How long do other people's diverticulitis attacks last? Just read someone on soft diet x 2months?!

It's a merry go round...I've had it 10 years now. It's so difficult to eat healthy but equally I can't eat fried foods? Some days I feel it's a bit like pot luck. Good luck with this condition...Enjoy the good days and learn your triggers and day patterns🙂

Thank you for saying you are gaining weight from eating potatoes. I have been eating them often "to" gain weight. 10 lbs is what I want to gain, I lost 20. I am a small framed lady so I need to put 10 lbs back on. I eat almond milk with corn flakes, it's delucious. I also use it in oatmeal. You can substitute it for vitamin d milk. I am afraid to eat salads and steamed veggies. I was an avid eater of those things and this happened anyways. Initially I got sick after eating steamed veggies. I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago, was on 2 anti's for 7 days. I started feeling better after the anti's. I think one almost killed me. I was diagnosed with diverticulosis by cat scan 2 weeks after I took sick. So the "itis" was gone(no flare up) when I did the scan. I get a colonoscopy in 2 weeks. I had a lot of symptoms. Felt really sick. Fever, flu, feeling of fluid in my body, numbness on left side of body, when I lay down for bed the feeling like my body was about to go into convulsions. All of that. I thought I was dying. My doctor said all was normal. I had no fluid in me but i really felt like i did. The left side pain was not bad like others say. I got constipated recently from metamucil. Won't take that again. The first 2 weeks I would not have thought I would be getting around like normal. I took 7 weeks off work(fmla) to get my body back up and going. Gain weight, figure out what foods I can eat, and to be sure all the symptoms are gone. Also the environment on my job is really stressful so time away from that will help me heal quicker. I never ate much of steak, pork chops, mac n cheese etc. I love broiled chicken and fish anyways. But i do miss green salads. I think tomatoes and cucumbers have seeds that is probably why you get sick when eating it. I read some people say they eat salads with no problem. I am 1 month out and pray I don't have anymore flare ups. Try aloe vera for digestion and miralax for a mild laxative. 

I'm sorry to hear about it but it's amazing how similar the symptoms are for you and all of us here that have posted, it sounds like you took care and still do, I never ate badly my only weakness was icecream. I was told that grain irritated my bowels so I try never to eat them. I do eat organic rice cereal, rice and potatoes. The only thing about rice is that it will make you constipated so you have to drink a lot of liquids when you eat it.

I add olive oil to everything I eat to keep me regular. I eat a lot of potatoes, mash, oven fried, chips (olive oil) sweet potatoes, all the edible roots too.

It's funny you want to gain weight and I want to loose it. I love salads and I haven't had one since last year since I had one and it made me so sick. I'm allergic to aloe and my doc said not to take laxatives that they might worsen the pain.

One doctor says eat fibers and another one says don't, so you just go???

Well I hope you feel better and and don't have a flare up.

Every here says the same no one understands how painful and it feels like someone drains all the energy out of you and can't do anything, I always say it's like depression.

Good luck!

Thank you!

AntonioIdaho,

I agree that laxitives makes it worse. My primary doctor told me to take miralax(mild and only makes you go once). My GI doctor told me that I don't have to take one everyday. After I finished with the antibiotics I continued to take the miralax and noticed I felt drained after using the restroom. While i was taking the antibiotics I thought I was feeling that way because of the divers. So now I only take it if I eat something that constipates me or I will take organic aloe vera juice. 

I began drinking ensures. Drank 2-3 last week and all was good, but drank 1 yesterday morning and it almost constipated me. I think because it has 50% vitamin D in it. I had to drink 1cup of aloe vera juice and I'm glad I did because I woke up with an upset stomach. I'm always glad for my bowels to move because I feel it gets that infection out of my system. So of course I had to eat chicken noodle soup for breakfast with ginger root tea. 

