Diverticulitis! It's a pain in the guts
Discussion
Wasn't sure if there's already a thread on this.
After my third hospital visit in 18 months, I wondered if there's anyone else who has this painfully debilitating condition.
I try and watch what I eat (no nuts or seeds or anything with pips or skins) and yet ended up in hospital last Monday. The latest set of symptoms came on in about an hour. Normally my body gives me 24 hours notice that a big infection is on the way but this time was different. I had the usual treatment which comes with a stay on the ward. Nil by mouth, lots of heavy duty antibiotics, pain relief, anti-emetics and fluids. Home now and having to walk with a stick for a few days as standing upright is bloody painful.
After my third hospital visit in 18 months, I wondered if there's anyone else who has this painfully debilitating condition.
I try and watch what I eat (no nuts or seeds or anything with pips or skins) and yet ended up in hospital last Monday. The latest set of symptoms came on in about an hour. Normally my body gives me 24 hours notice that a big infection is on the way but this time was different. I had the usual treatment which comes with a stay on the ward. Nil by mouth, lots of heavy duty antibiotics, pain relief, anti-emetics and fluids. Home now and having to walk with a stick for a few days as standing upright is bloody painful.
Another sufferer here! Commiserations to you - it's a bloody awful thing which can debilitate you without warning. I've had five episodes over the past 10 years or so but no hospitalisation thankfully, although it was close last time.
I have found that I need to avoid seeds (including seeded bread), some nuts (although cashews don't seem to affect me) and beetroot. Also to be avoided are poor-quality sausages with tough skins - these are a guaranteed disaster. I try to keep to a high-fibre diet at all times and also try to stay hydrated - apparently a high proportion of diverticular disease sufferers are dehydrated.
I have, however, found a 'cure' of sorts; at the very earliest symptom, a hot curry will almost always ward off a full-on attack if taken soon enough, pathia or madras works best for me. Restaurant-bought curry seems to work better than home-made for some reason, too.
I have found that I need to avoid seeds (including seeded bread), some nuts (although cashews don't seem to affect me) and beetroot. Also to be avoided are poor-quality sausages with tough skins - these are a guaranteed disaster. I try to keep to a high-fibre diet at all times and also try to stay hydrated - apparently a high proportion of diverticular disease sufferers are dehydrated.
I have, however, found a 'cure' of sorts; at the very earliest symptom, a hot curry will almost always ward off a full-on attack if taken soon enough, pathia or madras works best for me. Restaurant-bought curry seems to work better than home-made for some reason, too.
I feel your pain - I was in hospital for 5x days in January, anything with visible seeds sets me off, like seeded bread or poppy seeds. I can eat nuts without problem.
I have never really got to the bottom of what sets mine off (poor choice of words...), I've tried cutting out everything from red meat to bread. White bread is an issue, but sourdough is fine for me. Beer, no beer. Spicy food, no spicy food - Mine just does what it does, and I normally just ride it out.
Thankfully, it hasn't been too bad.
I agree drinking plenty of water really helps - although I admit, I don't always follow this advice.
I have never really got to the bottom of what sets mine off (poor choice of words...), I've tried cutting out everything from red meat to bread. White bread is an issue, but sourdough is fine for me. Beer, no beer. Spicy food, no spicy food - Mine just does what it does, and I normally just ride it out.
Thankfully, it hasn't been too bad.
I agree drinking plenty of water really helps - although I admit, I don't always follow this advice.
Writhing said:
That's interesting.
I've spoken to various medics and none of them mentioned a hot curry. I wonder what the medicinal qualities would be?
Don't know. I've tried taking some of the individual elements (cumin, coriander, chilli etc.) in isolation without success. Problem is that the curry usually works, and it's not a time for experimentation really - I need something which just works!I've spoken to various medics and none of them mentioned a hot curry. I wonder what the medicinal qualities would be?
I had the first twinges of an attack last week when we were driving back through France but curries in France as rare as hens teeth, so after we landed at Plymouth the next day, the first priority after checking into the hotel was to find an Indian restaurant.
36 hours had elapsed since the initial pain, but the pathia was consumed and a slightly uncomfortable night followed but by next morning, all was well. I know when an attack has been terminated by the strange feeling when my bowels move - it feels just like my entire spinal column has fallen out and left a void! Sorry for the graphic description, but this is the Health forum after all!
I would look into "carnivore". Lots of people with bowel conditions like IBS, Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, and Diverticulitis report marked improvements or complete remission. It is a complete elimination diet, but for these conditions it is probably the absence of fibre that is having the effect.
It is very restrictive, obviously, but you might consider it worth trying.
