1. < Digestive Health

Diverticulitis prevention

Posted by ayersg @ayersg, Apr 6, 2023

Is there a way to prevent diverticulitis from recurring? Is there a change in diet that can help heal the colon issue that causes it?

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maxine50 | @maxine50 | Apr 18, 2023
In reply to @warrendog "Just the store brand ducosate sodium. The dosage is between 1 and 4 capsules. I take..." + (show)
@warrendog

Just the store brand ducosate sodium. The dosage is between 1 and 4 capsules. I take one at night. If I don’t have a BM, I take 2 the next day. So far, this has been working. The overnight oats for breakfast really helps as well.

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ducosate sodium??? Is their a brand name?? Thanks.

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1 reply
Lori57216 | @lori57216 | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @marionclark "Yes, that is what happened to me. I was is awful pain and my GP ordered..." + (show)
@marionclark

Yes, that is what happened to me. I was is awful pain and my GP ordered a CT scan. It showed a 6cm x 4cm mass which was stated on the report to be carcinoma. I was immediately admitted to hospital and a surgeon told me that was a secondary cancer virtually giving me a death sentence. Next day I was taken to theatre to have radical surgery but no cancer was detected, just the abscess and I had blood poisoning.
Emotionally that was very traumatic.
I’ve been told that this was a very rare occurrence.

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Wow, what a surprise diagnosis! Happy they found it in time. Speedy healing & recovery.

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1 reply
Lori57216 | @lori57216 | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @warrendog "When I have an infection, I must have clear liquids and antibiotics. After about 3 days,..." + (show)
@warrendog

When I have an infection, I must have clear liquids and antibiotics. After about 3 days, I ease into soft foods and a low residue diet. When completely healed I go back to my regular diet ( and attempt to get enough fiber). I take one stool softener daily. It’s important to keep things moving. Something that works for me is overnight oats with fruit. Fresh blueberries are also great! This is a frustrating disease!

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Although I do not have diverticulitis that I'm aware of (I seem to have everything else). While I do have bouts of pancreatitis and must be on clear liquids also. I drank alot of beef & chicken broth and transitioned into soft...I keep either cooked rice or noodles on hand and added to the hot broth. Noodles might be more beneficial to you before rice as rice is small enough to be bothersome. Good luck to all,
Lori
*Retired Certified Dietary Manager

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @maxine50 "What is a brand for stool softener? My problem is that I do not have a..." + (show)
@maxine50

What is a brand for stool softener? My problem is that I do not have a BM every day, but every two or three days has been my normal life. Thanks.

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Hi @maxine50

As @warrendog mentioned Colace or the generic (docusate sodium) is helpful. Also, MiraLAX (or the generic) is a good stool softener as well. MiraLAX is tasteless and can be mixed in hot or cold beverages.

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marionclark | @marionclark | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @lori57216 "Wow, what a surprise diagnosis! Happy they found it in time. Speedy healing & recovery." + (show)
@lori57216

Wow, what a surprise diagnosis! Happy they found it in time. Speedy healing & recovery.

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Yes, a surprise. I just hope it dies not return.
Thank you for your good wishes. Best wishes to you also.

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marionclark | @marionclark | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @lori57216 "Although I do not have diverticulitis that I'm aware of (I seem to have everything else)...." + (show)
@lori57216

Although I do not have diverticulitis that I'm aware of (I seem to have everything else). While I do have bouts of pancreatitis and must be on clear liquids also. I drank alot of beef & chicken broth and transitioned into soft...I keep either cooked rice or noodles on hand and added to the hot broth. Noodles might be more beneficial to you before rice as rice is small enough to be bothersome. Good luck to all,
Lori
*Retired Certified Dietary Manager

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Thank you!

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snoony2 | @snoony2 | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @maxine50 "Can't wait until Thursday when I get MRI of my stomach and my spine. Then have..." + (show)
@maxine50

Can't wait until Thursday when I get MRI of my stomach and my spine. Then have appointment with another gastro. I'm hoping for good results, but the pain on my right side has returned. Yikes!

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I get burning on my right side. I’m having a different type of endoscopy to look at my stomach, liver and pancreas. I also think I passed a stone from my gallbladder duct, even though my gallbladder is gone The pain from diverticulitis and a stone are equally bad

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1 reply
snoony2 | @snoony2 | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @warrendog "When I have an infection, I must have clear liquids and antibiotics. After about 3 days,..." + (show)
@warrendog

When I have an infection, I must have clear liquids and antibiotics. After about 3 days, I ease into soft foods and a low residue diet. When completely healed I go back to my regular diet ( and attempt to get enough fiber). I take one stool softener daily. It’s important to keep things moving. Something that works for me is overnight oats with fruit. Fresh blueberries are also great! This is a frustrating disease!

Jump to this post

When I’ve had diverticulitis, I ended up in emergency. A former gastro person told me another time and they’d have to do Colin surgery to cut out the bad part. I hope this never happens

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 19, 2023
In reply to @snoony2 "I get burning on my right side. I’m having a different type of endoscopy to look..." + (show)
@snoony2

I get burning on my right side. I’m having a different type of endoscopy to look at my stomach, liver and pancreas. I also think I passed a stone from my gallbladder duct, even though my gallbladder is gone The pain from diverticulitis and a stone are equally bad

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Hello @snoony2 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm glad that you joined this discussion. I am sorry to hear of the pain you are experiencing. It sounds as if you are having several issues reviewed.

You mentioned that you are having "a different type of endoscopy to look at my stomach, liver and pancreas." Is this going to be an EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound)?

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