Prior to 3 days ago I felt like I was gaining weight back but I began feeling sick and now I feel like I lost it again. I realized this morning that yesterday I only ate hasbrowns, sausage and 2 drummettes(I cooked) I have an appetite but never sure what to eat. And I have energy but don't always want to cook. It's like if you eat out what do you eat. My neice is a good cook(wanted to be a chef) so she's gonna make me homemade mashed potatoes and stew beef(I'm gonna pay her to cook certain meals for me). She's a single working mom and can use the side money. 2 days ago she cooked me a hearty breakfast. I had already eaten and was hungry again. I need to start back snacking on cookies. I also try drinking protein fruit drinks but they have 52% sugar. The label says it's no added sugar but they are "really" sweet and I'm not sure if that's true.

If we can get a handle on what we can eat I think we'll be fine.

This forum really helps me.

Thanks

I always have energy though, but I have problems with aches and fever. Like I said I'm off work but I have energy to get out of the house to keep from laying around. It can be depressing. I wanted to just die in the beginning. Now I don't feel like that as much. 

Do you work with this condition?

Hi, well I'm glad you started feel that better. My episode started 2 weeks (I had a tomato, cucumber, feta, olive oil salt) ago and I'm feeling much better but I haven't eaten in 2 days.

I try not to eat meat of any kind although I love it because it stays with you for 5 days. Juices only if I make them or something natural, lemonade, Hibiscus tea hot or cold, pineapple juice all natural, I avoid sugar because it feeds your infection, instead if I need it I'll use honey.

I eat eggs, poached eggs, scramble, fried, with hash brown, yougurt, I buy yogurt ice cream when I feel like having something sweet and it's very good you don't even know you are having yougurt ice cream.

I eat a lot of salmon, fish, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, roasted vegetables. I make my own tempura with salmon and vegetables to change a bit. I avoid corn and grain except rice.

I'm following "eat right for your blood type" diet and it has helped me with allergies, inflammation, etc. (It might help with your pain and headaches, grains give me like sinus headaches or corn) I'm trying to avoid anything with little seeds, i love strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries but I can't have them anymore. Fruit I try to peal it and somethings cook it a bit.

I drink camomile and Ginger tea from root.

So if the pain is really bad I will stay home and won't work but right now is not that bad so I do go to work.

Well I hope you feel better and better, take care!

Thank you for mentioning camomile tea, I need something to help me sleep.

I have not eating any red meat, only fish and afew fried and grilled drummettes.

Thanks for letting me know meat stays on you for 5 days. 

I will let you know how I do with the stew beef.

I hope you're able to eat soon. Try drinking broth.

Oh and I eat broiled and grilled chicken.

Are you able to eat shrimp fried or grilled?

I tried eating grilled that I cooked in my wok and I am not sure if they upset my stomach or if it was something else.

Thanks for the suggestions I will do that. I am allergic to shellfish now, i used to eat It all when I was younger but now I can't I would end in the hospital.

Well good luck, hope you feel better!

I hate to keep typing but have you tried using the air fryer to fry instead of cooking in cooking oil?

An air fryer is a small convection oven which I have in my oven so I do used it all the time, I don't eat fry food very often and I love roasting vegetables and chicken like that.

So I guess that is how you are able to digest fried food?

I'm gonna have to buy my one.

 

Yes, with convection you don't use that much oil and when I do use oil I use olive oil or coconut oil nothing from grain or corn which is harder for your body to digest or can cause allergies.

When you fry chicken in that do you use flour or batter?

With the single air fryer you don't need any oil or flour.

 

I use flour, Panko or nothing at all, the chicken skin has enough fat to roast it without any oil I just add pepper, salt, herbs, paprika, or any condiment that you like. I peel potatoes and cut them in one inch pieces, boil them for 20 minutes so they are soft but not mushy and then put them around the chicken and roast and they come out delicious

You're describing roasting chicken, what about frying chicken?

I can eat roasted chicken. 

It's the fried foods I'm wanting more understanding of when it comes to the air fryer or using oil and flour.

