Omlet cube and run

[merlina]

I'm writing this as I've become convinced that omleteers know absolutely everything!

 

Last week was truly horrid, after having nasty pains I was sent to hospital where they kept me for the best part of a week.

I could do a bit of a rant about some of that, but I'll behave

 

Anyway, a CT scan finally diagnosed acute diverticulitis. I was discharged shortly afterwards with some antibiotics, painkillers and precisely no instructions on what I'm supposed to do now to manage this.

 

I've had a rummage online, and the advice seems to be not to eat for a few days. But I was eating in hospital (apart from when I had to stop eating for various tests) and no-one said not to eat anything or to eat anything particular. I've assumed I work this out on trial and error, but with the rather dire consequences of this getting worse or repeated attacks, I'm rather nervous!

 

I don't know anyone who has or has had this so am a bit stumped on where to go next

(I shall try and make a GP appointment, but as the GP diagnosed this as a hernia, which, obviously it isn't, I'm not terribly confident of their expertise)

 

Would love any thoughts/suggestions

[Couperwife]

sorry, dont know anything about this, just stepped in really to say that I hope you feel better soon and (((hugs)))

 

cathy

x

[Lavenders_Blue]

No experience of this myself, but my Mum was diagnosed with diverticulitis a year or so ago, after she had been really struggling too.

She more or less worked out by trial and error what helps her and what makes it worse. One thing she has found is that she can't tolerate much by way of carbs now - bread, rice, pasta etc and that goes for both refined and wholegrain varieties. She does still have them, but in very small amounts.

She has found keeping fibre intake up to be helpful too, although as she's not eating many carbs this means more fruit/veg etc.

She also finds smaller portions to be beneficial - if she eats too much it makes her feel very unwell. Little and often seems to work better.

I don't know if the triggers would be the same for everyone, but that is what has helped her.

[freddie]

I'm probably out of date, but when I did my training (food Tech) yrs ago. Tomatoes, anything highly spiced, anything acidic, , or with hard to digest bits, seem to flare it up. Try looking for a forum, or better still, go onto any Australian medical site, as they go for plain english, easy to understand advice. Poor you, it hurts, and now you can't even comfort eat:(

[Angie]

This will be a bit of trial and error, it varies from person to person.

A well balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg . It used to be five aday but we prefer at least 8.

Whole grain , nuts and cereals are good but some people find they get a bit bloated if they have too much which can create more pain and discomfort.

Wholemeal breads and pasta rather than white.....you need a high fibre diet but Bran can sometimes make your symptoms worse.

Drink plenty of water , you may need to take extra fibre in form of a soluable fibre drink,( possibly a stool softener too to avoid straining due to the dreaded constipation)...sorry to be blunt

Brown rice is better, and as said smaller regular meals .

[Plum]

Everything Angie said and here's a link to get you started.

[kinsk]

A colleague I work with was diagnosed with it a few years ago, but it was only 100% confirmed after a camera investigation, can't think what the actual procedure was called.

 

He was advised to use a fibre supplement that he sprinkles onto his cereal in the morning to help.

 

They way he explained it to me was that it meant there were distended pockets in the lower intenstine ( a bit like a laybye) which meant waste products could 'pocket', by increasing the fibre in your diet there is more bulk being processed which means the pockets gets dragged along for the ride and so don't get to sit and fester.

[pips_pekins]

Everything Angie said and here's a link to get you started.

 

I agree too!

 

Until you find what you can and can't tolerate, it is horrible. I am ok with spicy things and tomatoes so I think it is finding out what is ok for you. I have a friend who also has it and she can't eat eggs but I have no problem with eggs (thank goodness as I am currently overwelcomed with them!) I can eat any rice, white or brown but try to avoid potatoes and totally avoid pasta now as I have found I cannot tolerate it at all. I take a little pot of dried fruit and nuts to work and snack on those throughout the day. I eat wholemeal bread but am avoiding white bread just in case. Smaller meals and snacking during the course of the day rather than focusing on a big meal in the evening seem to help me as well. I always have breakfast and make time for lunch and then have less in the evening.

 

Hope you find what suits you soon.

[Deb Dav]

I was diagnosed with diverticular disease last year, after the doctor initially sending me for a scan on my ovaries

 

It is quite a common disease, where pouches stick out wards from the large intestine, usually developed due to localised pressure on a weak area of the bowel and is associated with chronic constipation and a low intake of fibre. Sometime the diverticular become inflamed and this causes extreme pain, diarrhoea and fever. I know when I have an attack, I can't move or walk and bent over in pain - if one or more diverticulum are inflamed then it is called diverticulitis.

 

You have to modify the fibre content of you diet to help improve your symptoms. For me I had to improve on my intake of fruit, vegetables and cereals. If you have an attack, beware that fibre may act as an irritant and you should then have a low fibre diet temporarily until symptoms subside.

 

Touch wood - I haven't had an attack for over a year now I think doing slimming world has definitely helped me due to improving on eating more fruit and vege. Plus I still eat spicy food but add more vege like spinach.

 

Good luck and take care!

[lizinsa]

Poor you! My Gran suffers from it and it does seem to go in phases. When she has an attack she's found drinking aloe vera juice helps as it is supposed to sooth your insides but also help food pass through. Everyone seems to have different 'trigger' foods but eating little and often helps keep everything running and then as others have said adjust WHAT you eat if you have a flare up.

 

Hope it all settles down, I've seen how uncomfortable it is and I'm currently suffering from C-diif so know how constraining gastrointestinal problems are and just how much conflicting advice there is! I agree that Omlet seems to be the fountain of all knowledge though!

[merlina]

Many thanks for all the replies

 

I'm very relieved that people can still tolerate spicy food!

 

Have been to the health shop and got aloe vera, peppermint and probiotics - all supposed to help and can't do any harm.

 

The ironic thing is I've always had a fairly high fibre diet and not had any of the factors that are supposed to lead to this - apart from being overweight (but they seem to blame everything from pimples to pneumonia on a few extra pounds these days )

 

The doctor has given me another 10 days of antibiotics. I still have a very swollen tummy which doesn't hurt like it did, but is pretty unpleasant - and I'm supposed to go back to work on Weds

[Lesley]

I have it as a part of the genetic EDS we have in the family but haven't had a flare up for a while now.

 

As others have said it manifests itself in different ways in different people and you'll find out by trial and error....hopefully, not too many errors. The book I have says the only common no-no is popcorn and all sufferers seem to have problems with it!

 

I keep to low carb, avoid wheat to an extent and high fibre really doesn't suit me. After years of eating wholemeal bread I found that white suited me better....same with rice.

[Tiggy]

soluble fibre, oats are good, This is a disease of the western world, too much processed food too long away from the natural world, following a Mediterranean diet helps. Good luck, it makes you feel bloated and horrid

[Lara and Frey]

My grandma has it and she has to avoid or limit acidic foods and drinks. I hope you're not a big fan of coffee and orange juice. I hope you get things sorted. Also Aloe Vera juice may help. I know it helps with alot of digestive complaints as it helps to coat and calm things. It might be worth a try or atleast looking into it more. You can get it from most health food places.