Diverticulitis attack.

I was exactly the same way with the first attack I had and was in the hospital.  Determined the it was the Cipro tI that i couldn't handle orally, so when I have had much milder attacks, the doctor has given me just flagyl which is doable (I only take half the amount that they usually give) and clears me up immediately.  Probiotics with it really help, also.  It will take a little while to get your strength back, get over your anxiety, and get back on a diet that fulfills your dietary needs.  I imagine you have been on a modified diet and it take awhile to get back to where you were.  Just give yourself time and don't push it.  

I strongly advise getting probiotics to counter some of the damage done to the intestinal track by strong antibiotics.  They helped me tremendously.  I am still taking two a day.  I think antibiotics play with your mind/mood also, plus if you are like me, you are obsessed with doing whatever you have to do to prevent this from happening again and this brings on the stress issues. I think your digestive system will take a little while to get back to normal. Just eat a low fiber diet with lot of water to give it a break.  Gradual add back in some fiber - I have just started back on a fiber supplement - it has been three weeks since my attack.  With this disease, anything that  isn't constipation is preferable, although frequent stools are very annoying.  

I'm in the US - but familiar with your area as my son lives in New Zealand and I've been there twice.  Beautiful country.  Wishing you the very best.  There are lots of different opinions on diet.  My doc said avoid seeds, nuts, popcorn.  I find small more frequent meals work best for me.  Limiting my fiber right now for awhile.  

Hi Beth

Sorry to hear you have joined the DD club.  I am in the UK so you have worldwide coverage!  I agree totally with Dee and her advice.  I have been dealing with this disease for more than 16 years, and found that I have had to modify my diet but I live a normal lifestyle. 

7 days antibiotics should be fine - here in the UK the treatment is 5 - 7 days at home.  Hospital admittance is only for emergencies like a blockage or perforation.  However, they all have big side effects and knock the stuffing out of you and it can take several weeks before your body begins to recover.  I'm glad you are out of pain as sometimes that lingers too as your insides heal.

I am surprised you were told to eat normally straight away.  UK advice is to have fluids at first, then a low residue diet and slowly reintroduce fibre.  Then you are recommended to follow a high soluble fibre diet.  But what we have found, if you follow this forum, is that everyone is different - one size does not fit all.  I cannot tolerate gluten or full fat - for others it can be dairy, red meet, seeds, skins - all sorts of different things.  I suggest you keep a food diary and see if you can identify what makes you feel worse.  If you are an anxious personality, I suggest you include lifestyle in that diary, as many people seem to find stress and anxiety or worrying about the disease make things worse.  It's a vicious circle. 

I think in a few weeks you will feel much better as your body recovers.  However I would also recommend if your runs are still continuing after that time, you speak to a doctor.  Some people on the forum do take half or a whole tablet of Immodium to control their bowels.  I personally don't but I do take a stool softener to make sure there is no build up of waste inside.  As a result I do go 3 - 6 times a day, but you pee at least that much anyway, so it's not a problem for me.  Better out than causing another infection.  Best wishes - hope you are well enough to enjoy Christmas.

Just checking in to say I hope today finds you just a little bit better.  There are no leaps - just small steps, and it does take awhile.  I know you think this is a lifetime endurance test, but it does get better.  You will always have to be aware of your diet and of what your body is telling you, but hopefully, you will be aware of the symptoms early on if it happens again and be able to control it by just going to a liquid/soft diet for a few days.  It's been 4 weeks since my attack and it has just been the last few days I have started feeling somewhat normal.  The attack, the meds, and the anxiety take a real toll.  Try to be patient with yourself and you will get there!  Prayers and good thought for you today!  

Sure wish I had a good answer to this  After feeling really good for 3 days, I had a pretty bad day today.  Not with the div. disease, but with, I think, the anxiety that goes along with it and worry about what to do to keep it from happening again.  I get real weak feelings and my head feels heavy..  Usually goes away in a while, but come back in waves.  Trying to make it until after Christmas to go to doctor about it as I'm suppose to travel over the holidays, and I don't want to be on anything new.  I can handle it, just don't like it.  I guess I will just be thankful for good days.  If you have only been home for 4 days after a pretty lengthy stay in the hospital, I would expect you to be pretty tired and weak.  If you can, just try to lay around and do what you feel like.