 

Well when I do fry chicken in the oven I do it just like if were going to fry it in oil but I put it on rack and the rack in a very shallow pan like where you bake cookies breaded or with flour and then add some olive oil like spraying it on top and then you bake it. This is one of the recipes I use

Oven Fried Chicken....

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken, cut up

½ teaspoon paprika

2 teaspoon seasoning salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

½ teaspoon white or black pepper

½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1 egg

½ cup milk

2-3 dashes hot sauce (optional)

1 cup all-purpose flour

2-3 Tablespoons butter (melted)

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400

Wash and dry the chicken.

Sprinkle the chicken with paprika

Combine the remaining spices in a small bowl.

Sprinkle half of the spice mixture over the chicken and reserve the other half for the flour.

Use your hands to distribute the seasonings all over the chicken

Add flour to a separate bowl.

Pour in the other half of the seasoning mixture. Whisk to combine. Set aside.

In a small bowl add in the egg, milk and a few dashes of hot sauce. Whisk to combine.

Set a plate aside to place the chicken on once you’re done dipping them.

First dip the chicken into the egg mixture with one hand. Let excess drip off.

With the other hand place the chicken in the flour and coat. Using different hands keeps the flour from becoming clumpy.

Shake off the excess flour and place the chicken on the plate.

Let chicken sit for 5 minutes. Recoat in flour if desired.

Generously grease a grill pan rack with vegetable oil.

Place the chicken on the grill rack.

Mix butter and olive oil and drizzle over chicken.

Bake for 40 minutes. Broil for the last 3-4 minutes to crisp up the skin more if desired.

Let chicken rest before serving.

Ok. That sounds delicious. 

Do you eat pasta?

I do but not often I avoid anything with grains.

I did find at Costco a pasta made of Quinoa and make it just like regular pasta and it's good.

For dinner for me I broiled whitings in onions and canned carrots in honey on the side.

But I also made spaghetti with lean ground beef for my kids.

I ate spaghetti days before I took sick and noticed it went down strange and made me feel funny so I can not bring myself to eat it again.

But I do eat chicken noodle soup with the medium swirly pasta and I have no problems.

That's sounds delicious, grain sometimes will irritate your bowels but it's different with everyone.

I guess we just need to take care of what we eat.

Changing subjects......

Have you had a cat scan of your stomach area or a colonoscopy yet to prove that you have diverticilitis? 

I had a cat scan 2 weeks ago it showed I have diverticulosis, no active "itis". I  have a colonoscopy scheduled one week from tomorrow.

I have, I had a cat scan done at the hospital when I got really sick and I thought it was appendicitis. That's when I got diagnosed. I need to do a colonoscopy next just to check everything else.

I wondered why have a colonoscopy if we have already had a cat scan and been diagnosed, but I guess the colonoscopy could show polyps as well as the overall condition of the colon. 

I see you have been dealing with this since August. Did you lose any weight in the beginning of this, if so how long did it take you to gain it back?

Like I said I have been off work on medical leave because of this. I wake up every morning missing being able to go to work. If I could gain at least 10 lbs I would feel comfortable going back. I am a small frame person so the weight I lost shows. I think I will feel a lot better when I gain that 10 lbs back.

Have you been on and off of antibiotics since August? I hope not to go back on those.

Well the colonoscopy would show polyps and other diverticulis if you ha any.

I lost 20 lbs since the very first time I got sick because of the liquid diet and then the second time I got sick I lost weight again. Gaining back is not that hard. Eat a lot of potatoes, sweet potatoes and I eat yogurt ice cream and that made it ok. I think it took me like a month but I didn't gain all the 20 lbs because I actually was a bit over weight. The antibiotics where only the 10 days after I got really sick and they were terrible, made me feel really bad, couldn't go out, drive, nauseous, dizzy, etc. They kill everything in your gut . They did work but the pain hasn't been the same again and every time I get it back I take GSE in juice and that takes care of it.

