Was diagnosed with diverticulosis and Hiatal Hernia 3 mos. ago.

Sorry for your suffering…have you tried beginning with a soft, gentle diet to help healing ? I had resection of colon (CRC) and had to start light and soft…things like chicken soup, scrambled eggs, applesauce, mashed potatoes, etc. and very gradually added cooked veggies and fruits…many people do the high calorie, high protein drinks like Ensure (made more tolerable over ice)…smoothies are excellent, many variations… hope you find your own good path to healing.

I am sorry to hear that you are wary about eating.I have Divertivulitis for past few years and find that a bland diet helps.I eat chicken fillet with mashed carrot & parsnip and potato for dinner.I start the day with a poached egg tea/coffee and toast.I am able to tolerate marmalade on a 2nd slice of toast.

Hi, @nthpokt - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I do not have a hiatal hernia nor diverticulosis, but I can only imagine being afraid to eat anything would make life tough.

While you wait for others with similar diagnoses to yours to respond about eating with diverticulosis and hiatal hernia, I wanted to suggest you take a look at some existing Mayo Clinic Connect discussions that may have some ideas for you:

- Gastritis, Esophagitis, GERD , small Hiatal hernia , diverticulosis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-digestive-disorders/

- IBS (diarrhea), GERD, diverticulosis and hiatal hernia: What to eat? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-to-eat/

I'm also tagging @rozy288 @cindychesler @mark1952 @trishplace @robertatheriveter @kista77, who may have input related to having flareups at any time, weight loss and trying to figure out diet options with diverticulosis and a hiatal hernia.

What are your biggest challenges when you have flareups from eating something that does not work for you, nthpokt (e.g., pain, bloating, bleeding, inability to participate socially)?

Update:
In May, my gastroenterologist wanted me to start drinking Miralax at night, which I have done since. It has helped quite a bit, but I am still having a bit of a time gaining back the weight that I lost back in January. Has anybody who has dealt with this medical problem been able to gain their weight back, and if they have, what have they found that works? I drink Fairlife protein shakes twice a day along with most foods that will not give me heartburn, which is a task in itself. Some days I have lightheadedness and feel kinda weak. I'm sure that it has something to do with not eating enough calories? Thanks for your reply!

I understand an empathize with unwanted weight loss. I’m 5 foot one and 98 pounds. This is not by choice but because I’ve been sick off and on for two years with diverticulitis and just had a colon resection on July 7. Before my surgery, I was in the ER four times over those two years. The foot of Colon they removed had simmering diverticulitis and a stricture, which i’m told is scar tissue from infection. I’m assuming the diverticulitis never went away for those two years. It just calmed down and then would flare up again and again. Most of us as we get older have diverticulosis which is pouches that aren’t a problem until they get infected. When they get infected, that’s diverticulitis. I was always told that I had low-grade diverticulitis when I had a CT scans, but it was high grade pain… And, apparently bad enough to cause scar tissue that would’ve eventually closed off my colon necessitating emergency surgery. I’m lucky that they were able to staple me back together without an ostomy. That would not have happened with emergency surgery. I’m 76 years old and would have healed more easily if I had done this when I was 65. It’s been a rough recovery. I don’t suggest a colonectomy, but if it’s needed, my assumption, is that the younger you are the better recovery will be. I also have acid reflux with a hiatal, hernia and Barrett’s/dysplasia of the esophageal Cells. I’m interested in the low acid book that someone suggested.