Diverticular

Hi Jean

Don't eat tomatoes or anything with seeds in.

Kiwi, nuts, strawberries, seeded bread etc.

You have a risk of one of these little chaps getting stuck in the dv. This can lead to an absess! You really don't want to risk this., believe me we have been through the mill with this and my mum who now has a bag due to a perforated absess and infections etc. Drink plenty and take fiber in the form of weetabix and orange juice etc don't eat anything like skins that won't disolve like bake beans.

Hi Jean. I think unfortunately food triggers are diff for everyone. The doctors can't even tell you for sure what foods to avoid. I think my diverticulitis was caused by a sluggish bowel. I was reg for 6 yes. Quit my job to stay home with my children and my bowels stopped moving, my daily routine changed so did my movements. I really think if you keep your bowels moving it will help avoid another attack. The only food I do avoid is popcorn only because a lot of people on the forums say they have flares after and I don't want to take that chance. I do eat tomatoes.. not right after an attack.. I do limit seed intake but I don't cut things out. Hope I helped.

Hi Jean

Hollie is right when she says that triggers are unique to each person.  For me the triggers are gluten and full fat, and I can eat foods like baked beans which others cannot.  Seeds, pips, nuts, popcorn to seem to be the most common triggers, but for others it is dairy or red meat.  Your best bet is to keep a food diary so you can identify when you have pain, and what you ate beforehand, to eliminate and identify foods.

No need to give up tomatoes completely without a little experiment.  Simply remove the skin by pouring boiling water over it for 20 seconds, then peeling off.  Then all you need to do is quarter and de-seed, much like you would do with a cucumber.  You should be able to eat the rest OK.  If it still triggers pain afterwards, then unfortunately it goes on the avoid list!

The best thing though is to make sure your colon is emptied fully and regularly, so no nasty bits get stuck and cause an infection.  Many of us take psyllium husk in the form of a flavoured powder mixed in a tumbler of water and chugged down immediately.  I have the orange flavoured one and taken the way I described it tastes a bit like watery squash.  Just don't leave it as it thickens very quickly into a slimy jelly.  Better it should do that inside rather than out!!  It bulks up and softens the stools and makes them easier to pass.  I take it twice a day, and for the first time in my life I "go" about an hour after getting up regular as clockwork.  Many report an increased frequency throughout the day - that applies to me as well - but it certainly keeps the system clear.

I suggest you seek out the post by Julia1040 on diet, which others have added to, and try out the suggestions.  Hopefully then you can devise your own safe eating plan.  Best wishes.

Yes tomatoes are bad for you also cucumber ,lettuce, bake beans , and windy veg ,spicy food but I do now and again have a mild curry but suffer after and just found out raw carrots . Every one is different but ehen you think about it you want food that's easy to digest

I am a nurse and have read many evidence based articles regarding the relationship of food and diverticulitis. I have also spoken with surgeons and GI doctors who agree with the literature that there are no foids that cause diverticulitis! It is caused by bacteria in the feces called ecoli. When poop gets trapped in the diverticulum or pouches in your colon, an infection occurs. The best advice I can give you is to not get constipated. Stagnant poop causes the ecoli bacteria to proliferate and cause infection. With that being said, keep a diary of the foids you were eating, the 24 hrs leading up to your flare up. You may or may not find a correlation. I hope this info helps! Feel better!