1. < Digestive Health

Diverticulitis and colectomy

Posted by monicajones @monicajones, May 15, 2018

Has anyone had part of their intestine removed? I have diverticulitis and sometimes I still experience discomfort and constipation.

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

gailfaith | @gailfaith | May 31, 2018

Hi Teresa, @gailfiath here. I started this before and I got interrupted and when I got back to the computer what I had written was gone. SO you may have seen the start of this already. Be careful when you cut out white bread, white potatoes, pasta and white rice. While I was in skilled care here at the retirement community where I live due to a scooter accident, I was eating up a storm (gained 10 pounds) but because I am prediabetic I never ate any of those 4 things. And indeed when they tested my blood sugars, they were within normal range. About a month after I got back to my own home, in the middle of the night I turned over in the bed and had a severe vertigo attack. . About a month later, I mentioned it to a friend and she said the she also has some vertigo symptoms but someone told her it might be related to a low carb diet. She wrote that her symptoms got better but not cured, but mine was completely wiped out. I went to a physical therapist who specializes in treating vertigo, and no matter what he did to me, we couldn't get it to happen again. After she told me about the lo carbs, I ate one slice of whole wheat bread and a wheat pretzel daily for several days.!!!!!!!!

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1 reply
frane1939 | @frane1939 | May 31, 2018
In reply to @monicajones "I had a foot of my intestine removed in feb. So far so good. But I..." + (show)
@monicajones

I had a foot of my intestine removed in feb. So far so good. But I just had an ultrasound last week and just found out that my liver in enlarged and fatty. I’m pre diabetic and I was told to watch my carbs and sugar. Any suggestions on what to eat and can my liver go back to normal?

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My husband started drinking lemon with water the first thing in the morning as it stated that it cleanses the liver ad kidneys. Check it out on google. He had been having issues with the liver and was given several shots for preventing sclerosis. (he had been a heavy drinker). He was checked again after and was told he had the liver of a baby. Insofar as your eating habits, have you tried Paleo? It is primarily gluten free but it does eliminate sugar and carbs mostly as well as processed foods which are lethal. I got off of sugar following the Paleo for 28 days. When I did eat something with sugar (a chocolate cup), I did not feel well afterwards. I think one should have a script to buy sugar. Good luck.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 31, 2018

@monicajones Hello Monica:

I found some great articles from Mayo Clinic about diabetes, diabetic eating plans and if you are prediabetic this should be good eating plan for you. Here are the links, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-diet/art-20044295 and http://www.battlediabetes.com/articles/diet/mayo-clinic-diabetic-diet and http://www.battlediabetes.com/articles/diet/mayo-clinic-diabetic-diet

I don't know much about the fatty liver issue and if it will go back to normal or not (this would be a good question to ask your doctor), but following a diabetic diet will undoubtedly be good for your liver as it has fewer carbs.

From a practical standpoint (I am prediabetic also) I have found that the less "white-stuff" I eat the healthier I feel. I try to keep potatoes, bread, rice, pasta at a minimum (or none at all if possible). These are the carbs that tend to turn to sugar after digestion.

Here is a link to Connect discussions on Diabetes. As you read through some of the posts you might find some helpful ideas, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/diabetes-and-endocrine-problems/

I wish you good eating and good health! I look forward to hearing from you again and hear how you are doing.

Teresa

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monicajones | @monicajones | May 31, 2018

I had a foot of my intestine removed in feb. So far so good. But I just had an ultrasound last week and just found out that my liver in enlarged and fatty. I’m pre diabetic and I was told to watch my carbs and sugar. Any suggestions on what to eat and can my liver go back to normal?

REPLY
3 replies
monicajones | @monicajones | May 30, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@1942daa I so agree with your reply! While I have never had surgery for diverticulitis, I..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@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

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Feb 21, 2018. I’m doing good! Thank you!

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 29, 2018
In reply to @frane1939 "After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in..." + (show)
@frane1939

After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in the area (left lower side) must be on a nerve as I can hardly walk from the pain. I started the meds (flagyl and cipro) when I started feeling the pain. I admit I only took it at night with the hope that it would start the healing process as I hate the taste I get from the flagyl. Well, it did not work and for 5 days I have been on the flagyl 3 times a day and the cipro 2 times a day. I feel as though I am getting worse, not better. I have started using a cane as I can hardly stand the pain. I have decided if no better, I will call the doctor in the am as today being Memorial day, getting a doctor is almost impossible and I am not too interested in sitting in a hospital emergency room for hours.

