20 years old....

I so sympathise with you. 

You'll find a wealth of info on here about how to cope with your problem but the first thing is to get a diagnosis so you get the right treatment.

Have you been to the doc? What did they say?

In the meantime I'm afraid you'll have to look at your diet, which might mean changing what you eat a bit. Its important to find out if there is anything triggering it.

I've had to become an expert on food that suits me. 

I might be different to you but I've discovered that an almost veggie diet has helped enormously. With some people though its the opposite so if you don't eat much veg at the moment introduce it slowly and see how you get on.

When I have an attack I stick to a very bland diet like white bread, mashed potato, cheese and fish, milk and yoghurt for a day or two - no veg at all.

But I can't stress enough this is what suits me for my problem so you'll have to talk to the doc before doing drastic changes.

Once you've got it sorted out you'll hopefully be able to have a normal lifeand do all the things you like doing.

Best of luck.

Afternoon,

Sorry to hear your intro to the big D, as you may of read we all have it but it has different effects on people, it took me a month to get back on my feet and eating was not always possible for me as I lost my will to eat, then I was in double trouble as I am diabetic,

I found soup my hero then I slowly added a slice of bread, the pain was unbearable at times, a hot water bottle, paracetamol, and bed rest a must, yes it will go yes you can return to work like me but no heavy lifting,

I keep a food diary as soon as I get a twitch I know the culprit, for me so far its tomatoes, make sure you eat no nuts or seeds I find them bad boys in veg and some fruit .

Don't panic it will get better just give it time, and ys I'm scared it will return to .but do read all posts on here it helped me cope so much

Hi Michael

Poor you, but welcome to the most helpful forum on this illness.  We have all been through what you are experiencing.  Stephanie has said most of the things I would say. But please be reassured that you will feel better and learn to cope with the illness and live a normal life.  I have lived with this for 15 years, and worked full time for 10 of them (I'm retired now).  I also played table tennis to a high standard during this time as well.  You do need to be prepared to experience discomfort for several weeks, or possibly more until the infection and inflammation die down, but they will.

There are things you can do to help yourself.  As Stephanie says, first thing is to see a doctor and have the tests.  That's usually a colonoscopy and/or CT scan.  The colonoscopy is not pleasant but the prep will certainly clear out your system.  Several people have posted their experiences.  The CT scan is much easier.  

Then there are things which will help your bowels.  There is a product called psyllium husk which comes in a powder form (one generic name is Fybogel).  It is orange flavoured, you mix it with water and take once or twice a day.  I get mine on prescription from my GP, or you can buy over the counter (whichever is most cost effective for you).  It bulks up and softens stools, which once you get over the acute stage, you will find really helps to regulate you.  Many people on this forum recommend it.

My dietary experiences differ slightly from Stephanie, but as she says, everyone is different.  I was advised to go gluten free, high fibre and low fat, so that is the diet I follow, with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and liquids.  However the bland diet Stephanie described is the one recommended to reduce the work the bowel has to do, so ideal for you in your current stage or in future attacks.  Many people also recommend pure Aloe Vera juice and probiotic yogurt drinks.  I found aloe vera reduced my pain to twinges within 5 days of starting it.  It's bitter but it only lasts a few seconds.

Most young men your age will enjoy time out with their mates, so you might need to monitor what sort of things affect you.  Nuts and seeds are a well known trigger, as are high fat foods.  If you like takeaways, you might need to become fairly selective, but you'll soon find out your triggers.  Exercise and weight control are also important, so small portions are a good idea, until you learn what your system is happy with.

This will take you time to come to terms with but I'm sure as you feel better you will feel more positive.  I spent a lot of time going through all the posts on this website and it is full of helpful tips and information.  Best wishes.

Michael first off your not alone and the big D is manageable. It's called the North American diet because we humans consume too much red meat and not enough fiber in our diets. It's really simple go to your local store and get psyllium seed aka Metamucil. There are other brand names out there also. These fiber supplements provide fiber related benefits to your digestive track. Your colon is the final piece of your small intestine, and psyllium asssits to keep food moving through the colon so you don't become constipated. Note if the colon is clean you will not have an outbreak of diverticulitis and soluble fiber keeps your colon clean from fecal matter and working properly.

Good luck and keep your head up. This D is not a death sentence and very manageable for you.

I hope by now you are getting past the acute stage, beginning to feel a bit better and regaining your confidence.  We are all here supporting you.  Do let us know if you are feeling better and have found the advice helpful.  All the best.