Living with diverticulitis

Posted by marshelly1 @marshelly1, Dec 17, 2020

How do I keep this from coming back? My Dr. Has no solutions, and I wish I could be more aware when it will flare up.

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@trishdep189

Chocolate (as well as other caffeine products can be a problem with diverticulitis). I can sometimes have it in small amounts, but not every day.

Have you found any other foods that are problematic?

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I just ate a pint of vanilla ice cream tonight. Tomorrow morning I'll find out jf it affects me or not. It's a test to see if it's the ame as once before.

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Profile picture for ayersg @ayersg

I’m one of the lucky ones, just dealing with this the last couple of years. I’ve been able to deal with it by switching to a low fibre soft diet and antibiotics a couple of times but I’m having trouble accepting this as a lifestyle for the rest of my days. I’m having a colonoscopy in a couple of weeks that I’ve been waiting for more than a year for. Hopefully it reveals something that will help more long term.

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Best thoughts to you getting a good report from the colonoscopy. Why did you have to wait a more than a year?

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@trishdep189

Chocolate (as well as other caffeine products can be a problem with diverticulitis). I can sometimes have it in small amounts, but not every day.

Have you found any other foods that are problematic?

Jump to this post

Hmmm, last night I cooked some frozen corn and carrots and this morning..........Surprise!!! Not good! Maybe I shouldn't eat corn and carrots. Tonight I ate ice cream so wonder what my surprise in morning will be?

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Profile picture for noelles @noelles

My GI Specialist, post diverticulitis, recommends cooked vegies and fruit...Does not think that seeds and nuts are a problem. Also recommends chewing completely before swallowing and to avoid raw carrots and celery.

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I had a bag of frozen peas and carrots which I cooked and it did me in the following morning. That I do not understand!!!

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Profile picture for maxine50 @maxine50

Best thoughts to you getting a good report from the colonoscopy. Why did you have to wait a more than a year?

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They are so booked up that was the soonest they could get me in. It’s very frustrating.

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@trishdep189

Chocolate (as well as other caffeine products can be a problem with diverticulitis). I can sometimes have it in small amounts, but not every day.

Have you found any other foods that are problematic?

Jump to this post

My doctor says eat what you want. I have not figured out what food I eat causes flare ups. It is so frustrating. But I know keeping everything moving is the better option. I find soups are the best for me.

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Profile picture for trishdep189 @trishdep189

My doctor says eat what you want. I have not figured out what food I eat causes flare ups. It is so frustrating. But I know keeping everything moving is the better option. I find soups are the best for me.

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Yes, I understand what you are saying, @trishdep189. There are certain foods that are triggers for pain and flare-ups and soup seems to be the best for me as well.

I have a great recipe for carrot/ginger soup that is easy to make and easier to digest. I use an immersible blender to liquify the carrots and onions. It provides liquids as well as nutrition.

Finding the right food combinations is very important.

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Profile picture for maxine50 @maxine50

I had a bag of frozen peas and carrots which I cooked and it did me in the following morning. That I do not understand!!!

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@maxine50

Perhaps you need help in developing an eating plan. Have you considered getting a referral to a registered dietitian at your local hospital?

If you have not done this, it might be quite helpful for you.

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Yes, I understand what you are saying, @trishdep189. There are certain foods that are triggers for pain and flare-ups and soup seems to be the best for me as well.

I have a great recipe for carrot/ginger soup that is easy to make and easier to digest. I use an immersible blender to liquify the carrots and onions. It provides liquids as well as nutrition.

Finding the right food combinations is very important.

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Onions are the worst for me!!!

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Profile picture for ayersg @ayersg

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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The more serious your episode of diverticulitis, the less fiber you should eat. No peas (skin), no blueberries (skin), etc, carrots very well cooked are good. When I was awaiting my colon resection because of a perforated colon, caused by diverticulitis, I would make an instant pot chicken soup with carrots and chicken thighs. I could eat the soft carrots and the juicy, but cooked chicken. I would add noodles to the broth another night and just have soup. When feeling better, I'd take the soup, make a gravy with it and have an open-faced hot chicken sandwich smothered in soup gravy with Bob Evans ready made mashed potatoes... all low fiber, several different meals for the week. I tried to keep portions smaller and eat more frequently.

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