I had elective surgery in March 2011 to remove my sigmoid colon which contained a mass of problematic diverticulae. I was told by medical staff that at the age of 46 it was unusual to see so much! However, because I have always enjoyed a healthy diet, it was agreed that my condition was very likely due to excessive stress. Has anyone else been advised of the same?
Maddi - i was most interested to read your report of your sigmoid removal particularly the view that the complaint was stress related. could you please describe your symptons which led to the removal of your sigmoid colon . i am undergoing tests currently. thank you v much
Hi! Marymac... Problems with the digestive system can be caused by many conditions and it would be wrong to cause you any undue concern at this stage regarding your ongoing tests. Stress can be related to many different digestive disorders and quit often can aggrevate a condition although it hasn't caused the problem. I would suggest that you wait for the results of your tests and any outcome... then you can study that particular condition, be it diverticulitis, IBS, etc. Any pain/discomfort is going to cause concern but, be assured that your GP and any other professionals will advise you of the best course of treatment for your particular situation. In the meantime, take care of yourself : )
Dear Maddi
thank you so much for your upbeat reply - it is just what I need right now. I will heed your advice and wait until some sort of diagosis has been made.
thanks a lot
marymac
I was diagnosed 18mnths ago with diverticular disease and was told to eat high fibre, which I already was. I also have a constriction in my bowel, which they have offered to cut out if the problems become too much. I never get the urge to go any more, I just have to sit and wait for it to happen which is not good for my prize winning piles!
I have found drinking wheatgrass helpful in keeping me regular, but not the most palatable of things to take - must have it in orange juice and drink whilst holding nose 
Hi! If it's any help at all... I was told that the surgeons found my bowl was constricted adjoining the rectum and that this was due to scar tissue from previous abdominal surgery.
As for wheatgrass... I've never used it, preferring to use lactoluse (prescribed / counter) which, I have been advised to take: x1 teaspoon every other night.
Also, whenever I experience a particularly difficult time (as I still do) with going to the toilet... I go on a white / low residue diet consisting of white bread, rice, etc. Poached fish, mashed potato, etc. This allows the bowel to rest as it can be prone to going into spasm when there are weaknesses which, can be aggrevated when taking to much fibre content.
My greatest disappointment is that I'm not able to eat vast quantities of chocolate anymore!! My bowl simply wont allow it!!
Finally, the reason I had surgery was because I developed diverticulitis which, is when the diverticulae become infected and inflammed... It's a disease which, cannot be cured, only managed. Good luck : )
Lactulose oils everything going through whereas wheatgrass is full of enzymes, chlorophyll, minerals, and highly concentrated vitamins.
One of the main wheatgrass benefits is chlorophyll, that has a chance to draw toxins in you body just like a magnet. Considered as the “blood of plants”, chlorophyll can heal and soothe inner tissues. The chlorophyll in wheatgrass has elevated levels of light energy and oxygen, which could supply the body tissues and the brain by having an optimal environment to function. The chlorophyll in wheatgrass also offers antibacterial property, which could stop the growth of parasites in your body.
hi everyone i have been told i have multiple diverticular in the sigmoid section. this after having many camera exams. told to eat more fruit and fibre. joined slimming world to lose some weight ate healthy foods lots of fruit and veg but i have only emptied my bowel once in this week i have pain and i have taken milpar to help but no joy. i hav'nt lost any weight.
Recently I have upped my exercise regime and have been opening my bowels at least once a day - we have put a bicycle/cross trainer in the dining room and I try to cycle at least 10k a day. It's made an enormous difference - I have severe back problems and this machine is low impact and comfortable to use.
unfortuateley i am disabled and have difficulty exercising or would do this. but thanks as i know it would hel. i have had two operations on my spine. i am back to see my specialist on the 3rd august i will seewhat he can advise as well. but he did say fruit and vegetables plus he gave me a laxative to take morning and night but nothing moving yet.
thankyou.
Hello. I'm two weeks post surgery and had 16cm of my sigmoid colon removed. I'm 38 years old and very fit. I train and compete in martial arts on a regular basis. I mountain climb, run, ride bikes and fly paragliders. I'm pretty good at eating healthy and I've never had other medical issues in my life.
A few months ago I started to feel a small uncomfortable bulge on the left side of my abdominal after hitting about 2km in my jogs. It never hurt too much, but was quite uncomfortable more than anything else. I saw a doctor and he said it could be a small hernia, but not serious enough for surgery.
On a recent business trip to China, I started to have really bad stomach pains. A few days later I checked into a hospital and they diagnosed me with a ruptured appendix. They cut me open and realized the appendix had not been ruptured. Instead it was inflamed due to an infected diverticuli. They took out the appendix and cleaned me up. I spent about 5 days stabilizing in the hospital and boarded a plane home to Singapore as soon as I could. I landed and checked into the best hospital singapore had to offer. A few days later I went in for another surgery and had 16cm of the color removed. Having two surgeries in 8 days made me feel like i was hit by a freight train. Three days later I was off the morphine and walking again. My mom pushed me to drink tons of water and walk as much as possible. I've been home a few days now and I'm feeling great. Doctor pulled out 34 staples and the drainage tube just two days ago.
