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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KB1 08/30/2017

Hi! New here and gleaning much from the archives.

I haven't seen the Low FODMAP diet mentioned here and was curious if anyone here has heard of it or tried it?

My history... IBS for 35 years. Colonscopy 10yrs ago showed diverticulosis. Second colonoscopy last year after my IBS-C changed to IBS-D showing more DD.

First DD attack two months ago with fever and severe lower right pain that doc thought was ruptured appendicitis. Made me go to ER. CT scan revealed possible diverticulitis with possible micro-tear in wall. (Evidently sometimes it's difficult to confirm whether tear or air?)

it was at this time I realized that I had had this sort of pain (albeit milder) with fever many times before but as the fever usually resolved on its own within a day, I never bothered to mention it. Keep in mind I've had IBS for many years and I've come to live with abdominal pain on some level for years so just dealt with it Didn't know the fever + pain was noteworthy since it had always resolved.

My second attack came exactly one month later resolved by 10 days of antibiotics.

With recommended surgery plus still much discomfort I started researching and ran across the low FODMAP diet that has had a lot of success with IBS patients. Then I ran across an article that makes an argument for its use in DD patients. Sharing here for anyone interested.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5095569/#!po=14.8649

I've been on this diet for 5 days and though it's too early to tell, I am without pain for the first time in two months! The only thing is that I'm a little more backed up than I would like. Going some and not hard stool but just not enough.

If anyone with DD Has tried the low FODMAP diet, I would love to know of your experience.

KB1 08/30/2017

^^^ My first attack required 3 day hospitalization with IV antibiotics, plus a 7-day oral course at home.

Rowe 08/31/2017

Hi there, yes I have been struggling for nearly 12mths with DD but have and have had positive results with the FODMAP diet just starting to add new foods this week. I did go to a dietician regards Row from Australia

GeorgeGray 09/10/2017

I was put on the Low FODMAP diet by an NHS dietitian after mentioning it to my GP. I am afraid it hasn't cleared it up but I at least know what makes it worse. I was diagnosed with DV in my early 60s but clearly had problems from my late 40s. I never have had any of the symptoms of diverticulitis- really my symptoms are identical to IBS and managed as though it was that.
In fact some eminent gastroenterologists think that, as most people have diverticulae after their 50s,a lot of people diagnosed with DV actually have late-onset IBS. Perhaps you really have IBS? see this article
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4849520/

A difficulty for me is that if I want travel insurance the medical screening algorithms they use don't distinguish between diverticulosis, diverticular disease and full blown diverticulitis (the definitions of the three conditions vary from country to country!!). They regard everything as the severe end of the spectrum! The result is it trebles the price-particularly to the USA!

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