Diverticulitis

I recently spent 7 days in the hospital recovering from an especially severe case of diverticulitis. There are three stages to the problem, when not showing any symptoms you have diverticulosis (this is the structure in whih diverticilitis can form.), when showing symptoms (abdomonal pain fever cramps. ect.) this is diverticulitis, and recover this is after the diverticulitis has subsided.

When you are sure you have diverticulosis the main idea is prevention of the inflamation (diverticulitis). I have seen all kinds of foods on peoples "forbidden" list, mostly online and unreliable (I see the irony). During my recovery I was consulted by my surgeon and his dietician. I got three definite answers from them for what not to eat- popcorn, nuts and seeds. The logic behind this is anything small and hard that can get lodged into the protruding pouch structure can irritate and inflame. The dietician told me that seeds on strawberries zucchini tomatoes were fine as they were far more digestible than other seeds, but sesame seeds like on hamburger buns were a no no. I have eaten many hamburgers without the top bun lately.

You should have a high fiber diet that lessens the chance of any possible food you have eaten that might irritate the pouches of lodging into the pouch because of increased speed of material through he colon. Always consult a physician. I have read online of people listing forbidden foods varied as tomato juice (they gave it to me in the hospital) to cheese, broccoli and spicy foods. I was told that spicy foods would worsen an already irritated situation but when recovered in moderation was not a problem.

During an attack (the actual diverticulitis) first see a physician if early enough treatment can range from a liquid diet and rest to antibiotics an maybe painkillers if needed. My attack was severe and I was put on an extreme I.V. antibiotic treatment and only ate ice chips for 5 days. The less your colon works in this stage the faster and more complete your healing will be.

During recovery you should start with liquids plus jello (no solids in the jello) or pudding for a couple of days. When starting solid foods think bland. You should eat soft stuff like mashed potatoes, pureed soups, cream of wheat, mashed fruits, scrambled eggs, things that are partially broken down (mashed) so you wont make the colon work as hard. Slowly introduce harder stuff poached chicken, hamburger steak, baked fish. Just be thoughtful of the seasoning even a lot of salt and pepper can irritate the once infected area. During recovery is when you are most at risk to have another flare up and I have been told inflammations during recovery onset faster and are more painful.

To my knowledge you can not have popcorn, corn, and or nuts and seeds. I have it as well and I can not have any of these. So I try to stay away from it at all cost, even though I crave it, just like the other day I wanted sunflower seeds, but I know that I have this condition so I can not have it. It just all depends on how bad it is, but what works for me is to just not have it. What I found was that Cheetos has puffed popcorn in cheese flavor and butter flavor. So if you are craving popcorn I would suggest it.

No, it as not a significant effect on gram negative and anaerobic bacterias. We usually use Metronidazole with Ciprofloxacin.

Avoid fiber when diverticulitis is acting up. Invest in a good probiotic. Everyone reacts a bit different to different foods, if a food reacts badly, avoid it. Over cooked meat is also very hard to digest and can sit in a colon too long creating bacteria. Bananas are a great food for most sufferers as is applesauce. Stay away from nuts and anything with seeds as well. Yogurt is also a good food to eat. Drink plenty of filtered water. Tofu is also easy on the colon yet can cause gas...taking an antigas before eating can help.

I have had this problem for a couple years now and maintain quite well. Another good tip is to not eat a lot at one time, small meals and snacks throughout the day are best. Also, do not eat a couple hours before going to bed.

You could be just having that sensation without really having stool (tenesmus). You could be constipated or could be having a narrowing. You should speak to your doctors.

YES

Probiotics and plenty of water no less than twice per day is much more important!

The discussion at the link below provides a good introduction to Aloe Vera AMP and has a link to an extensive comparison of brands of aloe vera. I disagree with the above statement and think aloe vera AMP is as important and possibly more important than any treatment.

You must follow an adequate diet, avoiding sugars, excess of milk, excess of fibers.

Stay in bed until full recovery, and get directions from your doctor, pharmacist, friends.

That depends on what stage of the 'diet' you are; the first stage is fibre-free, whereas the second is high fibre. Both require very different diets. Your doctor should advise you whether you're low or high fibre.

Inflammation of a diverticulum (which is an outpouching in the colon).

inflammation of the herniations [diverticula] in the intestinal wall.

Apple cider vinegar can cause diverticulitis because of the acid content. However, at times it can help to cure it if it balances out the pH in the person's body.

Colitis is not related to diverticulosis. Colitis is due to inflammation of the colon and diverticulosis is due to high intra luminal pressure causing diverticulum in the colon, and is caused by constipation from inadequate roughage in the diet.

Stool softeners are often recommended for individuals with diverticulitis to help ease bowel movements and reduce straining, which can exacerbate symptoms. However, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice, as treatment may vary based on the severity of the condition and individual health needs. A high-fiber diet and adequate hydration are also important for managing diverticulitis. Always follow your doctor's recommendations regarding medication and dietary adjustments.

Diverticulitis primarily affects the digestive system and is characterized by inflammation or infection of diverticula in the colon. While it typically does not cause breathing problems directly, severe abdominal pain or complications like abscesses could lead to discomfort that might affect breathing patterns. Additionally, if diverticulitis leads to significant complications, such as perforation, it could indirectly impact respiratory function. However, breathing issues are not a common symptom of diverticulitis itself.

Hypoglycemia is not directly caused by diverticulitis, which is an inflammation of the diverticula in the digestive tract. However, if diverticulitis leads to complications such as infection, bowel obstruction, or significant changes in dietary intake, it could indirectly affect blood sugar levels. Additionally, certain medications used to manage diverticulitis symptoms might also contribute to fluctuations in blood glucose. Overall, while there's no direct link, the overall health impact of diverticulitis can influence blood sugar management.