Doctors were pretty surprised I had all these diverticulis at such a young age, but he did say it was common. Not so common for infections and ruptures though
The doctors don't know why people get this disease, but they do think its brought on by stress. I do have lots of that with my businesses and family life, but probably mo lore than the next person.
I still have these annoying pouches in my colon and we can only hope that it will never get Infected again.
I can't wait to eat spicy foods again!
Cheers.
Hi everyone. I am so glad to read so many upbeat posts re DD. I'm nearing 60, quite fit - 7 cleaning jobs, two dogs and allotments.
I suffer form gallbladder disease, underactive thyroid and DD.
My thyroid became underactive about four years ago and the gallstones and DD followed very quickly.
The DD four years ago was only minor bit in tow years it has filled my sigmoid area and 'around the bend' under my ribs! I can swear it is from stress as I am a worrier!
I was told four years ago that as my parents died from bowel cancer I was to be screened every two years. No letter has come from the hospital and my doctor has gone AWOL since I asked about having a colonoscopy. I know I can't have one now but obviously I need to know what the alternatives are. So back to the docs next week! I am constantly worried about the risk of colon cancer. I get very depressed and this adds to the stress!
I now find that every morning I feel as if I am going to be violently sick and it lasts until about mid morning.
I don't have any symptoms of DD except constant mild pain in various parts of my body.
I have found a book called :
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY DEAL WITH DIVERTICULITS. by Dr. JOAN McCLELLAND
She doesn't sugar the pill but explains things very clearly.
The back of it says there are different types of DD and discusses complications, various treatments and alternative and herbal remedies.
The book also covers the psychological aspects of DD and the benefits of exercise and diet.
gailehughes, thank you so much about the benefits of wheatgrass, I will get some tomorrow.
kind regards all
chin up, I suppose that there are wore things….
god, the typos.
I suppose there are worse things...
The nausea has passed thank God - I hope some people are on here as I feel I am going through this on my own…it sometimes feels very lonely.
I find that if I keep myself 'open' then it tends not to get inflamed which is probably the reason you're experiencing the nausea
Hi! I started this post some time ago and it's been great seeing further posts about this condition. I've not long come home from an appointment with my surgeon to discuss how I manage the diverticular found in the rest of my colon earlier this year... I've only had one episode of diverticulitis since my surgery so, unless I start experiencing problems with further inflammation and infections, I probably wont need to have any further surgery. I don't need to see the surgical team again now for another year ;0)
I still experience nausea on a regular basis and it's caused by my colon becoming congested which, I've been advised is normal as the colon can become paralised / lazy following a surgical procedure. The gases produced from undigested food can cause bloating and nausea. My GP helps me manage this by advising me on diet and medication. I've got a really good relationship with my GP and I'm lucky to attend a really good practice and receive excellent support from all the staff there so, I would recommend anyone to keep a log of their symptoms and take it to your GP. I've learnt that certain foods can trigger symptoms and there are some food items that I'm no longer able to tolerate but, it has been a bit hit / miss!
I didn't get an opportunity to see a Dietrician following my surgery so, I've had to read a lot of info about this condition in order to help me manage it the best I can and I still keep to a low residue diet when feeling uncomfortable / symptomatic.
This may sound a little strange to some but, I find that listening to what my body's telling me to eat is very helpful... I don't tend to ignore food / drink cravings as I've learnt that there's a reason why my body wants certain foods / drinks containing different nutrients, etc. Obviously, my craving for chocolate on a daily basis needs to be ignored from time to time but, that's more to do with stress factors, etc.
Anyway, it's good that you're all finding this posting helpful and I wish you all the best of health... Maddi ;0)x
Hi all 
I've been looking for information as for the past 3 weeks I have been nauseas continually and vomiting bile 4 days in a row unable to eat or drink, I was hospitalised for a day and they tried to tell me this was all due to a uti and I knew It weren't my doctor has now said I have diverticulitis and put me on an anti biotic and nausea tablet but that is all I was told so of course me being me I rushed home and started to Google and tbh it scared me, as I thought this was a mild infection that would clear up and go away and everything I'm reading is saying I will now have to live with it I have no idea what to eat or anything and feel like I'm never going to feel better I feel so uncomfortable... Sorry for the rant it feels like I'm on my own with this as nobody seems to understand
Hi Angie
Sorry you are feeling so ill, has your doctor not checked for gallstones? They sometimes go hand in hand.
BTW what is a uti?
Urinary Tract Infection