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Hi @learningtime - glad that it's helpful to hear others' experiences. Thanks for sharing yours and what helps you day-to-day and when you have a flare-up.
Sorry to hear you've gotten conflicting input on eating items such as seeds and popcorn.
Medical advice about the details of your particular condition and whether you should ever consider surgery should come from your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist/GI surgeon. Mayo Clinic Connect members can share their experience but not provide medical advice.
You mentioned the thought of surgery has you terrified. Do you know if you are considered a potential surgical candidate in the future? When you were in the hospital or afterward, did you get to ask one of your doctors about whether they foresaw surgery for you at any point?
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@lisalucier I spoke to my doctor constantly for the 10 days I was in the hospital. I don't think I'm a good candidate for surgery, due to my age and my fear. The doctor advised me that I would have to be extremely careful in the future if it was my intention to avoid surgery-- which it is. He told me to avoid constipation, which caused my perforation in the first place. So I'm careful to monitor everything. I watch everything I eat, and keep a journal every day. If I feel that my symptoms are returning, I immediately go on a liquid diet. Water, broth, tea, etc. Then I go on the Low Residue (white) diet. Bed rest and a heating pad for pain (which so far has been minimal) ... no ibuprofen! This seems to be helping and so far, so good. I'm interested to see how other people are handling this.