1st consult with a GI dr recently after 3 cases of colon infections

@countrymom0110
I hope you can get answers, options and treatment soon.

1. https://www.acibademhealthpoint.com/colitis-vs-diverticulitis-key-differences-explained/
2. https://www.acibademhealthpoint.com/diverticulitis-vs-colitis-understanding-the-differences/
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371758
4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10352-diverticulitis
5. https://www.healthline.com/health/ulcerative-colitis/ulcerative-colitis-vs-diverticulitis
6. https://wellwisp.com/difference-between-diverticulitis-and-colitis/

Thanks so much @dlydailyhope for you info. I appreciate the links. I am still very new to all this and learning more about diseases of the colon. The GI dr pretty much ruled out colitis for me and crohns disease at this time. I guess i should feel relieved. He mentioned blood in the stools and so far Ive had no issues with that. Im just worried that if i throw caution to the wind and eat nuts, seeds, popcorn etc I will end up in pain and in the ER again but he said it will happen regardless of foods that I eat. Im trying to stay positive and hope this is not a re occurring thing for me. Ive not been tested for an autoimmune disease. Colon issues are in my family history, my grandma had colon cancer. My mom had pre cancerous polyps and is still alive and had 2/3 of colon removed. I hope my colon is in better health than both my mom and grandma.

@countrymom0110

Were you told you had diverticulitis since you have bleeding? It is good you are staying on top of things for your colon.

I can relate with the fears of colon cancer. My grandfather had it and they found a polyp during a colonoscopy when I was 42 and glad it was removed. I go every 5 years for a colonoscopy and so far no new polyps (I am now 55). I had an endoscopy and they found gastritis and esophagitis due to taking too many NSAIDs like Motrin for long term chronic pain.

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371758
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24883-diverticulosis
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diverticular-bleeding
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/diverticular-bleeding

Hello!
Yes, your Dr. was correct "but he said it will happen regardless of foods that "
That is the same thing my Dr. told me when I called on my way to ER on my last episode!
That is when I had to decide for myself. Do I have the surgery or keep living in the fear and pain of the next episode? (diverticulitis)
After that last visit, I came to this forum, and it helped me to make that decision.
I had lived with it so many years and all the down time with pain, bleeding and medication you have to take to recover. I just said no more.
I had the surgery to remove the part of my colon in March 24. I was scheduled for robotic and ended up having to be cut open due to the severity of the damage for so many years.
I do wish I had it sooner.
But, I did it and I am so happy now with the results and glad I had no other health issues to worry about.
This is a great site to learn from and decide how you want to move forward.

So I guess its an individual choice whether to listen to your Dr. or to your own body. Im just not sure I want to believe him when he says regardless of what i eat wont change it. Yesterday I had oatmeal. I figured I hadnt eaten it since my last diverticulitis infection so Id give it a try. I ate one bowl. I had 4 loose bowel movements and was worried I would start having cramping and pain. I guess oatmeal is a no for me. 🙁 You said you lived with this disease for years so I guess Drs dont recommend surgery typically? The suffering we endure during a flare is miserable along with the yucky meds and the recovery time. I certainly hate it and Im only 54. I dont want to spend the next 10 years this way. Im so glad you went ahead and had the surgery. Im terrified of surgery but if you are living a much better life now that maybe surgery isnt so bad. He mentioned I may need a colectomy so im wondering at what point is that determined. Thanks for you helpful info @linda82 🙂

After 40 years of Crohn's (now in remission) I feel somewhat qualified to add to this. Here are a couple of things I have learned: I can eat nuts and larger seeds if I chew them well. The smaller seeds like cucumber or immature watermellon seeds, I cannot. Best to leave them off of things I can eat. Vegatables are best cooked, forget raw vegies. Swanson Foods makes a great probiotic called Epic Pro with 25 different species. After much research as a Microbiologist it seems to be a "good bang for the buck." I am afraid that pop corn isn't something I can eat (and I really miss it!). Best to avoid it. I don't know how many of these apply to you but please start avoiding pop corn.

ARGH oatmeal put me in ER after my last vacation.
Yes, listen to your body and find the best Dr.'s you can. Of course, I have been living with IBS for years. Told in the past might have diverticulitis, Colitis and Crohn's too.

I have been living with IBS for years) I was the Pepto Queen!
I would get up 2 hours earlier then needed for work and wait until the dreaded BM and then if it kept going and the bleeding and pain was so bad I started taking Pepto and drinking Chamomile.
By the time I left for work I was already depleted for the day.

But, on my physical 2 years ago when I told my Dr. she scheduled me with a new GI Dr.
After all the med's to get inflammation down he did the colonoscopy.
He said that the diverticulitis was severe, and I should have that part removed. I was shocked.
I waited until 3 episodes that year to have my Dr. recommend best colon Dr. for me.

I was like you...I do not want to live like this the rest of my life. And the older you get the less likely you would get the surgery.
My dad had diverticulitis in his 80's. I felt so bad for him. It was too late for surgery.
He had to wear diapers.

Make sure you have those 3 dr's (your primary, GI and colon Dr) all on the same page.
And yes, mine was considered elective. But, documented so well it was cover by my insurance.

I was scared too. This site is what helped me decide.
Have you seen a colon surgeon?

Good grief, thats scary to hear about the oatmeal! That sounds horrible what you went through :(( so sorry. ':(( Before all this happened to me I was eating oatmeal a lot for breakfast and never realized 6 or so bowel movements a day werent normal :0 I added raw apples with peels and nuts sometimes to my oatmeal too. I saw my GI for time since my first episode in April 2024. Took switching drs and getting 3 episodes to get a referral. My first episode was bad and my family dr insisted on me seeing a general surgeon over a GI dr. I switched Drs. the general surgeon did my colonscopy after first DV infection and said no pouches and eat whatever i wanted. That was June 2024. I made it from April to December before 2nd infection. Then again in February 2025. The GI Dr reassured me to go about life and no diet restrictions. Also take benefiber or fiber supplement. I have not seen a colon surgeon unless a general surgeon counts? He mentioned bleeding in the stools? I told him i didnt notice any as of yet? Your advice is greatly appreciated. This is scary to deal with for sure:(( Why is it less likely as you get older? Im 54.

@ suetex Ive avoided popcorn for a very long time and I miss it. Thanks for the tip. Raw veggies are problematic for me unfortunately so I cook all my veggies currently. Ive never heard of that probiotic but I will look into it. The GI dr didnt mention Crohns or IBS to me. Said it was very unlikely I had colitis. I guess time will tell. I know certain foods cause major issues for me and other foods Im ok with. Im trying not to get to anxious over this but its been really difficult managing normal life with the constant worry of another infection or inflammation. Thanks for the tips and advice.

Note, it was not from the oatmeal. I obviously had the pocket "clogged" which then packed the bacteria in it. (thus, does not matter what you eat, if the pocket gets infected fiber is not your friend)
That is why when you start having an episode you have to stop eating and only have liquid to help loosen it out.

The Dr. said that when the "elderly" have episodes it is more difficult for them to recover from the surgery and most of the time they have other health issues.