Ok, I also lost 20 lbs. I needed to lose some weight as well but I am wanting to gain 10 lbs back. I didn't look overweight but I have high blood pressure and am or was borderline diabetic. I wonder if I still am borderline since I lost the weight.

I bought the GSE this weekend and I am going to try some today.

I will try fewer drops.

One of the side effects for the antibiotics(levoflaxin) is weight loss and loss of appetite and I think they give it to you specifically for that. 

It helps to know that everyones symptoms are the same.

I will let you know how I do with the GSE.

Does it give you energy and/or take away that icky feeling you get sometimes?

So are you still taking antibiotics? If so I would wait until you are done with them to start taking GFS (greatfrut seed extract) and with food the same you have to start little by little with bland food, that is why I eat potatoes in all forms, baked, mash, hashbrows but try to make it yourself and not buy the processed which might have corn syrup, sugar or chemicals. Try not to eat anything that has sugar if you still have an infection, that just feeds the infection. I stop drinking juices when I was taking antibiotics and I started to feel much better. GSE kills bacteria and slowly you will feel much better.

I finished taking the anibiotics over 2 weeks ago.

Thanks for letting me know I have to take th gse with food.

I only drink water, gatorade and cranberry juice 50% sugar.

I tried drinking ensures but they started making me feel constipated.

I was buying those protein fruit drinks but the bottles say they have 52% sugar but it says it is from the fruit, I don't know if I believe that.

I am over the infection because when they did the cat scan it did not show any active diverticulitis.

I had probles eating cantelope. Now I am afraid to try any other fruit.

Do you think if I use a juicer and squeeze the juice to mix and drink it'll be ok.

Ok, well I think it might be to early for fruit and vegetables, it took me a month to start eating them. I had potatoes, sweet potatoes, white sandwich bread, eggs, jello, soft foods. Then after that you can star eating vegetables and fruits I peeled cooked my fruit like apples, peaches, pears, yougurt, yougurt ice cream. Try to avoid dairy that is not culture because it might cause inflammation, eat food that is easier to digest. Eat salmon, fish etc. Chicken, pork, meat would be to hard on you right now in my opinion. GSE I drink with cranberry juice or greatfruit no pulp juice and like I said I avoided sugar when in pain but if you are done with the infection it's ok. I put GSE on my food maybe 5 drops because it's to bitter. It's good you drink a lot of water and juices would be ok as long as you put them true a colander.

When I was in a lot of pain you feel drained and little by little you get better but I always will press on my stomach when I'm in bed relaxed to see if there is any pain, I have to spots where the pain was, one on the right side and one on the left so if I feel pain when I press lightly I am cautious of what I eat or I'll stop eating because I've found that I feel ok and then I press lightly and there is some pain I'm not aware. That's my experience with it.

When you did your cat scan did it show diverticulosis or "itis"?

I was able to eat a tuna sandwich last week with no problems.

I put garlic powder in it so I wouldn't have that after tuna taste.

I did know we can eat pork.

I do eat fish and salmon. 

My pain was on the left. Every now and then 

I would feel some mildly on the right.

After awhile I felt that some if the discomfort I felt in my stomach or middle area was the stomach or middle area coming back into place so to speak,

And I say that because I had a c-section and that is what you feel when healing from that.

That did feel weird when you or the doctor pushes on the area of pain.

In my opinion it's almost like your body had a nervous break down.

That is how it felt to me. At one point I coukdn't lay down in my bed I had to elevate myself on pillows. Now I don't have to do that. My body woukd feel like it was being pulled in 2 different directions and this was after the antibiotics. My left side felt numb. I'm over all of that now and oray it dies not come back.

I must say I have trouble getting a good nights sleep. For 3 weeks I slept on the sofa a lot.

* I did not know we could eat pork.

* I'm over all of that now and pray it does not come back.

 

I mean in my previous msg that you should not eat pork, chicken or meat since it takes to long to pass through your system. Garlic is antiinflamatory so it's good you eat it.