It is very restrictive, obviously, but you might consider it worth trying.
Writhing said:
I wondered if there's anyone else who has this painfully debilitating condition.
Yep, I suffer with Diverticular Disease too. As you say a pain in the guts, or colon to be more precise! I've had it for about 10 years but it only flairs up every couple of years. I've had a few colonoscopies and the specialist removed a few polyps but nothing else of concern, other than the diveticula, these are what become infected. I find a course of Co-amoxiclav (clavulanic acid) an antibiotic seems to cure it for another few years! I do get the feeling that it's coming on occasionally so I will try the hot curry trick next time I get a waring sign! My wife has it but, very fortunately, has only had one very serious flare-up (which was when she was diagnosed) and that was an utterly horrible time so you have my many sympathies.
She is a very fussy eater (which may help) and my heart sank when she was told she had to eat a high fiber diet as she simply wouldn't have done. But what I did and still do is make her a breakfast smoothie which contains the following:
Half an avocado
Half a mug of oats
A banana and a bit
Half a handful of blueberries
Full fat goat milk
She has that every morning for breakfast and, although it may just be good luck, she hasn't had a really major attack whilst having it.
She is a very fussy eater (which may help) and my heart sank when she was told she had to eat a high fiber diet as she simply wouldn't have done. But what I did and still do is make her a breakfast smoothie which contains the following:
Half an avocado
Half a mug of oats
A banana and a bit
Half a handful of blueberries
Full fat goat milk
She has that every morning for breakfast and, although it may just be good luck, she hasn't had a really major attack whilst having it.
I have some Diverticula but as yet managed to avoid diverticulitis (I think)
I get some kind of regular flare up which is very debilitating and bloody painful.
I eat a high fibre diet and each day I take a Fibro Gel sachet which really helps me.
I had a colonoscopy only yesterday and they found nothing but diverticula. I get regular constipation and bloating and it is bloody awful. When I get a flare up it is all consuming and I find I get very down beat about it. The elation after doing a big dump is amazing..
I get some kind of regular flare up which is very debilitating and bloody painful.
I eat a high fibre diet and each day I take a Fibro Gel sachet which really helps me.
I had a colonoscopy only yesterday and they found nothing but diverticula. I get regular constipation and bloating and it is bloody awful. When I get a flare up it is all consuming and I find I get very down beat about it. The elation after doing a big dump is amazing..
I I had this back in 22 picked up on a CT Scan, the pain was a 9.9 at some points. I am now about 98% symptom free, tried everything antibiotics do not help unless infected, just kills your Gut bacteria.
1. Do a 2 day water fast, i know its hard but your gut needs a rest.
2. Keep Food Diary of foods and drinker, caffeine can be a trigger, that make it worse, and exclude them, get a test to see what you are allergic to helps
3. Cut out all processed foods, Make your own soups with bone broth, chicken etc.
4. Get some Myota powder, you need to restore your gut bacteria etc, Kefir drinks also help on a empty tummy
5. Look up the App Nerva, its 100.00 a year, after 3 weeks used this fixed about 50% of symptoms.
Good Luck....
1. Do a 2 day water fast, i know its hard but your gut needs a rest.
2. Keep Food Diary of foods and drinker, caffeine can be a trigger, that make it worse, and exclude them, get a test to see what you are allergic to helps
3. Cut out all processed foods, Make your own soups with bone broth, chicken etc.
4. Get some Myota powder, you need to restore your gut bacteria etc, Kefir drinks also help on a empty tummy
5. Look up the App Nerva, its 100.00 a year, after 3 weeks used this fixed about 50% of symptoms.
Good Luck....
Edited by APOLO1 on Tuesday 17th September 09:27
Got diagnosed with it about 20 years ago, only have had 2 attacks, both sorted with antibiotics and buscopan on continuous lansoprazole whether that's kept it at bay, unsure...
Don't have to avoid any particular food tbh, my consultant reckons lots have it without realising and never have any symptoms....
Don't have to avoid any particular food tbh, my consultant reckons lots have it without realising and never have any symptoms....
tozerman said:
I get regular constipation and bloating and it is bloody awful.
Have they considered histamine intolerance, as I recall the following (from the King's College London associated ZOE) says that 93% of people with it have bloating?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZoHGWuMeEk
Have you suffered from hayfever or skin rashes?
tozerman said:
I have been prescribed anti histamine tablets previously but didn't. Make any difference.
They probably wouldn't, as although their name implies they get rid of histamine, they don't, they just block certain histamine receptors in the body. More here if you're interested: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC83083...And, associated with this, I have first hand experience of this diet, developed by the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) in Sydney: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/wp-content/uploa...
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