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...

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Diverticulosis

jewl12
jewl12

I have questions.  Last year after having pain in my lower left side and back. I went to the doctor and he ordered a CT.  The CT showed that I had diverticulosis but not diverticulitis and a couple of degenerative disks, I pretty much knew about the disks.  I have arthritis.  He also ordered a colonoscopy.  It turned out fine except for the diverticulosis.  After all that cleaning out and a round of antibiotics I felt better for some time.  But now I am beginning to hurt again. I really don't understant.  I thought you didn't have pain unless the diverticulosis turned into diverticulitis., which they never told me that I had.  But I did have pain and am having pain again..  It makes me wonder if there is something else wrong.  I wondered about the pelvic area but the CT said that was ok.  Do you all have pain from diverticulosis even though you don't have an infection?  I do like a lot of the foods that you should eat if you don't have a flare .  I eat a lot of fiber.  So I keep wondering if I'm eating the wrong things.  Very confusing to me.  I do have an appointment with my gynocologist next month and if she finds everything ok, I guess I'll have to really study up more on this disease.  I know from reading other posts that it's not the thing to do but I sure felt better when I was all cleaned out for the colonospy.  I've been very tempted to do a cleaning.  Your comments and experienced would be appreciated.  Before I had the colonoscopy and CT, I had complained to my gynocologist about the pain and she was going to do an ultrasound but after a pelvic she thought everything seemed ok and it didn't warrent an ultrashound.  I think I would have felt better if she had done one.  Maybe she will this time.  

gem111
gem111
When you have pain, is when the little pockets become inflamed, meaning your condition is changing from Diverticulosis to Diverticulitis. Everybody is different and some people have bad attacks and some people have mild attacks.
I guess the first thing I would do if I thought my gut was starting to hurt from a possible Diverticulitis flare up would be to go on a clear liquid diet and see if the pain went away. Then I would go to the Mayo Clinic's web site and look up Diverticulitis and they will tell you anything you ever need to know about Diverticulitis. I used to be able to eat tons of fiber without any problems, but even when I am not having a Diverticulitis attack, I need to be careful not to eat to much fiber and I am not alone, I have heard the same thing from many people.
For me, oatmeal fiber is a very good fiber but Broccoli can make my gut start to hurt. Soluble fiber food is way easier on your gut than insoluble fiber.
I wish you the best of luck!!!
jewl12
jewl12
Thanks gem111. That's the fastest that I have ever gotten a reply. I will go to the Mayo Clinic page. I've been told that before. I've been eating a lot of fresh garden tomatoes and cucumbers lately. I absolutely love cucumbers and can eat the little ones just like carrots, peeling and all. I think they have been one of my problems. I also eat an apple every night but that is the one thing that keeps me regular and I hate to give that up. I can tell a difference. I tend to leave the peeling on everything even potatoes. I love whole wheat crackers and I eat whole wheat bread. I also love salads. I guess I should eat like my husband. He doesn't even like hardly any vegetables or fruits. He's a meat and potato and bread guy. Boring and bland to me. I vacumed this afternoon and between my arthritis in my back and my side and lower stomach, I had to take a nap.
gem111
gem111
I don't come up here to often, I just happened to check in. Hope it helped!!!
I used to eat like you as I loved my salads, but as time went by, the fiber started to get to me. I ate salads all the time and yes the fresh veggies with the skins. It's just been the last 3 or 4 years out of about 20 that I've had to watch the soluble fiber. Unfortunately for me, I now eat more like your husband. One thing that helps some with the bland and boring is I have started
, finally, after all these years to use herbs. I love them and wonder why it took me so long.
I wish you luck.
ralphjresta
ralphjresta
I ignored the warning signs when my dr told me I had food poisoning for over a year. I continued to have a lot of pain and went on liquid diets until the pain subsided. My dr never sent me for an mri or a colonoscopy and the result was life threatening. I was found unconscious at home and was rushed to the ER where, after having the mri, it should that I ruptured and had emergency surgery. Please take care of yourself and if need be get a second opinion. What happened to me was horrible. 5 operations and out of work for 5 months causing an end to my career and starting over but, the damage was done and I never rebuilt my career. Second opinions can save your life; trust me.
jewl12
jewl12
Thanks ralphjresta. I do have some concerns that my pain isn't coming from the diverticulosis. I will feel better when I see my obgyn. I hope she can answer some questions for me.
gem111
gem111
If your pain just keeps getting worse when/if you are on a clear liquid diet, it could mean you need antibiotics OR it is something other than Diverticulitis. Either way you need to see a DR. ASAP. Diverticulitis can be dangerous if the infection isn't treated.
Please keep us posted.
poppasogers
poppasogers
I have been in discomfort for nearly 3 months. After a CT scan and gastroscopy, I am told it is not cancer (I have a history of GIST) and my problem is colonic diverticulosis. I am a firm believer in eating tinned prunes in their natural juices but today I had 10 prunes with bran flakes, walnuts, soya milk and flax seed oil. How I have suffered! Reading up on diverticulosis and diets I have realised that I had far too much fibre today. Researching the internet I found this website http://www.mydiverticulitis.co.uk/ very interesting reading indeed. My fellow sufferers you may find this website helpful.