Connect
Diverticulitis and constipation
First, to say, thank you all for being here for support and helping make sense of things! I was diagnosed with diverticulitis last November, have been fine since January, and am trying to make sense what seems to be divergent views from drs. When I was flaring Nov/Dec 2023, the GI drs (saw both in the practice) said I couldn't make the flare worse or better with particular foods; I could eat whatever I wanted. They said, if I was constipated, certain foods would cause pain, but again, wouldn't alter the progression of the disease. The docs in this practice very firmly believe prohibitions against foods are wrong; they believe studies bear this out. More recently, my primary dr - an internist - has said something very different. (I think.) She says to avoid constipation at all costs, that little bits of fecal matter (She called them fecalites. No idea how it's spelled) trapped in the pockets set flares in motion. So food does matter, but I believe, to her way of thinking, it's only those foods that would promote constipation.
What do your docs say? Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and experience. Much, much appreciated.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
Makes sense that different parts of the gut might respond differently. Also makes sense that there are different kinds of diverticulitis, each having its own treatment.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsCan someone describe what happens when there is an episode?
Hello @celia16
Here is an explanation from the Mayo Clinic website regarding diverticulitis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371758
Are you interested in this because you or a family member deal with diverticulitis?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHi, Celia,
I'm pretty new to episodes, so my experiences are very limited. What seems to be a hallmark, in my case, is a sharp left sided pain in the lower abdomen and low-grade fever - usually at night. For me, the sharp pain is intermittent and not debilitating. I also get other pains - achy, crampy feeling across the lower abdomen, plank ache, heaviness on left side that feels arthritic, achy legs from knees up. These pains are also sporadic. My appetite goes down; I get sleepy. I can't say how long it (generally?) takes to get over the acute phase because when I was sick last November I had a bad reaction to the first drug, Augmentin, which I stayed on for the full course, because I thought it was the illness making me so sick.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI just wondered if I have ever had it. I’m aware of the pouches, but don’t think I’ve had anything so severe.
Thanks for sharing. I had some dull lower left aching a few times, but I don’t think it’s what you described. I haven’t had it in a good while though,