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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Rachellem 10/05/2009

Thinking back to when all my problems with diverticulitis started the first odd thing I remembered was having so much gas rumbling around my bowels and now about a week off of the antibiotics the rumbling bowels are back again. I am scared that yet again this will be the start of a new diverticulitis attack.

I have been eating right and have actually been eating very small portions because the doctor said my weight contributed to my diverticulitis so since then I have been on a diet. I have been eating good things like yogurt and a probiotic drink everyday. I have soups,sometimes with a slice of dry toast.My portions are very small now and I have already noticed a change in my size. I am just freaked out at the thought of my diverticulitis coming back again just a week off of the antibiotics. Please someone what should I do?

deleted_user 10/06/2009

Hi Rachcellem,

There is not much you can do. Maybe stop eating anything for two days. We like to think what we eat makes a difference. I am not sure. Not eating might let your immune system catch up. You are in a critical time period.

What was your antibiotic treatment?

Best Wishes,

John

deleted_user 10/07/2009

Stopping eating has stopped an attack for me previously. I am not sure that a probiotic drink is enough. The probiotic pills I take have around 4 billion cultures. How much is in the drink? It may be worthwhile to invest in a bottle of probitoics. I get mine at Whole Foods and they need to be refrigerated.

I never had rumblings. For me, my food would stop digesting (it would never go down) and I would feel like a balloon that needed to be popped (very bloated) and then I would start walking VERY SLOWLY and then I knew ...attack immeninent.

deleted_user 10/07/2009

I get colon spasms. My colon jumps like it is trying to shake of the hot spot like a whip, or a dog shaking off water. Others can feel it kick through my skin.

I have never had bloating in my lfe. It is a symptom I cannot relate to, yet many get it. What goes in comes out like clockwork.

It sure is strange we can have such different warning signs.

deleted_user 10/07/2009

4 strikes - I am so glad you said that about others feelng "a kick". I have had 2 children and recently felt something just like when a baby first kicks. I freaked out! I didn't think I could be pregnant but it sure gets your attention. I love this site because so many others undertand what you are going through. Thanks for that bit of info.

deleted_user 10/18/2009

I've had several periods like that, where the symptoms began to return. I STOP EATING for a couple of days. That alone has helped. I've avoided another full-on attack for nearly a year now by jumping hard on any symptom and trying not to let it go any further. Let the bowel rest.

In exchange, after all this time, I'm able to eat almost anything. Stress gives me discomfort, not popcorn or seeds or the rest of the classic list of Do-Not-Eats. I can eat anything, really. I never was a terrible eater. I have no idea how I got diverticulitis when my diet was already like the one doctors/old wives said would prevent another attack. It didn't prevent the FIRST one, why would it prevent any future ones?

Stay close to your body's signals, do not ignore anything. Talk to your doctor right away and say your symptoms are returning. Don't let anything go.

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