What are the recommended amounts of daily intake of both soluble and insoluble fiber for patients with tortuous colon? I realize this has to be somewhat individual, but wonder what a good starting point would be for both types.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, courtneyt
@virginia44 After I gave my initial response, I found an article from the NIH website that you might find interesting, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5635100/.
My diverticulosis is also of the sigmoid colon (this is quite common). Yes, diverticulitis is when the diverticula become inflamed and infection and pain results.
What types of symptoms do you have?
I only do clear liquids during an episode, then once symptoms seem to be resolving, soft foods, scrambled eggs, pudding, mashed potatoes, bananas, applesauce. Boost Breeze is a clear supplement that is my go to. 250 calories and 9 grams of protein. I can't find it in stores, but available on Amazon. It is wwhat Mayo gave me when I was hospitalized. Now that all that intestine has been removed(Deloyers Procedure), not having the issues, which is great, although there are still some foods I need to avoid
Mostly painful cramping and diarrhea if I eat any of the things I used to be able to eat on a regular basis: lots of fruits, vegetables, spicey things. That is simply gone from my life. I can only eat a few very bland veggies, same with fruit. So I try to include fiber like barley, quinoa. Frustrating. Difficult to balance as from time to time I get it wrong and have unexpected and unpredictable bouts.
Liked by JK, Alumna Mentor, courtneyt
I'm going to ask my doctors about this surgery. Nothing was mentioned about this, but it sounds like a possible option for me. I am getting frustrated. My activities now have to be very limited. Can't travel like I used to, have to plan diet very carefully ahead of any group activities, meetings, family outings.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, JK, Alumna Mentor, thull
Hello @virginia44
Let's check with @thull and see if she has any information about the surgery she had. She has referred to it as the Deloyers Procedure, however, I do not find information about it on Mayo's website. How are you feeling now, @thull?
Liked by virginia44
I am actually feeling great! Slowly gaining my weight back and eating normally. I still have certain foods that can bother me, but that is typical with IBS, which I have had for years. You can google Deloyers procedure and it gives a good description, and from what I have read, positive long term outcomes. There seems to be a faster turn around time as I had so much large intestine removed, but I plan my day and meals where I have bathroom access should the need arise. I think about where I was a year ago with all this…what a difference! It is nice to not be afraid to eat anymore!
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, JK, Alumna Mentor, virginia44
Yes, Mayo in Phoenix. Dr Rhee was the resident surgeon, but Dr Mishra is the ColoRectal surgeon who oversaw everything and was in the operating room. Very thankful to have a specialist .
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, virginia44
Thank you for the info. In need to think all of this over in the near future. I don't live anywhere near either Mayo Clinic, but it is reasonable to have a top level specialist for a surgery like this.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, JK, Alumna Mentor
As @hopeful33250 said, there is nothing on the Mayo site about this but there is on the NCBI site — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22469806. It's pretty complex sounding for a layperson though.
NCBI is National Center for Biotechnology Information, and part of the National Institue of Health.
@thull Is tortuous colon related to IBS? I ask because I am trying to figure out now if I have IBS or a simple lactose intolerance. I seem to have days when I have scrupulously avoided dairy and still have a problem. It's not every day, but this sure is a nuisance.
JK
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, courtneyt
@virginia44 There are 3 Mayo facilities, Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. Here is information on requesting an appointment, https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/international/appointments.
You can certainly check in your local community, especially if you have a university medical school nearby. They may have some specialists there as well that you could consult with.
Will you keep in touch and post an update when you have more information?
@hopeful33250
Hello @virginia44 and welcome to Mayo Connect,
You have asked a very good question about fiber requirements for those of us who have diverticulitis.
Your doctor should, of course, be your guide in this matter of diet for diverticulitis. However, during an attack of diverticulitis, fiber should be eliminated until your symptoms are under control. Most of us, during an attack of diverticulitis, practice a liquid diet (or somewhat close to that) or very soft foods at least. For me, that includes liquid nutrition shakes, smoothies (without fiber), broth (bone broth is high in protein), etc. After the diverticulitis attack is over then I have soft foods for a few days, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, bananas, etc. I would like to invite @thull to this discussion as she has had lots of experience with diets for diverticulitis as well.
Here is some information from Mayo Clinic's website regarding diet for diverticulitis, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/diverticulitis-diet/art-20048499.
Here is some information regarding the correlation between diverticulitis and tortuous colon, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5635100/
As you are comfortable sharing more, how many bouts of diverticulitis have you had, @virginia44? How are you feeling now?