Posted , 9 users are following.
Hullo all,
So, I'm wondering how many folk have had one attack and that's it? According to my GI doc that's the way it is with most people. However, my online research seems to indicate that's a bit bullsh*t. I personally think I won't be so lucky as I've had GI issues my entire life (going b/t the runs and constipation. That said, I'd like to know others thoughts on this? Cheers, Jacob
0 likes, 14 replies
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mjf3814 jacob0373
Posted
Well, the people who post invariably have more than one attack but I have no idea of the % of people who don't have another attack so don't post! It skews the forum. All I can say is I went 8 years between attacks 1 & 2, and 6 years between 2 & 3. I never posted until attacks 4 - 6! But you would be best advised to follow a healthy eating plan, lose weight if necessary, drink loads of water, and exercise. Anyone (and I mean that generally, not specifically) who lives a poor lifestyle and diet, is poking the rattlesnake, and it will bite you in the ### (literally)!
jayne63223 jacob0373
Posted
I had 3 attacks from April to September Infection was smoldering The last mega doses put me in the hospital with C diffI will not take FLAGYL or antibiotics orally again but go straight to ER for IV All this happened in 2018 and I have had no episodes this year NEVER will i eat popcorn No corn, few nuts but i do eat tomatoes Hope this helps
j_09263 jacob0373
Posted
I believe it is only 20% of all people get it more than once and those cases are more likely to be people who ended up in emergency but not all. As someone else said most of the people who respond here have it more then once. You can do things to help try to avoid another attack like eating a high fibre diet (30+ grams a day), don't get constipated and never strain on the toilet.
I hope you feel better soon.
jayne63223 jacob0373
Posted
also the surgeon i saw in hospital and afterward for followup visit said to take Benefiber n drink water I ALSO take a probiotic
jacob0373
Posted
I'm 46, fit, a runner. I eat loads of veggies, etc. That said, I will add extra fiber to my diet. I'm not at all over weight. I'm 6ft tall and 165 lbs. I lost one stone because of this bloody attack grrr! I'm just now adding more veggies and fruit to my meals. Just got off the low fiber diet b/c of this attack. I work out 6x a week so I'm baffled by this diagnosis. I'll tell you lot this much I won't wait until things get really bad. If I so much as have a feeling of another attack I'll opt for the resection. Living like this is utter b******s!
mjf3814 jacob0373
Posted
You're clearly doing all the right things already, so I can understand the frustration of "why me?" It's now come to be accepted that there can be a genetic component to developing the disease - I have family members who've followed a healthy lifestyle and still ended up with it. But don't jump into a resection without doing all the research. You'll find many posts where all goes well, but others where there are complications. It's major surgery and can come back further up the colon. You are clearly US based where you have the option, unlike the UK. But I hope you never have another attack.
jacob0373 mjf3814
Posted
Yeah mate ex-pat here. Manc by birth😁👍🏼. American healthcare isn't the NHS for sure. I'd take the NHS over this sh**e any day tbf. I'm guessing my gene pool is proper F'd tbh...Im Jewish and Crohns runs in our family so I'm all to aware of nasty GI issues. Imho if the scope in 4 weeks looks bad, meaning my sigmoid colon looks riddled with issues I'd opt for the resection as long as there's a favourable outcome. Having these cramps, and fevers, during a flare is horrendous. My CT showed one single infected diverticuli with microperforation. I was in hospital for four days. I had awful chills and upon admissions a fever of 101.5 I never want to experience this type of pain again.
mjf3814 jacob0373
Posted
Yup, that was a bad one. I've been left rolling on the floor in agony, but never admitted, although close to it. If just the sigmoid is affected I think the outcome of resection is better than if it's already spread further. Keep your fingers crossed in 4 weeks time.
Rhiannon_5000 jacob0373
Posted
Jacob i was an extremely fit 62 year old life long vegetarian and healthy eater. I had digestive jssues for years though. I didn't have many attacks( my doc said it was IBS ) until the one that put me in hospital. .I was discharged from hospital and told I would be fine. But I had developed an abscess and my bowel had perforated and nobody realised. Ive since had a resection. I work in a hospital as a volunteer and i haven't come across many who only have it once. Maybe you will be lucky.
angela55814 jacob0373
Posted
I had my first attack on holiday in Florida 5 yrs ago. Scary as lost a clot of blood and ended up in ER. Back home a colonoscopy diagnosed diverticulitis which had healed by itself with no antibiotics. Have only had two flare ups since then both with bloody mucus and pain (sorry gross I know) I cut out all fibre and had a bland diet until it passed but I never took antibiotics only paracetamol.
I know a lot of people are told not to eat corn,pips and certain foods but at the time of colonoscopy my consultant (private specialist in this field) told me to eat whatever I wanted as it had been dispelled that certain food caused flare ups. I'm quite confused by all the different advice but after 5 yrs of eating as I like and only 2 flare ups I consider myself lucky when I read of all the horrible symptoms and flare ups other people suffer.
Guest angela55814
Posted
You honestly had REAL diverticulitis medically proven and each time you didn't take antibiotics and you had blood and mucous with each ? SO hard to believe! I get sever deep hard pains like labor pains so close and non stop righ below navel in middle ! I also get the blood and mucous 😦
I asking this because I am allergic to like 90@ or so of antibiotics DEADLY to penicillin and all its cousins and family! Also a list of any others I can't take, and flagyal spelled wrong , kicks my booty with its tons of scary side affects and makes me soooo dizzy and makes my head jerk~!
angela55814
Posted
I can assure you I definetely had diverticulitis flare up. Incidently this doesnt always need treating with antibiotics. when it first occurrd on holiday in Florida they were not sure of the problem and I was advised to see my GP for a colonoscopy when I got home at no time was I given antibiotics. Had a colonoscopy a week later when I got back to UK and was told I had DD ( that had caused the problem in USA) that had healed by itself. The two other flare ups in last 5 yrs was told to go on a liquid diet for a few days and then n a bland diet with no fibre. In both cases it settled without antibiotics. Obviously if it hadnt settled I would have sought further advice and then may have been prescribed antibiotics. My nephew is a Dr and he said this isnt unusual! Yes I definetely have DD but I guess everyone is different.
john89157 angela55814
Posted
How long did your flare up last?
vic_07103 jacob0373
Posted
jacob,
i never had any attacks , NONE! until i had just one. I had one attack--bowel perforated-- had the resection under emergency surgery. That added months to recovery. don't wait for that, .... schedule it if the doc recommends it ....soooo now i realize it's NOT just about eating healthy food--which i did too.. It is about drinking lots of water , hopefully the required amount , it helps prevent straining & straining causes pouches which causes DIVI & IT IS also about balanced food intake w recommended daily fiber ... also prevents DIVI ..... i was told since it took a lifetime to develop the disease, the chances of me getting it again were zero❤