2014 Update
Doesn't seem to be much activity here, but since it's been a year since my last entry I stopped by to update my status.
I continue to feel great in terms of having had no flareups of diverticulitis. It's been almost 10 years now since diagnosis, and the choices I've made to help myself without antibiotics or other prescription drugs have been good. I've posted my regimen in previous posts.
I now believe that probiotics are the most important piece of that regimen. I've added Jarro-dophilus EPS enteric coated vegetarian capsules which contain 5 billion organisms per capsule, taken twice a day, to the yogurt I eat every morning, and an enzyme/probiotic combo that I also take. More and more research is showing that probiotics make a huge difference in balancing the good bugs in your gut, which contains a large percentage of your immune system. Also note that keeping your gut moving properly so nutrients are absorbed and water removed at the proper points is important for overall healing.
Some of the flareups of diverticulitis might be due to anatomy - if a pouch forms at a point where your intestine curves, matter might get stuck there more easily for example - but if you keep your gut microbes balanced and get enough fiber, it should clear itself out. I do feel occasional twinges that I think are due to this phenomenon, but they always seem to resolve.
I hope anyone out there who is still having problems or has been newly diagnosed will try to find their own regimen. New discoveries are being made about this condition, and doctors are slowly adopting different advice for patients as evidence is collected.
Signing off for now. Happy to talk to anyone about my experience.
I continue to feel great in terms of having had no flareups of diverticulitis. It's been almost 10 years now since diagnosis, and the choices I've made to help myself without antibiotics or other prescription drugs have been good. I've posted my regimen in previous posts.
I now believe that probiotics are the most important piece of that regimen. I've added Jarro-dophilus EPS enteric coated vegetarian capsules which contain 5 billion organisms per capsule, taken twice a day, to the yogurt I eat every morning, and an enzyme/probiotic combo that I also take. More and more research is showing that probiotics make a huge difference in balancing the good bugs in your gut, which contains a large percentage of your immune system. Also note that keeping your gut moving properly so nutrients are absorbed and water removed at the proper points is important for overall healing.
Some of the flareups of diverticulitis might be due to anatomy - if a pouch forms at a point where your intestine curves, matter might get stuck there more easily for example - but if you keep your gut microbes balanced and get enough fiber, it should clear itself out. I do feel occasional twinges that I think are due to this phenomenon, but they always seem to resolve.
I hope anyone out there who is still having problems or has been newly diagnosed will try to find their own regimen. New discoveries are being made about this condition, and doctors are slowly adopting different advice for patients as evidence is collected.
Signing off for now. Happy to talk to anyone about my experience.
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