amandose…I swear my fistula was caused by doing meditation before yoga.. sitting on the rugged floor…I think it somehow caused the fistula…now I know I’m not crazy
and I’ve been on the treadmill for months recently because of high blood pressure and anxiety… this conversation really makes me wonder…because before all this I was not eating very healthy and taking klonapin as needed…never felt better…and ever since I started 12 5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide for blood pressure the bowel and now fistula are acting up. The drugest and doctors look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them this…I swear the bp meds was the straw that broke the camels back here along with the exercise…tell me im not imagining this?
i thought i was crazy for a while!! i am 52 years old and started having diverticulitis hospitalizations @38 years old!! i am a personal trainer and have always exercised!! the last few flare ups seem to happen as i increased repetitions or new classes! since i got out of hospital a few weeks ago i have not worked out cuz im terrified!! exercise is my life and im soo depressed w/o it!! i am still doing treadmill n bike but its not enough!!!
Thanks for posting this. I had my first attack 3 days ago, came out of nowhere and ended up in the ER. I’m now on a myriad of antibiotics, pain medication. At my follow up with my MD yesterday I asked her what the heck?!? I’ve been a vegetarian for over a year, do strength exercise 2-3 times a week, yoga the other two. She told me that medicine has not figured out the causes of diver yet, just seems counter intuitive to me. Any thoughts or suggestions would be so appreciated. 
I’m 63 and was wondering the same thing.. just diagnosed 3 days ago in the ER. Started exercising in March, it makes me feel SO much better, both physically and mentally. Now I’m scared and unsure what is appropriate- I don’t want to end up in ER again.
hello
I’ve been living with diver about 6 years. My flairups are never diet induced. Ab exercizes or lifting anything over 40lbs triggers flairups for me.
I teach martial arts for a living. I am overweight (too much standing around teaching and not enough working).
I have had some physical therapy on my back and was feeling loose and good enough to start sparring again. I had a sneaking suspicion that I had a hernia or problems with my diver after I sparred as after about 48 hours (normal delay for me to feel sore after working out) I would have pretty intense lower ab pain usually for 2-3 days. After that the bowel issues and constipation would start for another 3-4 days.
I didn’t think about it being diver related. I have not been to my GP again about it but it seems to fit. I had a CT scan 1.5 years ago where they (once again) saw the diver but no hernia. I just had a colonoscopy with not mention of a hernia (not sure if they would see that anyway)
All signs point to diver. I can’t stop kicking - its my job. What do I do? Is there a treatment to prevent flair-ups of this type?
Thoughts?
I am so glad to hear that I’m not the only one this is happening to.
6 yrs ago i had a 6" section of my colon removed, since then, when i start up exercising from my vacation slumber or inactive phase, i will get a bout of diverticulitis it will take me down for a couple of weeks. Really discouraging! Does anybody know if there is a way around this, or why is this happening?
This time i feel it in my abdomen and my Sciatic nerve going down my leg.
This happens to me and I get eye rolls from the PA. She said exercise helps! but every single time I overdo it, I get a flare. And to me overdoing it is what other people think is light.
I’m new to this forum and I can’t get enough of it. it speaks to every area of my upside down world right now. I am an active 66 year old woman who has just experienced a first time diverticulitis attack. I wasn’t even aware i had a diverticulosis condition until i ended at the ER with severe abdominal pain, vomiting and all the rest. CT scan showed acute attack with perforated bowel and 2 abscesses. i was hospitalized for 2 weeks and recently started introducing low residue foods to my diet. the fatigue is the most depressing part. I’ve started to do small walks, not too bad. I want to do some stretches mainly because my back aches so much but i can’t believe how much this condition has intimidated me. Afraid to do much of anything. So much contradiction on the internet. That’s why this site feels like I’ve hit a gold mine. Good information. If anyone has had good luck with certain exercises please share. Thanks!
Hi
I’m 5 weeks into a flare up after 18 months.
No dietary advice from GP’s so consulted a dietician privately. The low residue diet is definitely helping, but I cannot do what I want on a daily basis. I’ve done a walk 2o minutes, then after a rest some housework, including washing floor on hands and knees! So is this too much for one morning. Stomach feeling it and I’m lying on the couch. Same happened earlier in the week, walk plus a little gardening.
Isn’t it frustrating, does anyone else have these issues, as I don’t class these as exercise, as in the gym for example.
I have stopped swimming for the same reasons, everything feels pulled after that.
