Diverticulitis Support Group
Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, in particular the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon. Diverticulitis results if one of these diverticula becomes inflamed. Diverticulitis most often affects middle-aged and elderly persons, though it can strike younger patients as...
all the medical advice is to eventually get off the low residue diet gradually after a flare-up and increase fiber to 25 to 35 grams per day. i have stayed on a low residue diet, eat small portions at a time, no peelngs, no nuts, no berries, no metamucil, no corn, no raw vegies...everything cooked. i know this is onsidered to be an unhealthy diet but i have no problem going to the bathroom and no twinges. no yogurt or other milk products. i drink almond milk. i also tale supplements and have added slippery elm powder twice daily. so what is everyone doing to help to prevent flare-ups? anyone else try the low residue diet as a permanent food plan...and if so, how has it worked for you?
That said, I would like to share some of my past experiences. One event put me on antibiotics and a variety of them for almost two months!! It was the worst event that I have had out of the four. I was not told to go to liquids, or non fiber and no bed rest. The Specialist was a quack!! All he did was throw antibiotics at it.
My four events with this, have led me to believe that bed rest is as important as anything else that you do. I believe that activity aggravates the condition, I believe that if you have fever and an elevated white count, you definitely need antibiotics, but not always, just because you have pain. There is infection and there is inflammation that is not always caused by infection. Liquid diet is essential for as long as you can do it. A non fiber diet should be continued as long as you have any discomfort in the area. Activity after days of bed rest should be minimal and something that gradually gets increased. Once you have no more pain, you can introduce and gradually increase fiber back into your diet. But, I am convinced that eliminating the infection, if one is present, doesn't eliminate the inflammation. And that is what lasts so long. I believe that the colon needs as much rest as we can give it, as long as you have inflammation and fiber is just too abrasive.
This is my belief, at this point in time anyway. I go back to my doctor in four days and I have decided that i will not take any more antibiotics until he can show me an elevated white count demonstrating that one is present. There is also another variety of white count that shows inflammation present and I want to see that again also. I still have pain, and I can clearly see the difference in my pain related to food and fiber moving through my colon and my physical activity. I believe that it can take months after the infection is gone to clear up the inflammation that it caused. Again this is what I think I have learned from my experience with this. And so far mine has been uncomplicated diverticulitis. There are life threatening complications that can occur, and we should always be on the look out for signs of those.
I do believe that we need fiber in our diet, but only when we are no longer inflamed. I think that people who have uncomplicated diverticulitis and have reoccurring episodes close together, are really never getting over the first episode. It can take months for the inflammation to subside completely.
Each episode that I have had, has been with different doctors and all have treated it differently, except for antibiotics. With in a couple of months of each episode I have had a colonoscopy. After the colonoscopy's is when I have really felt OK. All of them have always acted like it would clear in 10 days with the antibiotics, but none of them seemed surprised when it didn't! I think part of the problem with this is the expectation that this is a two week process that clears up with antibiotics and we can just go about our business like we are not seriously ill. When it is actually a very serious illness that takes months to resolve and antibiotics and infection are only part of the process.
I have probably said more than anyone wants to hear, but my experience with this each time has been so debilitation with doctors acting like the pain is in my head after they give me antibiotics.
This diet comes from the Mayo Clinic
A diverticulitis diet gives your digestive tract a chance to rest while your doctor treats your diverticulitis.
By limiting yourself to clear liquids and slowly adding low-fiber foods to your diet, your digestive tract has time to heal.
Your doctor may recommend that you stick to a clear liquid diet for two or three days, or until the pain goes away.
Foods and beverages allowed on a clear liquid diet include: Broth, Clear soda, Fruit juices without pulp, Ice chips, Ice pops without bits of fruit or fruit pulp, Plain gelatin, Plain water, Tea or coffee without cream.
Diverticulitis diet once signs and symptoms begin to resolve
As you start feeling better, your doctor will recommend that you SLOWLY introduce low-fiber foods. If you experience pain or bloating after adding any food, please go back to liquids till the pain goes away.
Low-fiber foods include: Canned fruits, Desserts without seeds or nuts, Eggs, Enriched white bread, Fruit juice with little or no pulp, Low-fiber cereals, Milk, Yogurt or cheese without seeds or nuts, Smooth peanut butter, Tender meat, poultry and fish,White rice or plain pasta, noodles or macaroni, Well-cooked vegetables without seeds or skins.
You may need this low fiber diet for 2-4 weeks or more before VERY slowly starting back on the fiber foods, such as raw vegetables, especially broccoli and kale.
Too much food can also cause a good amount of pain. Eat small meals for awhile,
about the size of half of a sandwich.