How long do other people's diverticulitis attacks last? Just read someone on soft diet x 2months?!
Posted , 153 users are following.
I'd love to know how long other people's flare-ups last on average. Have had D disease x 15 y. Had 3 attacks in past 6 wks. Urgh! I usually take antis & get up after 1 or 2 days, liquids only x 36hrs then soft foods x about a week, then gradually reintro fibre, seeds, pulses. Maybe I should stay on soft food more than a few days after 36h on liquids?? Opinions please! And btw its almost impossible to lose weight when this rotten condition dictates eating all the wrong stuff after an attack.. White flour pasta, mash..all those carbs! And stodge! Not helpful. Any ideas? Thanks. New to forum. Am 63 now & desperate to do anything to avoid surgery. Hi to all fellow-sufferers..this thing is a so 'n so & invades at the drop of a hat. Oh..and...
If anyone has ideas about how to address core strength safely please...do tell. Caz
7 likes, 498 replies
khow caz45653
Posted
Hi I'm new to this,I'm 48, in the uk, diagnosed in 2015, after a barium scan, although i think i knew as it does run in the women in our family, and certain foods gave me an adverse reaction.... last week friday, started my first "big" flare up and ive not eaten anything off my reaction list that would make me feel this bad... couldnt leave the house for 3 days and so lethargic its unreal.... after diagnosis I wasnt given any other advise than " you can have a diet sheet or try meds"... so going to the drs today i was sceptical.... left with electrolyte powders (dioralyte) and metronidazole antibiotics.and paracetamol .... never been told to stay away from ibuprofen... as i was on them for migraines after being on cocodamol for yrs ... maybe an aggrevant for this condition... going off point sorry.. .. but when you cant eat anything without being tied to the bathroom how the hell are you to take the strong antibiotic with food ... would love some food stomach is growling like a savage dog lol xxxxx
Guest khow
Posted
Hi
Sorry you are suffering this flare. The usual advice is to stick to a liquid only diet (no fibre at all) until the acute stage has passed, then slowly reintroduce easily digestible fibre. Julia1040 made an excellent post with eating recommendations. I personally stuck to consomme, clear apple juice, black or fruit tea. Then I introduced things like yogurt and meal replacement drinks. Finally I moved on to home made blended soups, vegetable puree, steamed fish. It will take some time for your insides to heal and settle.
There are various things other members have found helpful, like psyllium husk powder mixed with water, pure Aloe Vera juice and probiotics. I personally would hold back on the powder until your bowels have settled a bit, but others do not. Otherwise all three are very helpful in preventing future attacks. The Dioralyte is to replace salts etc lost through frequent bowel movements. I made the mistake of overdosing it - was VERY sick!! The side effects of the antibiotics can be a bit unpleasant but the course just has to be got through. It might help you if you can remember what you ate before the flare and keep a note, in case you get a further flare. It could be you may need to add foods to the "no-no" list. The comforting thing is things will get better. Best wishes
khow Guest
Posted
have noticed that the dioralyte is a sickly tasting drink that ive made into a few bottles in fridge with a little extra water as they taste slimy.... have tried a quarter piece of bread to take antibiotics, (which have caused the regular side effect of a headache but paracetamol is working .. just) and its the only thing that has stayed put longer than the liquids , i tried the clear soup it honestly made me gag and feel worse. ginger tea helps somewhat but can also make me feel nauseous.. my flare up doesnt sound as bad as some stated here so i think i will be better prepared with all of everyones help and advice x .. taking one day at a time and plenty of water..... need to be a little more active these next few days as daughter has gone into labour so need to be there for her xxx
Guest khow
Posted
Hope the baby has arrived safely and you are now beginning to feel better. My friend swears by ginger, although it doesn't suit me. With any luck once you have finished the antibiotics, the nausea will subside. Best wishes.
keta02408 caz45653
Posted
Wish I knew but I'm in a flare up now on antis and very slow healing the trouble is I'm diabetic too and these soft foods don't help that a double edge sword the sickest you can feel though
tj76527 keta02408
Posted
Bless you...I know exactly how hard a flare up is for you. I'm a type 1 diabetic. . And the 2 illnesses together can be very harmful and dangerous. I wish You luck 🙂
peter33256 caz45653
Posted
Hi caz45653 and everyone else.....ive always had stomach pain and cramping and boating for years and it came and went along with alot of blood in my stool so i thought one day when it got so bad i had to go to the hospital and they told me what i had as people call it the big D. I was diagnosed with it in November when i was in the hospital now it seems to flare up very frequently i dont do the proper fluids or routine as i was told by the Dr's ... i fear now as they wanna operate im refusing to have that done as im new to all this ......my flare ups only last 4 or 5 days no sooner ..... by the way im new on here and new to the diverticulitis.....
