How to live/cope with diverticulosis
Posted , 14 users are following.
I have had what appears to be called "flare-ups" since my mid to late twenties. I am now 31. I finally buckled down and gathered the courage to tell a doctor about it a couple years ago, since I couldn't live with the symptoms I was experiencing. I had a colonoscopy done last year and that's when I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and IBS, luckily no signs of IBD. She flushed the two infections I had and gave me antibiotics. After that, I was given some instruction on changing my diet, eating more fiber, etc. I felt so much better. I felt like I was finally cured, and it would never be a bother again except maybe symptoms from IBS.
This past month I had some symptoms off and on, which I figured to be IBS. Then last week, it had escalated to where I was calling out of work, so I went to my gastro again. I just knew my symptoms were just how they were last year, and suspected another infection. Sure enough, my doctor confirmed what I thought, and I'm back on the antibiotics(Metronidazole, Cipro and Flagyl). My symptoms have improved somewhat. My question is: how do you go about explaining to people what your 'illness' is? I tell most people and they think, oh you just have diarrhea, no big deal. Go to the bathroom and move on with your life. It's very frustrating that no one seems to understand what it's actually like to experience this. When I have a serious episode, I'm wiped out for the day. All I want to do is sleep because I don't have energy to move.
Obviously, I'm going to continue to have 'flare-ups'(yay), so I am trying to figure out the best way to cope with this. Another ongoing discussion is... SEEDS AND NUTS. I'm supposed to shovel fiber into my mouth, but I can't have seeds?... really? How many vegetables and fruits do you know DON'T have seeds?! I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I can't have seeds or nuts ever again for the rest of my life. Also, the recommended fiber supplement is absolutely disgusting.(Konsyl) I guess this is more of a rant/question than anything. Any advice or positive experiences you have would be helpful. Even if it is just an emotional story of your own. Thanks.
0 likes, 16 replies
linda59603 ItsTheFitz
Posted
donna89206 ItsTheFitz
Posted
Then you need to ease into eating food again that your system can tolerate. Cooked, soft lean meat (chickenm mince, etc) with cooked vegetables such as green/yellow beans, squash,mashed potato, soft boiled or scrambled egg etc. that are easy to digest. Canned fruit for dessert. Salads and very fibrous foods will be hard to tolerate at this stage.
To this take 2 doses of Bene-fiber daily. One in the morning and one in the evening to get enough fiber to keep your bowels open and functioning. There are other fiber suppliments out there but this one works for me. You can mix it into tea, coffee, juice, water and it has little or no taste and does not get thick in your drink. You can also add it to soups that are easy to tolerate.
As for your co-workers - tell them that disease is erroding the lining of your bowel and it is very painful. (Which it is)
I was able to work until age 48 and then needed to go on disability and retire. I hope better for you.
Donna
BA21_3RU donna89206
Posted
donna89206 BA21_3RU
Posted
ItsTheFitz donna89206
Posted
BA21_3RU ItsTheFitz
Posted
ItsTheFitz BA21_3RU
Posted
madge07350 ItsTheFitz
Posted
donna89206 madge07350
Posted
Liquid diet is important as I state above, but this or any diet does not solve the problem once you have it. It does reoccur over and over again until such time your bowel has narrowed from repeated attacks that you can no longer pass a stool and the bowel or part of it needs to be removed.
A rotten awful disease research takes very little interest in.
ItsTheFitz madge07350
Posted
madge07350 ItsTheFitz
Posted
DestinyP ItsTheFitz
Posted
ItsTheFitz DestinyP
Posted
maryanne46 ItsTheFitz
Posted
salvagedfaith ItsTheFitz
Posted
I'm so sorry! I can totally empathize and its at least a relief to know we aren't alone in this. I'm trying to figure out how to live with this sometimes debilitating disease too. It's painful and frustrating esp trying to know what I can eat for sure and all the food that I can never eat again. I also suffer almost 24/7 with bad nausea for 11 months now. It's hard to live a normal life and people just don't get it. I've had to call in sick to work so many times in the last year. It's causing me allot of depression and anxiety, esp not knowing how I'm going to feel from hour to hour. Any advice and prayer would be appreciated. I have IBSD, Diverticulosis and also an umbilical hernia.