Have I read somewhere on here you can gave a hernia? Regards to everyone on here it’s not easy.
Your reply has really confirmed my suspicions for some time now that exercising the core muscles can set off diverticulitis .If I strenuously sweep the yard or frequently bend to pick up heavy objects I will feel an attack of diverticulitis coming on in approximately 3 days after.I always felt that toning the muscles made more sense but obviously not after reading this & my own experiences.I have extensive diverticuli on my colon & get frequent attacks .I am presently attending a medical herbalist as I hate having to take antibiotics.The herbs actually worked to clear my last bout which I am thrilled about.
I’ve always done pilates and yoga off and on since 2004 both straight pilate and pilate/yoga sessions are beginner . however I’m now 62 with diverticulosis for 4 years . Recently started to do these routines more consistently at home early October. Since starting I’ve had two attacks with sharp stomach pains and sore stomach I’m in the middle of the 2nd attack and it occurred to me i haven’t changed my diet but recently started the consistent pilates/yoga now I’m going to no longer do those exercises.
i have had 2 colonoscopies, 1 at age 50 and another due to recurrent abdominal pain i was told that i have a lot of diverticulae The past few years i feel that I’ve noticed a coincidence between a flare up of pain after lifting very heavy objects i recently brought in my 60 pound garden pillars for the winter and had another episode It seems to take a few days to a week to get bad I was starting to wonder if maybe I have a hernia, but found this thread and don’t feel like I’m imagining a correlation any more just my two cents
Your not crazy Ive had diverticulitis for 4 yrs i had two bouts about three yrs ago . I stayed away from trigger foods. Im also dealing with an uterine prolapse and rectocle so I decided to start pelvic floor therapy back up after three yrs. I went and had therapy that night my lower rt area bottom of stomach started to hurt, I thought I had pulled something but then the next day it was in lower left where I usually get the diverticulitis attack. So went to ER and sure enough it was. I had no problems for three yrs and did the pelvic floor therapy and BAM! Ive lost alot of weight because this time it was bad. I had colonoscopy done and it showed diverticulosis so anyhow no your not crazy. I need to exercise but i guess walking will be it. Ive lost so much butt muscle and my rear end it flat! Id love to improve that area for sure. But, dont want the pain.
What can of herbs? I too hate the antibiotics they are so rough on the system
So happy to have found this page and people who are experiencing the same thing… diverticulitis flares with heavy exercise. I started with my first diverticulitis about 18 years ago. I’ve had several flares over the years managed with antibiotics or just liquid/low residue diet. Over the past year+ I’ve had recurring bouts and have noticed it’s whenever I restart lifting weights/core exercise, forcing me to stop for a while. I then restart and have another flare. I am 54 and do not want to stop exercising. I’ve had a surgical consult after my last severe bout and I’m about the schedule surgery. She expects to take 12-18 inches of my colon where it is narrowed, thin and scarred. Has anyone had surgery for diverticulitis and been able to resume their exercise without difficulty/flares?
I completely understand what you are describing. Before being diagnosed with diverticulitis, I had my first episode in September, a couple of years ago, and after a day or so of feeling feverish and unwell, I recovered but my tummy ache would not go till I stopped all exercises. Then in the spring I thought I’d start my yoga again and a couple of hours after, I ended up in bed with a terrible chill, I was soo cold and only by staying in bed till evening with hot water bottle did I get better. I took it easy for a few days, then did a yoga session. same thing happened and it was worse. I realised it had to be the yoga and so stopped. I then went on a strenuous walk up hill one day, and same thing, tummy ache and exhaustion. Couldn’t do anything for a while and had to stop walking unless easy walking. A week ago I restarted very gentle yoga, last night I had a bad tummy and I know that it has to be the yoga. I think it’s every time I do the Bridge pose. I put too much strain on the abdominal muscle. Before reading this post, I kept thinking I must have some kind of hernia as if you look on medical sites who talk of diverticulitis, they say exercise has no effect on diverticulitis but this post shows that’s not true.
I can only suggest what works for me as I had to stop yoga, pilates and any other gym based exercise. I now do Tai Chi /qi gong which keeps you supple and strong. I also do a 5 mile walk once a week and shorter walks in between. I also cycle and swim. I’m 70. Just going through a bad flare up. I did some gardening and that was enough to start the diver so you learn what triggers it. Also worth mentioning that drinking bone broth got me back on my feet and I never take antibiotics. Best wishes