Hello @s35flyer, I would like to join John @johnbishop, in welcoming you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I had to smile when you wrote, "It’s really messed up my life." Most of us with diverticulitis attacks feel the same way.

The lifestyle changes needed to deal with diverticulitis are necessary and need to be a permanent change in order to be effective in preventing further attacks. Most of us try to avoid major changes, if at all possible so I understand what you are saying.

Get as much information as you can on avoiding constipation which is the key. The right kinds of foods are important and they change as well. When you are in the middle of an attack you are best with using mostly liquids. As you begin to recover you can then add some soft foods like scrambled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. After that, you can begin to add fiber back into your diet as you tolerate it. Also, don't forget to drink lots of water.

Another suggestion is to look for trigger foods that might be upsetting to the sigmoid part of the colon. This is different for everyone. Some of my triggers are coffee (and I really do love coffee) carbonated beverages and there are others.

Keeping a food journal will help you to find these trigger foods that exacerbate your diverticulitis symptoms. By writing down everything you eat you can tell when you have a trigger food because you will feel the discomfort.

Have you discovered any answers yet to trigger foods?