pjrom peter33256
Posted
What do you all call a flare up? Is it the pain or the flu symptoms and weakness? Or all of them? I don't get the pain but I get the rest. When it goes away do you not feel any of things i described above?
peter33256 pjrom
Posted
It's all of them but I know it's flared up because I have blood in my stool and constipation from lack of water and also cramping or bloating in my stomach.... I cant leave to far from the bathroom cause im affraid ill have to go....and chills... but the good side is im hoi g to the Dr to see a gastrologist.....
pjrom peter33256
Posted
I did not have any if the symptoms you described except the chills on the initial day of the attack and maybe bloating for a few weeks. Drink gatorade sometimes if you don't want water. Try aloe vera juice it softens the stools. Don't eat what you are not suppose to eat. I don't eat nuts, dairy, fruit with skins or raw veggies. I only eat canned carrots because I am afraid to eat any vegetables. I am about 6 weeks out of my 1st and only attack. I was better after I finished the antibiotics in 10 days. Do not use fiber supplements because your colon obviously is still healing. I tried metamucil fiber supplement and it constipated me and set me back one week. Do not use laxatives because your colon needs to heal. I have bowel movements on my own every morning and they are regular. Don't over eat and don't eat what you should not be eating. You have to work yourself up to that. I ate soup for weeks. Then chicken(broiled/baked) fish, white and sweet potatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage, bread. I have not tried beef yet and will not eat steak. I ate fried shrimp yesterday for the first time and they did not make me sick. I drink hot ginger root tea sometimes for inflamation. Have you had a cat scan or colonoscopy yet? I had a cat scan 2 weeks after attack and colonoscopy 4 weeks after attack. It showed diverticulosis not "itis" meaning the diverticulitis was gone and I was over the attack and infection. I learned from some of the people on this blog. Take baby steps. I think some people have such a hard time with this because they want to rush and eat what they shouldn't then some doctors tell them to use fiber and there colon isn't ready for that.
pjrom peter33256
Posted
carlafiddler caz45653
Posted
madeline27614 carlafiddler
Posted
It really all depends. Being it's your first you should recover by the time you've been on antibiotics for several days. If not call you doctor. Those are tough antibiotics but they always worked for me. Although I was nauseaus most days.
madeline27614 caz45653
Posted
Hi:
I have had been in your situation for about the same amount of years. It is horrible. I also have IBS. I take dicyclomine 20 mg. for the IBS and am presently on Augmentum 875 twice a day. It seems when I first started this disease a warm heating pad and some advil would help then after that I needed an antibiotic too. I would be prescribed Cipro and Flagyl. It really messed up my stomach but I was able to recover.
After all these years and it's been as long as you have I have it again. I usually get one to two flair ups a year and the antibiotic heals it for the time being.
I am on my last day of Augumentum and I felt good yesterday. I have been on liquids first and until last night soft food. I had a burger last night with ketscup and cheese and today I feel sick. Crampy sick and I don't know whether it is flairing up or if it's the antibiotic that is causing this. I did call my doctor. i AM AWAY and he extended my prescription for another ten days. I honestly don't know if I am going to take it because I don't know if I feel sick from this disease or the medication. It's a catch 21. I intend on staying on a soft diet for another week.
I'm thinking no meat at all since I did eat a burger last night and I had fish the night before and I was fine and finally feeling myself.
I stay away from seeds, nuts and skins and only soft fruits and veggies. By the way I had been eating lots of fruit with skins like apples and nectarines and raw veggies so I am calling them a no no for a while. My doctor says seeds and nuts are not proven to cause this but imo it contributes and a built up cause my flair up.
I do not want surgery so I'm hoping my doctor agrees with my treatment. He did say to me last night maybe it's time to get an opinion from a surgeon and that made my hair stand up. Hope I have helped you in some way.
God Bless you and I am 70 years young. Going out to dinner creates a lump in my throat not knowing what to order and also when you are with people they are curious why you dont eat your salad.
pjrom madeline27614
Posted
Seeds and nuts can get caught in the pockets of the colon and cause a flare up.
Some people just don't eat salads, I know plenty that don't.