I forgot to mention but "flag seed" helped a lot with hemorrhoids (going to the bathroom all the time/diarrhea and coating my stomach and bowls. You can't eat them because they are seeds and they my cause diverticulitis again but what I did was I grind them in a coffee grinder and then I boiled them in water one tablespoon per cup of water and the use a colanser to get rid of the hard and just drink the water with a bit of cinnamon and honey some drops of GSE like tea. At the time of the scan I had diverticulitis.

I thought chicken was ok to eat.

Is it flax seed? Yeah we can not eat seeds. I only go to the bathroom once or twice in the morning. I have not had problems with hemorrhoids or diarreha only diarreha the day before this happened and I thought it was because I ate a bad orange.

You probably showed "itis" because you had your scan as soon as you had your attack. The doctor waited 2 weeks to do mine. They say so you can finish the antibiotics and it can have time to clear up.

Speaking of coffee, do you drink it? I drink a small cup of decaf at least once a week and have not had a problem.

Maybe if we think of the people that are vegetarians and vegans it will make it easier for us as far as how we have to eat now. I mean we shouldn't be eating pork anyways or beef too often. Or any shell fish like crabs or oysters or mussels.

I read recently that if you eat raw oysters with problems like we have it can be hazardous to your life. I'm glad I saw that because I like oysters but not raw.

 

Sorry yes Flax seed (my phone and typing) I just drink the water after boiling it with the flax seed but it's good for your stomach and will coat your bowls.

Well all meats are ok as long as you don't eat to much or often like you said.

I drink decaf too but maybe just one cup a week just to avoid problems but it hasn't giving me any so far.

I don't eat any shellfish because I'm allergic already.

You mentined cooked fruit.

I am also able to eat apple pie with no problems.

I will have to try the yogurt ice cream. I tried regular ice cream a ice cream shoppe and I did ok with it.

But yogurt made me feel funny before I knew I had the divers so I have been scared to try it again.

Apple pie is cooked and soft. Ice cream is fine, I. My case that is what cause my diverticulitis, dairy. Yougurt is good for your gut because it's culture, All the good bacteria for your gut. I take probiotics every day (schiff digestive advantage) it's better to be soft than constipated when you are going through diverticulitis

Since we can't eat dairy, do you eat mashed potatoes?

If so what do you substitute for milk?

Also I am afraid to try probiotics, because I tried metamucil and it constipated me. Once we find the foods that work for us we shouldn't have to deal with constipation. I had it once during this month that I have been diagnosed and that was with the metamucil. 

I ate corn flakes with almond milk this morning and it didn't upset my stomach but it did feel a tad bit funny. Could it be the calcium in it?

I ate it before and it seemed fine.

In one of my previous answer to you I said I make mash potatoes with almond/rice milk, salt and ghee.

Metamucil is fiber, probiotics stimulates the growth of microorganisms, especially those with beneficial properties (such as those of the intestinal flora).

You shouldn't over think what you eat after you eat unless it causes pain.

I know it was the almond milk because that is all I have eaten and a few hours later my tummy is upset. 

I will have to google ghee.

Are you saying probiotics is not a laxative?

We all Have microorganisms in our bowls that help with the proces of digestion and that is what probiotics are. They are Not a laxative. All the antibiotics you took will Kill the flora in your gut so that is why you take probiotics.

Ghee is butter without the milk solids and the water.

Ok thank you I will have to look for the ghee in grocery stores.

What do you think about using sour cream in mashed potatoes?

I don't know if it's sold in at grocery stores, maybe an Indian grocery store. I make my own, google how.

I use sour cream in mash potatoes and quiche, that's a good idea.

I was reading over your post for tips on what you eat.

I made notes.

I saw that you eat rice. Is it white, yellow or brown?

Also you said you grill vegetables. Are they hard? It seems like that would be  like eating raw veggies. 

I eat grits. That is a grain and helps with weight gain. Do you eat it?

