Living with diverticulitis: How do I keep it from coming back?

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

ciebrown | @ciebrown | Jun 18, 2023

In reply to @ciebrown "How do you love a normal life. When diverticulitis keeps attacking me. I’ve lost over 20..." + (show)

Juice + what is that.

Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Jun 19, 2023

In reply to @ciebrown "How do you love a normal life. When diverticulitis keeps attacking me. I’ve lost over 20..." + (show)

Hello @ciebrown. I am sorry you are struggling with diverticulitis. There are others here who can understand your situation, so you will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion that you can find here:
- Living with diverticulitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-diverticulitis/

I see others have joined you already to share some of the tips they have found to be helpful. I was also going to ask about your diet and the modifications you've made. What foods have you wholesale eliminated? Perhaps it is time to consider a food journal to see what others may be contributing to feeling worse after consumption. Have you ever tried that before?

samca298 | @samca298 | Jul 8, 2023

Has anyone had an infection in the lower Colon and then a week
Later in the transverse colon? Now I feel like I get them 1x a month. And I am constantly on Augmentin. These are very painful and my GI wants me to get a surgical opinion.

Could it be caffeine ? stress?

samca298 | @samca298 | Jul 8, 2023

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @marshelly1 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear that you are..." + (show)

Hi - I’ve had confirmed diverticulitis at least 6 lc and most recently feels like 1x per month. I’m in severe pain today. Each time I am treated with Augmentin. And last time within 2 weeks I had both transverse and regular diverticulitis.

I don’t want to get a surgical opinion.

Anyone had these issues?

warrendog | @warrendog | Jul 9, 2023

In reply to @samca298 "Has anyone had an infection in the lower Colon and then a week Later in the..." + (show)

Get the surgical opinion! Remember it’s just an opinion and you don’t have to follow through. I had diverticulitis many times. I didn’t want surgery but I ended up extremely sick and had emergency surgery. I had 11 inches of my colon removed because I had an abscess and perforated colon. I had an ostomy bag for 6 months. Thankfully, it was able to he reversed with no issues. I probably would have died without the surgery. If I had gotten a surgical opinion earlier when I was NOT sick, I probably could have had the worst section removed and not needed the bag.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 9, 2023

In reply to @samca298 "Hi - I’ve had confirmed diverticulitis at least 6 lc and most recently feels like 1x..." + (show)

Hello @samca298 and welcome to Connect. You are certainly struggling with diverticulitis and any of us who have had this problem can certainly empathize with you. Often it is difficult to get it under control.

One of the main things to reduce diverticulitis attacks is to avoid constipation. Finding an eating plan that works without causing more pain can be a challenge. For some, a high fiber diet works. For others, a low residue (or low fiber) diet is best. Some laxative products can be helpful (like Miralax) and some of us have found that products that contain Senna can cause more pain.

Have you found any foods or activities that are triggers for your diverticulitis episodes? What are you currently doing to control constipation?

ciebrown | @ciebrown | Jul 9, 2023

In reply to @warrendog "Get the surgical opinion! Remember it’s just an opinion and you don’t have to follow through...." + (show)

Guys this is where I am with all of this as. Well. Imma have to get mine removed also I have had 4 episodes in 4 months. I’m so scared to do it. But I have cause c diff and lost my job due to having a new problem every other day it’s crazy. Look in to surgery before it gets too late. I’m telling u now. This isn’t fun.

maxine50 | @maxine50 | Jul 21, 2023

In reply to @ayersg "Thank you for your comment. I have had to resort to antibiotics when things have gotten..." + (show)

Thanks. What is The Butyric? I need a better pain pill than ibuprophen but don't know what. Any suggestions?

nealm | @nealm | Dec 31, 2023

In reply to @hopeful33250 "@marionclark I appreciate you sharing your journey with diverticulitis. It certainly has been a challenging time..." + (show)

Hi.
My diverticulitis episodes have affected different areas of my entire colon also. I am still trying to figure out my triggers. I wish there was a list of the most guilty foods that cause people to have flare ups.
Thanks for the info on the low residue/low fiber diet.
Are you strictly on this low residue diet, or only when you have an episode?
Thanks
Neal

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 1, 2024

In reply to @nealm "Hi. My diverticulitis episodes have affected different areas of my entire colon also. I am still..." + (show)

Hi @nealm,

I have found that if I use the low residue diet the majority of the time, I feel much better. For me, the abdominal pain has been reduced from an 8 or 9 most every day down to a 2 or zero on a regular basis. I cannot suggest that it would be that effective for everyone, but in my case, it works very well.

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