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 maxine50 @maxine50

I'm trying to eat carefully. Made a salad for dinner so will see how I am tomorrow morning. I think I should take a pill to ensure a BM anyway. I'm sooooo tired from all these incidents.

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It is very tiring when you have to control and think about everything you eat and then feel concerned about incidents, @maxine50.

Do you usually use a stool softener or do you use a laxative?

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

I appreciate your comment, @ayersg. Often it is helpful to maintain a food diary to try and understand what foods might trigger symptoms. Finding the right eating plan is certainly challenging but worth the effort.

If you are comfortable sharing more information, how long have you been dealing with diverticulitis? Have you had any treatments other than changes in your diet?

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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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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

It is very tiring when you have to control and think about everything you eat and then feel concerned about incidents, @maxine50.

Do you usually use a stool softener or do you use a laxative?

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I have taken a laxative a few days ago, but last night I did not to see if two cups of coffee would work in the morning. So far, nothing. I'm so so tired. Just walking is a chore. I feel so exhausted. For breakfast, I ate a Canadian bagel with avocado and a small cup of hot cereal with raisins and so far, nothing is happening. I'll do my emails until something does which would be a miracle. Difficult to just walk with this exhaustion. Maybe, I should just go back to bed.

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

It is very tiring when you have to control and think about everything you eat and then feel concerned about incidents, @maxine50.

Do you usually use a stool softener or do you use a laxative?

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I have taken a laxative at bedtime, but did not last night and nothing happened this morning so far. I guess I should take one each day.

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Profile picture for ayersg @ayersg

There is so much difference of opinion when it comes to fibre I find. My naturopath says high fibre with seeds and nuts are completely fine, the me GP says low fibre, with no seeds or nuts. I’ve just gone to what keeps my bowels moving and me feeling better. That is until I have another flare up.

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It's so confusing. Doctor said to eat lots of fiber. Internet said to eat high fiber. However, when you feel OK, should you eat a low fiber meal? I'm so confused, but I am trying to eat mainly high fiber plus chicken or fish for dinner. Then there are the days when I just eat pasta with pesto sauce because I'm just too tired to cook veggies and more.

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Profile picture for maxine50 @maxine50

It's so confusing. Doctor said to eat lots of fiber. Internet said to eat high fiber. However, when you feel OK, should you eat a low fiber meal? I'm so confused, but I am trying to eat mainly high fiber plus chicken or fish for dinner. Then there are the days when I just eat pasta with pesto sauce because I'm just too tired to cook veggies and more.

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It is difficult to find an eating plan that works. Keep trying @maxine50.

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Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

It is difficult to find an eating plan that works. Keep trying @maxine50.

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I’m just going to enjoy food I like and see what happens

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Profile picture for maxine50 @maxine50

I have taken a laxative at bedtime, but did not last night and nothing happened this morning so far. I guess I should take one each day.

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I take 3 stool softeners everyday and eat a high fiber diet. I do know that chocolate ( my favorite food) is very binding and avoid as much as possible.
But everyday is hit or miss since my surgery.

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Profile picture for trishdep189 @trishdep189

I take 3 stool softeners everyday and eat a high fiber diet. I do know that chocolate ( my favorite food) is very binding and avoid as much as possible.
But everyday is hit or miss since my surgery.

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@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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Profile picture for ayersg @ayersg

There is so much difference of opinion when it comes to fibre I find. My naturopath says high fibre with seeds and nuts are completely fine, the me GP says low fibre, with no seeds or nuts. I’ve just gone to what keeps my bowels moving and me feeling better. That is until I have another flare up.

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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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