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@frane1939 I'm glad that you will be seeing the doctor.

If you can, please let us know how you are doing. I look forward to hearing from you.

Teresa

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frane1939 | @frane1939 | May 29, 2018
In reply to @frane1939 "After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in..." + (show)
@frane1939

After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in the area (left lower side) must be on a nerve as I can hardly walk from the pain. I started the meds (flagyl and cipro) when I started feeling the pain. I admit I only took it at night with the hope that it would start the healing process as I hate the taste I get from the flagyl. Well, it did not work and for 5 days I have been on the flagyl 3 times a day and the cipro 2 times a day. I feel as though I am getting worse, not better. I have started using a cane as I can hardly stand the pain. I have decided if no better, I will call the doctor in the am as today being Memorial day, getting a doctor is almost impossible and I am not too interested in sitting in a hospital emergency room for hours.

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Thanks for your post. I have made an appointment to see the docl However, cannot get in until thursday. Meanwhile, I have enough meds to last one more day. Hopefully, it will be cleared up by the time I see him. Today, I think I feel a bit better.

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frane1939 | @frane1939 | May 29, 2018
In reply to @gailfaith "Hi frame1939 As someone who suffered for years with on and off diverticulitis I can understand..." + (show)
@gailfaith

Hi frame1939 As someone who suffered for years with on and off diverticulitis I can understand your frustration. However, I noted that you are also taking cipro. Caution: This may not apply to you, but back in the 1970's I had taken Cipro several times and ended up with bilateral biceps rupture. The diagnosis was confirmed by 2 doctors. About 3 yrs later it showed up in the Physician 's Deck Reference , that cipro has been knows to cause tendon rupture but usually it is the achilleas tendon. So note if you start having pain in a joint, (in addition to abdominal paiin see a doc. ) However both of my biceps tore a year apart and from the start of pain until the rupture, it took 4 and 3 months. During that time, the doctors thought I just had a bad shoulder, but the pain only got worse with time until the ruptures. If the joint pain stops, look for blood around where the pain was which confirms the rupture. If the pain in in the achilleas tendon, that needs surgery to repair. IF in the shoulder as mine was, both doctors said, "nothing could or SHOULD be done." . I had no perceptive loss of strength! @gailfaith

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Thanks for your reply. I wonder if that is why I am having so much pain in the groin area and down my leg. My leg even feels numb at times. I thought the swelling in my colon was pressing on nerves, causing the intense pain in my leg.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 29, 2018
In reply to @frane1939 "After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in..." + (show)
@frane1939

After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in the area (left lower side) must be on a nerve as I can hardly walk from the pain. I started the meds (flagyl and cipro) when I started feeling the pain. I admit I only took it at night with the hope that it would start the healing process as I hate the taste I get from the flagyl. Well, it did not work and for 5 days I have been on the flagyl 3 times a day and the cipro 2 times a day. I feel as though I am getting worse, not better. I have started using a cane as I can hardly stand the pain. I have decided if no better, I will call the doctor in the am as today being Memorial day, getting a doctor is almost impossible and I am not too interested in sitting in a hospital emergency room for hours.

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Hello @nanny23

I appreciate your adding to our discussion on diverticulitis. Those of us with chronic diverticulitis have similar problems. When you say that the Metamucil aggravates the Barrett's esophagus (BE), what exactly are you referring to? I'm not familiar with the symptoms of BE, so I'm not sure what kinds of problems you are having when you use the Metamucil.

Teresa

REPLY
monicajones | @monicajones | May 28, 2018
In reply to @frane1939 "After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in..." + (show)
@frane1939

After writing about my colon resection, I have a bad episode of diverticulitis. The swelling in the area (left lower side) must be on a nerve as I can hardly walk from the pain. I started the meds (flagyl and cipro) when I started feeling the pain. I admit I only took it at night with the hope that it would start the healing process as I hate the taste I get from the flagyl. Well, it did not work and for 5 days I have been on the flagyl 3 times a day and the cipro 2 times a day. I feel as though I am getting worse, not better. I have started using a cane as I can hardly stand the pain. I have decided if no better, I will call the doctor in the am as today being Memorial day, getting a doctor is almost impossible and I am not too interested in sitting in a hospital emergency room for hours.

Jump to this post

Thank you!

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