Diverticulitis

I had a good portion of the left side of my large intestine removed in 1972. I was young then. now, 40+ years later, I have UC on the right side and diverticulosis on the left side. I see a specialist. my personal suggestion is to take action to avoid constipation either OTC or RX. daa1942

Thank you

@1942daa I so agree with your reply! While I have never had surgery for diverticulitis, I have had surgery in the upper digestive tract and do have diverticulitis. Avoiding constipation is very important, it means you have to be proactive with diet, exercise and fluid intake. It takes a bit of planning but it is certainly worth the effort.

@monicajones Here are some links regarding diet ideas for diverticulitis, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-
and
depth/diverticulitis-diet/art-20048499 and https://www.everydayhealth.com/diverticulitis/guide/diet/

How long ago was your surgery, @monicajones? How are you feeling now?

Teresa

Hi @monicajones,

I'm tagging a few fellow Connect members – @suez @retrebotic @akogut @allegro @bakb @lshell @gailfaith @dbwhitted @ann64 @tallygirl – who may also have more insights from their experiences of coping with diverticulitis.

It has been many years since I have had a diverticulitis attack. But when I did have them, At the very first sign of one, I went to a clear liquid died such as apple juice, It would pass in a couple of days until the next attack. Never did figure out what caused them or better yet, why they stopped. Two years ago one day I had slight pain in the lower left quadrant of my abdomen and I figured it was just another diverticulitis attack. I went about my normal days and If I remember correctly, this time I didn't even change my diet. After a week with no changes, I decided to go to the ER to ascertain what was going on. They took X-rays and told me it was not diverticulitis but I was passing 14 mm kidney stone. I apparently have a high tolerance for pain as the stone was huge. I should have been in agony, It was almost at the bladder by then, but they removed it under anesthesia. Moral of story, if you have ever had a diverticulitis attack, and get a additional ones, don't think automatically it is diverticulitis.

@gailfaith Thanks for sharing that experience. It is all too common to relate one familiar pain to a certain diagnosis and be incorrect. I take it that the stone was removed and you haven't had any others?

Teresa

I have that as well as IBS.  Sometimes it is difficult to tell which one is bothering me.  I have medication for one but not the other.  A diet free from grains has been helping me for quite some time now.  It is hard to give up grains, but I have gut pain and muscle spasms when I regularly include them in my diet.  I wondered if anyone else has experienced this?  I have a high tolerance for pain, as well.  Hope you continue healing and are able to return to your regular activities.

Thanks for your comment Teresa. . No, thankfully no more kidney stones. Seems the big one got rid of all the excess Ca from past years. My blood Ca levels are SLIGHTLY elevated, but just a hair. Since I had very high levels for years with no kidney stones, hopefully this level not will not cause any either. .@gailfaith

@gailfaith I am so glad to hear that! Teresa

Thank you for sharing @gailfaith