of course, that NASTY TASTING Flagyl 500 mg for 10 days. Looking back, I have had a lot of episodes over the past few years off and on with foods messing with me-the bloating/gas/diarrhea-think I have visited every bathroom in town after going out to eat, but I never knew that it would lead to this. I LOVE red meat, nuts, raw veggies, pasta, pizza etc..Now, I am so unsure at to what to avoid once I feel back to normal! After reading all of your comments on here, I am confussed. Does this mean that I will mostly be juicing my veggies/fruits and not eat the others listed? LOL..probably a stupid question. I am the cook in our family too-entertain every Holiday etc..This is going to be very hard.
Hi Kelly - and welcome to the UK!
I'm 'at odds' with the mainstream here - probably because my retention of 'stuff is more likely due to intractible colon than 'pocketing', as such. Mine is more likely to be a lack of sensory fubction - as you may have read already. But I firmly believe that the game- for everyone - is to emptry everything on at least a fortnightly basis - whatever the cause. To this end, I use 5mg Bisacodyl to completely evacuate the gut. I guess for me this circumvents the sensory system, just leaving the motor nerves to put the squeeze on! It works for me, but I might just be different! :-)
Good luck with your ongoing management.
Cheers,
Pete.
Hello Kelly, I expect you have read some of my replies to folk on here. I have had Diverticular Disease since 2006. There are a few rules to follow - NEVER have seeds, nuts, pips or skins (not even dried fruit as the seeds and pips are still there; only smaller and dried) as these bits of nut; seed and pip can lodge in the DD pouches/pockets.....and the first you know is when they have festered away for several days and suddenly you get hit with the pain you have just had; yes - you think you are dying......and left untreated; you likely would. I am not scaremongering; but his is a serious condition we have; and we need to make life changes to reduce the bouts of infection. Also avoid veg and fruit skins as these can get stuck; that means sweetcorn and peas and pulses generally are a no; no. Find your own way with the "windy" veg like cabbage; brocollie; leeks and onions - I am fine with them; some are not. Likewise garlic and spices - I cannot tolerate them; others eat them and are fine. These windy veg and spices do not cause infections; but our guts react to them quickly with pain that is a response and reaction; which can be as painful as an infection. The other thing to remember is NEVER to get constipated. Take something like Fybogel to keep things in that department regular. Straining a gut that has weak points; can created new pockets/pouches (and we do not want any more of them than we already have!!!) Even following all the "rules" on diet; I was ill more than I was well from Nov 14 til July 15 - but then from advice on here; I began taking high dose acidophilis from the UK Holland and Barrett health stores (20 billion) which are healthy bacteria for the gut. I have been well since July 2015. It is a JOY not to be in pain. I wish you well with all the changes you make...I can have red meat, pasta; pizza with no problems. Some say red meat gives them pain. While your gut is inflamed; keep your diet light, bland and LOW fibre - as you get better and the gut pain goes; increase your fibre intake.
HI Kelly... welcome!!! I'm still at the point of getting the final bits and pieces of a diagnosis that was an awfully long time coming. I was diagnosed with IBS many years ago but it was just before I left to come to the UK... anyhoo... a long stint on antibiotics and food poisoning got me the title of UC after non stop bleeding... at that time it was all about the colitis. Then (Now I must admit I am pretty sure it was the pred foam that did it)... it caused me to bleed even more.. then I could feel sandpaper in my gut as stuff roared across it. (Yup.. still not convinced it was colitis by the way it started)... then I woke up with a niggly stitch and then wham bam... I was off to the emergency room (A&E) and asked did anyone discuss with you about the diverticular disease you have and I'm like huh wha.. the IBD nurse - long story- who played doctor basically said all my symptoms were not UC i.e. to the point she made me feel like they were in my head... (Not a good journey for the first 6 months after being referred). If I hadn't been as hydrated as I was, I was going to be put into hospital but of course I wanted to go home. Still waiting for a few more results to nail down exactly what else I have but at first after the food poisoning - nothing stayed in me.. it was only 8 months later before I didn't have to hover over the toilet. The trip to the ER has actually sped up stuff as I'd only seen a specialist once sooooo... I'm still recovering from everything as it's not quite two weeks... but I get a short of breath feeling/ sensation... apparently my body's way of telling me 'you're in pain stupid... put that down!'. I think everyone is different. I did eat different vegis without too much bother... even homemade borsch (Russian vegetable soup)... sauerkraut didn't sit well though and still doesn't... a food diary they say is a good way to track how you react... but at the height of my runs, nothing made sense.. I have been able to stomach a chocolate donut or two tho even last week when I was on the antibiotics! (grin!) (But I will never look at chicken soup again in the same light!)
Take care and welcome to the group!!!!!
Val anksVal