I also read that you say you do not eat chicken because it stays in you for days. I marinated and baked drummettes last night and cooked potatoes in onions on top of the stove. I only ate 4. I had a bowel movement and spent the next hour trying to feel to see if the chicken was still there. All is fine but I can understand what you mean. I can take 1/2 cup of aloe vera to help it move if I needed to. But I don't need to this time.

The only vegetable I eat are canned carrots. Are you able to eat any canned vegetables? Would cabbage or any greens(not canned) be to harsh for us to eat? I love both.

I thought beef and steak were the only meats that stay in your sytem for days.

My head is spinning from this. When I went in for a followup after 3 days of liquid diet followed by a low residue diet for a couple of weeks i was told I could go back to a normal diet and eat whatever I want. I asked about the meats, seeds and nuts and was told after a 2 year long research study they debunked all of that. I am eating everything except corn and nuts (just because it's in my head they can get trapped). I am 8 weeks post diverticulitis and feeling completely back to normal. I am taking probiotics for another month as directed by my doctor. If I skip a day having a bowel movement or feel constipated I take a stool softener and I am fine. The only big change I have made is I am trying to drink a lot more water as I was never big on water before.

This is so uplifting.

Are you saying you eat beef and steak and salads with no problem?

Are you eating them in moderation?

I am only 4 weeks post attack and I am not ready to try those foods yet.

What did they due at your followup for them to feel you can resume your normal diet.

 

Any rice is good but white will be digested faster than the rest. Eat white soft bread. I grill or roast vegetables but they have to be fully cooked. I haven't had grits. Chicken is the softest so it's easier I rather not eat meat of any kind. Any vegetables will be good can or not but some might cause gas so if that's the case try to avoid the ones that do since it might cause pain.

Don't get me wrong it did take 5-6 weeks to feel like I could resume a regular diet. I am eating in moderation. I have a egg white omelet every morning with cooked spinach, mushrooms and peppers and a side of turkey bacon and a biscuit. Lunch is usually fruit (I did the cups of fruit in juice until recently) and a yogurt or applesauce and dinner I've eaten everything, we eat a lot of chicken, I've had fish and shrimp, ground beef in chili but not a solid steak yet. I've had cantaloupe, clementine oranges, pears, grapes, blueberries and strawberries, fresh asparagus, fresh green beans. Have not had brocolli yet. I had a follow-up CT-scan that showed the diverticulitis had resolved so he said once I was done the low residue diet I could resume my regular diet whenever I felt up to it. I bet you'll be there soon.

As you wrote about the GSE you said it kills the infection and they(flare ups) last longer. 

Did you mean to say that?

No, i don't know how that happened. The flare ups are shorter and it kills the infection so it helps you feel better soon.

I would not be able to take that since I am on cholesterol medication and grapefruit has an adverse effect.

It is probably the same with hbp meds as well.

 

Just look for info online.

I would suggest always asking your Doctor before using it. I don't have blood pressure or cholesterol problems.

I don't suffer from either one but I would suggest to look it up online and ask your Doctor if you can take it or not. There is a lot of information about it that says it would help with hbp and cholesterol and remember this is not the juice of a greatfruit it's the "seed extract". Oil.

I googled it and the hbp meds I take were not on the short list of conflicting with grapefruit juice. I might try a few drops with.breakfast.

GSE is not the juice of a greatfruit. It's the oil extracted from the seed of the greatfruit. GSE (Greatfruit Seed Extract) and it's all natural just for your info.

Yes I know but the juice comes from the seed. Without the seed there would be no juice or grapefruit.

 

I ate yogurt ice cream for the first time today and you're right, it was very good and lite.

I ate apple pie with it.

I also ate out for breakfast at a buffet. I did not eat what I should not have eaten though.

I digested all of it very well. 

For dinner I ate a chicken thigh and a 1/2 sweet potato. I felt this was a lite dish.

 

Hopefully my digesting all of that well means I am getting better and better.